The jackpot for the Powerball lottery has jumped to nearly $1 billion, but winning is still a long shot. The odds are roughly one in 300 million. But there are some small actions you can take that might tip those odds slightly in your favor.

One way to increase your chances of winning is to play in a lottery pool with other people. But you should also consider a few other factors.

If you choose to play in a group, make sure that everyone understands how the money will be distributed. And you should also create a clear set of rules for how to manage the group and its assets. Ultimately, playing in a lottery group can be a great way to increase your odds of winning and enjoy the company of friends or family.

Choosing to receive your prize in a lump sum or as an annuity will have tax consequences, and it’s not always a one-size-fits-all decision. For example, if you need immediate financial relief, it may be smarter to take the cash option. However, if you’re an experienced investor, you might be able to do better with the annuity option.

The biggest haircut comes from taxes. If you win the lottery, the federal government will withhold 37% of your windfall. State and local taxes vary, but can be as high as 5%. These taxes reduce your expected payoff from a ticket to about 88 cents.