The lottery in Washington state offers a variety of games with different prize structures. The two biggest lottery games are Powerball and Mega Millions, which are national lottery games played in Washington and other states. Washington also has several in-state games including Lotto, Hit 5, Match 4, Daily Game, and scratch tickets. The prize amounts vary widely based on the game, but jackpots can climb into the hundreds of millions of dollars for games like Powerball and Mega Millions. With so many game options and prize levels, the amount you can win in the Washington state lottery covers a wide range.
Powerball
Powerball is one of the two biggest national lottery games. Tickets cost $2 per play. Players select 5 white ball numbers from 1 to 69 and 1 red Powerball number from 1 to 26. Prizes start at $4 for matching just the Powerball number up to the jackpot for matching all 6 numbers. The minimum jackpot amount is $40 million and it continues growing until someone wins. Powerball jackpots frequently climb over $100 million and sometimes over $500 million before a winner is drawn. The current Powerball jackpot amount is $xx million.
The overall odds of winning any Powerball prize are 1 in 24.9. The odds for the jackpot are 1 in 292.2 million. Powerball drawings are held every Wednesday and Saturday evening. Tickets can be purchased in Washington until one hour before the draw.
Mega Millions
Mega Millions is the other massive national lottery game available in Washington. Tickets are $2 each. For Mega Millions, players pick 5 main numbers from 1 to 70 and 1 Mega Ball number from 1 to 25. Prizes start at $2 for matching just the Mega Ball and climb to the jackpot for matching all 6 numbers correctly. The minimum Mega Millions jackpot is $40 million and the top prizes also frequently exceed $100 million. The current Mega Millions jackpot is at $xx million.
The overall odds of winning a Mega Millions prize are 1 in 24. The jackpot odds are 1 in 302.5 million. Drawings take place every Tuesday and Friday evening. Tickets can be purchased until one hour before the draw.
Washington Lotto
The Washington Lotto is an in-state jackpot game exclusive to Washington residents. Tickets are $1 each. Players choose 6 numbers from 1 to 49. The minimum jackpot is $1 million and it grows based on Lotto ticket sales in Washington. The current Washington Lotto jackpot sits at $xx million.
To win the jackpot, you must match all 6 numbers. The overall odds of winning any Washington Lotto prize are 1 in 8. The jackpot odds are 1 in 3.9 million. Drawings take place every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday night.
Hit 5
Hit 5 is Washington’s primary drawing game with a fixed $100,000 top prize. It costs $1 per play. Players pick 5 numbers from 1 to 38. To win the $100,000 jackpot, you must match all 5 numbers. There are also smaller prizes of $300 or $500 for matching 2 or 3 numbers.
The overall odds of winning a Hit 5 prize are 1 in 8.4. The jackpot odds are 1 in 575,757. Hit 5 drawings occur every day at 1:35 pm Pacific Time.
Match 4
Match 4 also provides a fixed $5,000 top prize. Tickets cost $1 each. Pick 4 numbers between 1 and 24 and match all 4 to win. There are smaller prizes of $5 to $50 for matching 2 or 3 numbers.
The overall odds of winning any Match 4 prize are 1 in 4.7. The chances at the $5,000 top prize are 1 in 144,000. Drawings are held 7 days a week at 1:35 pm Pacific Time.
Daily Game
For Washington’s Daily Game, players choose 5 numbers between 1 and 31. It’s $1 per ticket. Select all 5 numbers correctly to win the progressive jackpot that starts at $500 and keeps rising until someone wins. Smaller prizes between $3 and $150 are available for matching 2, 3, or 4 numbers.
The overall odds are 1 in 7.3 to win any prize. The jackpot odds start at 1 in 302,575 but become harder as the jackpot increases. There is a Daily Game drawing every night at 8 pm Pacific Time.
Scratch Games
Washington offers many $1, $2, $3, $5, and $10 scratch card games. Top prizes in these lottery scratch games can reach as high as $1 million. Some of the current scratch games include:
- $1 – 7Eleven 21, Loose Change
- $2 – $250K Crossword, Emerald 10s
- $3 – Cashword, Vegas Gold
- $5 – $1,500,000 Extreme Green, Blazing Hot 7s
- $10 – $2,500,000 Extreme Platinum, High Roller
The overall odds of winning any prize in Washington’s scratch games range from 1 in 4.16 to 1 in 2.98 depending on the game. With so many cards at different prices, you can find scratch games matching your budget.
Where to Play
You can buy Washington Lottery tickets at over 6,000 retailers around the state. Look for official Lottery retail signs at convenience stores, grocery stores, gas stations, drug stores, and other outlets. You can also purchase Washington Lottery tickets online at https://www.walottery.com but you must be at least 18 and physically located in Washington state at the time of purchase.
The following major retail chains are Washington Lottery retailers:
- 7-Eleven
- Albertsons
- Chevron
- Circle K
- Costco
- Fred Meyer
- Rite Aid
- Safeway
- Walgreens
- Walmart
You can find a full list of retailers selling Washington Lottery tickets on their official site. There is likely to be multiple retailers close to where you live and work within Washington.
Recent Washington Lottery Winners
The following table shows recent winners of some of the top prizes in Washington Lottery games:
| Game | Date | Prize | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Powerball | March 2019 | $1 million | Marysville |
| Mega Millions | December 2022 | $1 million | Auburn |
| Lotto | May 2022 | $14.7 million | Kenmore |
| Hit 5 | October 2022 | $100,000 | Lake Stevens |
| $5 Scratch Game | January 2023 | $300,000 | Puyallup |
As you can see, major prizes from across the range of Washington Lottery games are frequently won by residents all over the state.
The Benefits of Playing the Washington Lottery
There are many great reasons to try your luck playing the lottery in Washington:
- Huge jackpots to dream about winning – Lotto, Powerball, and Mega Millions jackpots routinely reach nine or ten figures.
- Games at every price point – Tickets cost only $1, $2, or $5 for a chance at prizes ranging from $500 up to millions.
- Easy to play – Simply pick some numbers or scratch off a card – no complex rules to learn.
- Benefits Washington – Lottery profits are used to support vital state programs and services.
- Available almost everywhere – With over 6,000 retailers plus online options, tickets are conveniently available.
- Frequent chances to win – Washington lotteries have drawings daily or multiple times per week.
- Can play in groups – Buy tickets with friends or co-workers to share in the fun.
- Provides entertainment – It’s exciting to watch drawings and scratch cards reveal prizes.
- Jackpots keep growing – If no one wins the top prize, the jackpot gets even bigger.
- A wide variety – Washington offers a huge selection of lottery games to choose from.
For a minimal investment, you receive the chance to win prizes ranging from small up to multimillion-dollar jackpots. The Washington Lottery offers fun and entertainment while also funding vital state programs.
Interesting Facts About the Washington Lottery
Here are some interesting facts about the Washington Lottery:
- Lotto was the first lottery game offered when Washington’s lottery launched in 1982.
- Over $5.4 billion in prizes have been awarded since 1982.
- More than $3.7 billion has gone to support state programs for things like education, environment, and local communities.
- The largest Washington Lotto jackpot was $32.4 million split by 2 winners in 1988.
- A $90 million Powerball jackpot was hit in 2009 by a winner in Ephrata.
- The record Mega Millions prize in Washington was $190 million claimed by an Ephrata resident in 2011.
- A Seattle player won a $100,000 Daily Game jackpot in 2016.
- Washington joined Mega Millions in January 2010 and Powerball in January 2014.
- Over 50 instant scratch games are available offering prizes up to $2.5 million.
- The biggest 1-day sales ever were $28.1 million on December 23, 2022.
- 55 Washington Lottery retailers have sold over $1 million in winning tickets.
Since starting in 1982, the Washington Lottery has awarded billions in prizes to players while also generating billions to support important state programs and services.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about the Washington Lottery:
Is the Washington Lottery legit?
Yes, the Washington Lottery is run by the state government so it is completely legitimate. The games and prize payouts are strictly regulated.
What is the average Washington Lottery payout?
The overall payout percentage averages around 75% to 85% for Washington Lottery games. This means for every $1 spent on tickets, approximately 75 to 85 cents is paid back in the form of prizes. The actual payouts vary across different lottery games.
What time is the Washington Lottery drawing held?
Drawings are held at the following times:
- Washington Lotto: Monday, Wednesday, Saturday at 8 pm
- Hit 5: Daily at 1:35 pm
- Match 4: Daily at 1:35 pm
- Daily Game: Daily at 8 pm
- Powerball: Wednesday and Saturday at 7:59 pm
- Mega Millions: Tuesday and Friday at 8 pm
Where does Washington Lottery money go?
Net revenues of the Washington Lottery support several state programs and services including:
- Education – Over 60% goes to education related programs and the Washington Opportunity Pathways Account
- Economic Development – 10% goes to the Stadium and Exhibition Center Account
- Environment – At least 15% goes to the Environmental Legacy Stewardship Account
- Problem Gambling – 1% goes to the Gambling Commission.
Can I play Washington Lottery games online?
Yes, Washington Lottery tickets can be purchased online. However, you must be physically located within Washington state to play. Accounts must also be created in advance online or through the mobile app before purchasing tickets.
How old do you have to be to play the Washington Lottery?
You must be at least 18 years old to purchase Washington Lottery tickets, including online purchase. Strong age verification measures are in place to prevent underage lottery play.
Can Washington Lottery winners remain anonymous?
Washington allows Lottery prize winners over $10 million to choose anonymity. For prizes below $10 million, winner names and locations are made public. Anonymous winners’ identities are protected by the Lottery.
Conclusion
The Washington Lottery has a wide selection of lottery games with prizes ranging from $1 up to hundreds of millions for huge jackpots. Several games are exclusive to Washington residents while national games like Powerball and Mega Millions are also available. With frequent drawings and a high number of retailers plus online options, it’s easy and convenient for Washington residents to play state lottery games. The Washington Lottery has awarded over $5 billion in prizes since starting in 1982. While offering fun and entertainment, net revenues generated also provide vital support to important state programs and services. For anyone in Washington hoping to win anything from small prizes up to possible multimillion-dollar jackpots, the Washington Lottery presents a great opportunity.
