A ticket sold in New Orleans will share the $50 million Powerball jackpot from the May 25 drawing with two other tickets sold in Florida and Delaware, marking the 15th time the Powerball jackpot has been hit in Louisiana since the Louisiana Lottery joined the multistate game in 1995.

The May 25 winning ticket was sold at Franklin Shell Gas on Franklin Avenue in New Orleans. The store will receive a one-time bonus of $25,000 for selling the winning ticket.

"We are obviously eager to welcome the Louisiana Lottery's latest millionaire when he or she claims the prize at our Baton Rouge headquarters," said Lottery President Rose Hudson. "In the meantime, however, we recommend that the winner treat the ticket as cash and sign the back of it for security purposes. It is also a good idea for all winners of substantial prizes, like this one, to seek professional financial advice prior to claiming their prize."

The holder of Saturday's jackpot-winning ticket has 180 days after the date of the drawing in which to claim the prize, and the Lottery recommends the winner call its prize payment office first before coming forward.

The winning numbers for the May 25 drawing were 02-06-19-21-27 and the Powerball was 25.
 
July 2010 was the last time a Powerball jackpot-winning ticket was sold in Louisiana; the $85.7 million prize was claimed by H & N Family Partnership of Baton Rouge. The largest Powerball jackpot won in Louisiana was a $97 million prize claimed by Carl Hunter of Metairie from a drawing in January 2008.

"Saturday was a lucky night for Louisiana Lottery players," added Hudson. "In addition to the Powerball jackpot prize, the $88,110 Easy 5 jackpot was hit in Hammond."

The advertised Powerball jackpot represents an estimate of the annuity prize amount, which is paid in 30 graduated annual installments that increase by 4 percent each year. The Louisiana winner's portion of the May 25 jackpot annuity prize would be $16,666,666.67. The first installment is paid at the time the prize is claimed.

Winners also have the option to take a one-time lump sum payment equal to the cash value of the jackpot prize pool, the Louisiana portion of which is $10,377,750.10 for the May 25 drawing. The winner has up to 60 days after claiming the prize to decide on the prize payment option, both of which are subject to state and federal tax withholdings.

The Lottery encourages responsible play and urges anyone or friends of anyone with a gambling problem to call toll free 1-877-770-7867 for help.