In the years 1993 to 2009 the Georgia Lottery Corporation sold more than $35 billion of lottery tickets, $11.4 billion of which has been returned to the State Treasury's Lottery for Education Account. This in turn funds institutions from pre-Kindergarten to university, with scholarships, computers and technology upgrades, tuition assistance and more.

Tickets are sold at more than 7,800 authorized retailer locations in Georgia, and can be purchased by adults over the age of 18.

Prizes of $600 and less can be redeemed at any Georgia Lottery retailer, or by mailing the ticket, signed and addressed on the back, to the Georgia Lottery Corporation. Prizes $600 and more need to be accompanied by a claim form, and taken to one of the Georgia Lottery District Offices, located at Atlanta, Augusta, Columbus, Dalton, Duluth, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Macon, Savannah and Tifton. Again, be sure to photocopy the ticket and the claim form for your records.

Winners have 180 days after the date of the draw in which to make their prize claim. Unclaimed cash prizes are kept by the Georgia Lottery, and are used to fund prizes.

If you're lucky enough to have won one of the jackpot prizes, you have 60 days to decide whether to take the prize as a lump sum or annuity. Typically, the lump sum prize would be approximately half the amount of the announced jackpot, less taxes.