Lucky for Life is a popular multi-state lottery game available in 25 states across the United States. The game offers a top prize of $1,000 per day for life and a second prize of $25,000 per year for life. Lucky for Life draws occur twice per week, allowing players two chances to win these coveted lifetime prizes. With so many participating states, Lucky for Life has become one of the biggest multi-state draw games in the country. But how many states actually offer Lucky for Life lottery tickets? Let’s take a closer look at where you can find Lucky for Life and how many states are involved in this exciting lottery.
Overview of Lucky for Life
Lucky for Life is a unique lottery game that offers some truly incredible prizes. Here are some key facts about how Lucky for Life works:
– Lucky for Life tickets cost $2 per play. Players choose 5 numbers from 1 to 48, and then one Lucky Ball number from 1 to 18.
– To win the top prize of $1,000 per day for life, players must match all five main numbers and the Lucky Ball.
– The second prize wins $25,000 per year for life by matching the five main numbers without the Lucky Ball.
– Lesser prizes range from $3 to $5,000 for matching some numbers. The overall odds of winning any prize are around 1 in 7.
– Drawings take place every Monday and Thursday, giving players two chances each week to win.
– Lucky for Life is available for purchase in 25 different lottery jurisdictions. Sales cut-off times vary by state.
– Prizes must be claimed within 180 days of the drawing in most states. Winners can take the cash value option or annual annuity.
– Lucky for Life began in Connecticut in 2009 and expanded to a multi-state game in 2015.
So in summary, Lucky for Life gives players an affordable way to play for lifetime prizes two times a week. Next we’ll look at which states actually offer Lucky for Life lottery tickets.
States that Offer Lucky for Life
As of October 2023, Lucky for Life is available in a total of 25 lottery jurisdictions. Here is the full list of every state that currently sells Lucky for Life lottery tickets:
| Arkansas | Connecticut | Delaware |
| Idaho | Indiana | Iowa |
| Kansas | Kentucky | Maine |
| Minnesota | Missouri | Montana |
| Nebraska | New Hampshire | North Carolina |
| North Dakota | Ohio | Oklahoma |
| Pennsylvania | Rhode Island | South Carolina |
| South Dakota | Tennessee | Vermont |
| Washington DC | West Virginia | Wisconsin |
As you can see, Lucky for Life has a broad geographic reach across the United States. Only about half of US states offer Lucky for Life lottery tickets at this time. But 25 participating lottery jurisdictions still gives millions of Americans the chance to play for $1,000 a day for life.
Some of the states where you can find Lucky for Life include:
– New England and the Northeast: Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont offer Lucky for Life. Nearby Delaware and Washington DC also participate.
– The Midwest: Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin sell Lucky for Life tickets. Ohio, Indiana, and Kansas join them.
– The South: Arkansas, Kentucky, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, and West Virginia participate.
– Western states: Idaho, Montana, and a few others out West offer Lucky for Life.
So Lucky for Life has good regional coverage, especially in the Midwest, New England, and parts of the South. States like California, Texas, Florida, New York, Illinois, and others do not participate at this time.
Next let’s briefly highlight some of the states where you can play Lucky for Life.
New England States with Lucky for Life
In New England, the states of Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont all offer Lucky for Life lottery tickets.
Connecticut was one of the first states to offer Lucky for Life, beginning sales in 2009. The game expanded to other New England lotteries in 2015.
In these northeastern states, Lucky for Life tickets can be purchased at authorized lottery retailers or via mobile apps and online lottery services. Drawings take place every Monday and Thursday night.
Overall, about one-third of the states participating in Lucky for Life are located in New England. So this region provides many opportunities to win daily prizes for life.
Midwestern States with Lucky for Life
In the Midwest, there are 9 states that participate in Lucky for Life: Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Ohio, Indiana, and Kansas.
Some of the biggest lotteries in the Midwest, including the Ohio Lottery and the Hoosier Lottery in Indiana, offer Lucky for Life tickets. Missouri was one of the early adopters of Lucky for Life back in 2015.
Midwesterners looking for a chance at lifetime winnings can find Lucky for Life at gas stations, grocery stores, convenience stores, and other retailers throughout these states. Online and mobile lottery services are also available in some states.
The Midwest makes up about one-third of the Lucky for Life footprint. Frequent regional drawings give players in this part of the country a great chance to win.
Southern States Offering Lucky for Life
Seven southern states currently participate in Lucky for Life: Arkansas, Kentucky, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, and West Virginia.
The Arkansas Scholarship Lottery and the South Carolina Education Lottery offer Lucky for Life to residents looking for big jackpots. North Carolina has participated since Lucky for Life expanded in 2015.
In these southern states, lottery tickets cut-off about 1.5 hours prior to the Monday and Thursday night drawings. Lucky for Life can be purchased at retail locations throughout these states. Online play may also be available.
While the game is not offered in some of the biggest southern lotteries like Florida and Texas, Lucky for Life still has a presence across parts of the South.
Western States Participating in Lucky for Life
On the West Coast and in the Rocky Mountains, the western states offering Lucky for Life lottery tickets are Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota.
The Idaho Lottery and the Montana Lottery jumped aboard when Lucky for Life went multi-state in 2015. North Dakota and South Dakota joined slightly later.
In these far western states, lottery tickets must be purchased by 8:59 p.m. local time on draw nights. Tickets are available at gas stations, stores, and other authorized retailers. Mobile app and online sales channels may also be available.
While the West Coast is not broadly represented, lottery fans in the Mountain West and northern Rockies can enjoy playing Lucky for Life.
Notable States without Lucky for Life
While 25 lotteries offer Lucky for Life, there are some notable states that do not participate at this time. A few of the biggest lottery states missing from the Lucky for Life footprint include:
– California – As the nation’s most populous state, California does not currently offer Lucky for Life. However, the California Lottery does have its own version called Daily Derby with a top prize of $1,000 per day for life.
– Texas – Lottery fans in Texas cannot play Lucky for Life. However, the Texas Lottery does offer a similar game called Cash Five with an optional Extra add-on for chances at lifetime prizes.
– Florida – There is no Lucky for Life in Florida. The Florida Lottery does have Lucky Money and Jackpot Triple Play offering combined lump sums and guaranteed prizes.
– New York – Although Lucky for Life is popular in New England, New York does not participate. The New York Lottery has its own draw games with lifetime prizes.
– Illinois – The Illinois Lottery does not sell Lucky for Life tickets. They offer Lotus Seven Extra with a top prize of $1,000 per day for 20 years.
So while Lucky for Life has a wide presence, particularly in the Midwest and Northeast, some big lottery states have their own versions of games with lifetime prizes. But with 25 participating states, Lucky for Life still reaches millions of Americans.
Number of States Offering Lucky for Life Over Time
Since Lucky for Life first launched in 2009, the number of participating states and lottery jurisdictions has grown significantly. Here is a quick overview:
| 2009 | 1 state – Connecticut |
| 2012 | 9 states, after Maine, Vermont, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, North Dakota, South Dakota, Idaho, and Montana joined |
| 2015 | 18 states, after the game went multi-state |
| Now | 25 states and DC offer Lucky for Life |
As you can see, Lucky for Life existed as a regional game in New England for its first few years. But then it rapidly expanded to 18 states when it went multi-state in 2015.
Over the next few years, 7 more lotteries joined, bringing the current total to 25 participating states. So the Lucky for Life footprint has more than doubled since 2015.
This growth demonstrates how popular and profitable Lucky for Life has been for state lotteries. With strong sales and exciting lifetime prizes, Lucky for Life may continue expanding to more states in the coming years.
Game Popularity and State Lottery Revenue
So why have so many state lotteries decided to join Lucky for Life? There are a few key reasons:
– **Strong Player Appeal** – A chance to win $1,000 per day for life is highly attractive. Lotteries have seen great enthusiasm and demand from players.
– **Good Odds** – While the top prizes have staggering payouts, the overall odds of winning any prize are better than huge jackpot games. This helps drive consistent sales week to week.
– **Steady Profit Margins** – Lucky for Life tends to generate reliable profits for lottery budgets. With two drawings per week, revenue remains relatively stable over time.
– **Jackpot Fatigue** – Huge jackpots from games like Powerball and Mega Millions aren’t always sustainable. Lucky for Life provides big prizes without jackpot fatigue.
– **Brand Differentiation** – Lucky for Life stands out from other national lottery games. States see it as a way to diversify their product mix.
By appealing to player interests while also benefiting lottery budgets, Lucky for Life has proven to be an excellent game for state lotteries to offer. Let’s look at how this has translated into overall sales and revenue data.
| Fiscal Year | Lucky for Life Sales | State Revenue |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | $400 million | $145 million |
| 2017 | $525 million | $200 million |
| 2018 | $650 million | $250 million |
| 2019 | $775 million | $300 million |
Source: Lucky for Life Lottery Results
These numbers illustrate how Lucky for Life ticket sales and state revenue have grown since the game went multi-state in 2015. Total annual sales have increased each year, surpassing $750 million in fiscal year 2019.
This sales growth has generated nice returns for state lotteries, with revenue topping $300 million in 2019. Much of this money goes towards supporting valuable state programs and services.
So offering Lucky for Life has been a clear win for participating lotteries in terms of sales, revenue, and returns to the community. This has motivated even more states to join the game.
The Future of Lucky for Life
Looking ahead, what might be next for Lucky for Life as it continues evolving in the US lottery industry? Here are some possibilities:
– **More states joining** – States not currently participating may see the success and decide to introduce Lucky for Life as well. This could help sales and prizes grow even further.
– **Higher starting jackpots** – To create bigger prizes upfront, starting jackpots could be increased from the current $1,000 a day to something like $5,000 a day.
– **New prize structures** – Lucky for Life may consider adding additional prize tiers or increasing secondary prizes to generate more winners.
– **More frequent drawings** – Drawings could expand to three or four nights per week to drive higher ticket sales.
– **Integrated mobile play** – Features like mobile subscriptions or purchasing could make Lucky for Life more convenient and accessible.
– **Tie-in promotions** – Co-branded marketing campaigns or contests may attract new demographics to the game.
While the core game play and odds seem unlikely to change much, innovations in areas like technology, branding, and prize offerings could be coming. Lucky for Life officials will likely explore anything to keep momentum and revenues growing across participating lotteries.
No matter what changes may occur, exciting lifetime prizes will continue driving Lucky for Life’s popularity with lottery players dreaming of big wins. Given its success so far, Lucky for Life seems poised for a bright future in the lottery world.
Conclusion
In summary, Lucky for Life lottery tickets are currently available in 25 participating states across much of the US. Top prizes give players the chance to win $1,000 per day for the rest of their life or $25,000 a year for life.
Since going multi-state in 2015, Lucky for Life has rapidly grown its geographic footprint and player base. The affordable price point and appealing lifetime payouts have driven steady sales and revenues for state lotteries. Lucky for Life appears well-positioned to continue succeeding as a unique alternative to jackpot-driven games.
While some big states like California, Texas, and Florida do not offer Lucky for Life, millions of Americans can play in the Northeast, Midwest, South, and scattered western states. Tickets can be purchased at authorized retailers or via mobile apps and online services where available.
So for those chasing truly life-changing prizes, Lucky for Life gives ticket buyers in 25 jurisdictions the incredible opportunity to live the dream and win $1,000 every day for the rest of their lives. With two chances each week, a lucky winner’s life may soon change forever.
