There’s nothing quite like winning a casino jackpot. It’s every gambler’s dream, and it can change your life forever. But there are a few things you should know before cashing your check.

First of all, you’re going to have to pay taxes. In most jurisdictions, gambling winnings are taxable as ordinary income. And that means you’ll have to fill out a tax form or W-2G. And if you’re lucky enough to hit a large jackpot, that can mean a lot of paperwork.

Secondly, you’ll probably have to take a trip down to the casino to pick up your check. Most casinos have a pretty good system for this, and they usually want to make you feel as special as possible. They’ll vet your win, verify your ID, and collect the required taxes for Uncle Sam. And they’ll make sure you get a hefty paycheck, even if it takes them a few days.

Most casino jackpots are set either by the machine itself or by the manufacturer of the game. They may or may not be publicized, and they often come with a breakdown of how much each wager adds to the prize pool.

There are also standalone jackpots that are tied to one single game, and they may or may not be displayed on the machine itself. Then there are progressive jackpots that grow based on a small percentage of each wager placed by players across the entire network. These types of jackpots are typically displayed in bold letters, which entices gamblers to play the game.