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New Jersey Lottery Executive Carole Hedinger on what to do if you have a winning ticket and how the lottery ticket sales money is spent in the state.
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I am holding a powerball ticket could be worth 500 million it's not mine it's our senior producer Justin Fryman thinking I'm getting -- -- and may be even more by tomorrow's drawing because people are continuing to -- -- it goes into the -- how does that really work.
The chances of winning from this -- that are set to be one in -- 175.
Million despite those -- -- -- to purchase the tickets.
Our next guest is New Jersey lottery executive director Carol -- -- and she says that the lottery is not just a dream game -- It's a dream job at least for her and welcome first of all Carol thank you for being here now it's my pleasure of but -- others failed joke if you don't play camp loose because it's such a long shot what if people were to win that.
How.
How much money how does that all work out and where does the rest that they don't get really go.
Well about 50% -- of -- of every lottery dollar goes towards prizes a portion of that goes to the top prize in this case the jackpot prize.
It's pulled together from all of the states that participate in powerball -- those.
That money's gonna go to the winners.
A wherever they are and by the way it's 42 states and two jurisdictions that would be in DC in the Virgin Islands yes right so 44 total get to split it up.
And then what so.
The the actual recipients of the revenues.
That doesn't go to the winner.
What is that used for well in New Jersey is used for our state educate.
-- and for institutions.
For instance we support about 75% of the money that we give the state which last year was 930 million.
We can't about.
75% of that to educational causes that's tuition aid grants.
Capital improvement products.
Improvement.
-- School nutrition and -- various things like that.
About 45% of it goes to specific places like.
The three state veterans homes for disabled soldiers also -- -- some banks look the death right so these are all very good causes of course but the quest in -- you don't really get the 500 million which by the way when will we know if it goes higher I'm sure you've seen an acceleration of ticket sales well yes because today's Jack.
Was indeed Jack I was -- to 425.
Million has already raised 500 million it's possible it could even go up tomorrow.
Could it hit 600 million final amount that would go that high but -- depending on lottery sales which are accelerating.
Where does the money go OK so we've gotten to that -- but.
What should people do if they've when did I mean a lot of people are hesitant to get out in the limelight to they have to.
Well you can't be anonymous in New Jersey.
Unfortunately and I think there's a good reason for that transparency is very important and integrity in the face of the public in the lottery is is very important outside the back of the -- -- validate the ticket where you got it or at least in the -- at any -- -- you can validated any retailer.
But in -- same -- yeah.
Then they should give me a call and come see me.
They should also get some tax advice right away yes on how to hold off all of the relatives who are now saying get me yeah that's the figures and our unified relative -- yeah how about Carol good to see you thank you very much RA and you'll go -- -- -- tonight difficult higher or we want until tomorrow a pack.
'til tomorrow but right now 500 million dollars in Jersey lottery executive director Carroll head manager David.
