The Lightning Ball is a special feature of the Wisconsin Lottery’s Supercash game. The Supercash game is a popular Wisconsin Lottery drawing game with jackpots starting at $50,000. Here is a quick overview of how the Lightning Ball works:
– The Lightning Ball is an extra number between 1 and 20 that is drawn in addition to the regular Supercash numbers.
– If a player matches their Supercash numbers and the Lightning Ball, they win the Supercash jackpot.
– Even if a player doesn’t match all the Supercash numbers but matches the Lightning Ball, they can still win a prize up to $5,000.
– The Lightning Ball creates more ways for players to win and adds excitement to the Supercash game.
In this article, we’ll take a deeper look at how the Lightning Ball works and the prizes you can win by matching the Lightning Ball number. Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about the Wisconsin Lottery Supercash game’s Lightning Ball feature.
How Does the Lightning Ball Work?
The Wisconsin Lottery Supercash game utilizes a single drum with numbers 1-39 and a second special drum with numbers 1-20 for the Lightning Ball. During the Supercash drawing, five main numbers are drawn from the first drum. Then the Lightning Ball is drawn from the second drum.
To play Supercash, players select 5 numbers from 1 to 39. You can choose your own numbers using a playslip or get Easy Pick numbers randomly generated by the lottery terminal. Players also have the option to add on the All-Star Bonus for $1 more per play to multiply non-jackpot prizes.
Here is how the different ways to match numbers and win prizes work:
– Match all 5 Supercash numbers in exact order – Win jackpot starting at $50,000
– Match 4 out 5 Supercash numbers in exact order – Win $200
– Match 3 out of 5 Supercash numbers in exact order – Win $20
– Match 2 out of 5 Supercash numbers in exact order – Win $2
– Match the Lightning Ball number – Win $5,000
– Match 4 Supercash numbers + Lightning Ball – Win $5,000
– Match 3 Supercash numbers + Lightning Ball – Win $500
– Match 2 Supercash numbers + Lightning Ball – Win $25
– Match 1 Supercash number + Lightning Ball – Win $5
– Match 0 Supercash numbers + Lightning Ball – Win $2
As you can see, matching the Lightning Ball number can result in big prize wins even if you don’t match all of the main Supercash numbers. The Lightning Ball creates more opportunities to take home significant cash prizes.
Lightning Ball Prize Payouts
Here is a summary of the various Lightning Ball prize amounts:
| Match | Prize |
| 5 Supercash numbers + Lightning Ball | Supercash jackpot starting at $50,000 |
| 4 Supercash numbers + Lightning Ball | $5,000 |
| 3 Supercash numbers + Lightning Ball | $500 |
| 2 Supercash numbers + Lightning Ball | $25 |
| 1 Supercash number + Lightning Ball | $5 |
| 0 Supercash numbers + Lightning Ball | $2 |
| Lightning Ball only | $5,000 |
As you can see, just matching the Lightning Ball itself results in a $5,000 prize. And when you match the Lightning Ball along with 2, 3, or 4 Supercash numbers, you can win prizes ranging from $25 up to the full jackpot amount.
The Lightning Ball really opens up the possibilities for significant prize payouts. Even if you don’t match all 5 main numbers, you still have good odds of winning a noteworthy cash amount when adding in the Lightning Ball number match.
Lightning Ball Odds of Winning
The odds of winning a Lightning Ball prize depend on how many of the main Supercash numbers you match. Here are the overall odds:
| Match | Odds of Winning |
| 5 Supercash numbers | 1 in 859,000 |
| 4 Supercash numbers | 1 in 11,688 |
| 3 Supercash numbers | 1 in 1,083 |
| 2 Supercash numbers | 1 in 111 |
And here are the Lightning Ball only match odds:
| Match | Odds of Winning |
| Lightning Ball only | 1 in 32,768 |
As you can see, your overall chances of winning any prize are around 1 in 19 when you add in the Lightning Ball opportunities. The Lightning Ball creates over 100,000 more ways to win Supercash prizes when combined with the main number matches.
While the jackpot odds are still long, matching fewer Supercash numbers plus the Lightning Ball provides much more favorable odds. With so many ways to win, the Lightning Ball feature really opens up Supercash to more prize-winning possibilities.
When is the Supercash Drawing?
The Wisconsin Lottery Supercash drawing with Lightning Ball takes place every Thursday and Sunday after 9 p.m. CT.
To play, you must purchase your Supercash ticket by 9 p.m. on the night of the drawing. Tickets can be bought at Wisconsin Lottery retailers throughout the state. Supercash can also be played online using the Wisconsin Lottery website or mobile app.
Some key drawing details:
- Thursday drawings cut off at 9 p.m. CT
- Sunday drawings cut off at 9 p.m. CT
- Tickets can be purchased until cut-off times
- Drawings held after 9 p.m. CT
- Winning numbers available at wilottery.com after drawing
Be sure to buy your Supercash tickets early on the day of the drawing to ensure you don’t miss the deadline. Tune in after 9 p.m. CT to see the winning Supercash and Lightning Ball numbers. Match them all to win the jackpot or other cash prizes!
Unclaimed Lightning Ball Prizes
For various reasons, some winning Wisconsin Lottery tickets go unclaimed each year. This includes tickets that have won Lightning Ball prizes.
According to Wisconsin Lottery records, here are some notable unclaimed Lightning Ball prize amounts over the years:
- $5,000 prize – 2013
- $5,000 prize – 2014
- $25,000 prize – 2016
- $5,000 prize – 2017
- $5,000 prize – 2018
- $25,000 prize – 2020
In total, more than $70,000 in Lightning Ball prizes have gone unclaimed since 2013. Often this occurs when players misplace tickets or forget to check their numbers after a drawing.
The Wisconsin Lottery recommends signing tickets after purchase and keeping them in a safe place you’ll remember. You should always check Supercash numbers carefully after a drawing, either online or in a local newspaper. This ensures you don’t miss out on claiming a Lightning Ball prize.
Unclaimed lottery prizes in Wisconsin are kept by the state for a one year claiming period. After that time, the unclaimed money is contributed to property tax relief for Wisconsin residents. So be sure to double-check your old Supercash tickets – you never know if you might discover a forgotten Lightning Ball prize winner!
Notable Lightning Ball Jackpot Wins
While matching just the Lightning Ball offers a $5,000 prize, some lucky players have won huge jackpots by matching all 5 Supercash numbers and the Lightning Ball. Let’s look at some of the biggest Supercash jackpots won in Wisconsin with the help of the Lightning Ball:
- November 2016 – $156,000
- March 2017 – $222,000
- August 2017 – $208,000
- January 2018 – $172,000
- October 2018 – $189,000
- June 2019 – $208,000
As you can see, Supercash jackpots typically climb well over $100,000 before the top prize is finally won. Matching the Lightning Ball along with all 5 main numbers is the key to claiming these life-changing six-figure prizes.
The Lightning Ball creates a lucrative 6-number match opportunity with jackpots starting at a guaranteed $50,000. Even when no one wins the Supercash jackpot, the rollover increases for the next drawing keep the jackpot climbing higher.
For your shot at an incredible Supercash jackpot, make sure to add the Lightning Ball to your ticket. A single extra number could put you on the path to lottery riches if the luck of the Lightning Ball strikes!
Buying Tickets With the Lightning Ball
When playing Supercash, you must select the Lightning Ball option on your playslip or lottery terminal to add it to your ticket. Here are some tips for choosing tickets with the Lightning Ball:
- Mark “Yes” next to Lightning Ball on a Supercash playslip
- Tell the retail clerk you want Lightning Ball with your quick pick
- Select the Lightning Ball option on the self-serve lottery terminal
- Choose Lightning Ball when buying Supercash online
- Double-check your ticket has the Lightning Ball before leaving the store
The Lightning Ball costs $1 extra per Supercash play. You can play multiple sets of numbers on a single ticket and add Lightning Ball to each set. Just be sure the Lightning Ball box is always marked when picking your numbers.
Once purchased, check your Supercash ticket to confirm it includes Lightning Ball and has your correct number selections. Store your ticket in a safe place until the next drawing, then check the results to see if lightning strikes with Supercash prizes!
Using Winning Lightning Ball Numbers Strategically
Over time, certain Lightning Ball numbers may emerge as “hot” numbers that come up more frequently in drawings. Some players use past winning Lightning Ball results to influence their number picking strategy.
For instance, you may notice number 7 has been drawn as the Lightning Ball 4 times in recent weeks. To take advantage, you could play Supercash tickets using the quick pick method but manually choose 7 as your guaranteed Lightning Ball number. This approach gives you a chance to match a potential hot Lightning Ball.
Some players also use a “due theory” to speculate that an ice cold Lightning Ball number may finally appear soon if it hasn’t come up in many drawings. For example, number 13 may not have been drawn recently, leading you to believe it is due to come up. You could then play 13 as your Lightning Ball to try capitalizing.
However, it’s important to remember that all Lightning Ball numbers have an equal random probability of being chosen. But studying past winning numbers can be fun and offer an extra strategy element to playing Supercash. If a little lottery luck goes your way, the right Lightning Ball hunch could lead to a big prize payout!
Lightning Ball Number Frequency
The Lightning Ball has 20 possible numbers from 1 to 20. Tracking how often each number has been drawn can be useful for players who like picking numbers based on statistics.
According to Wisconsin Lottery records, here are some frequency details for the Lightning Ball numbers over the past year:
| Number | Times Drawn |
| 1 | 9 |
| 2 | 12 |
| 3 | 8 |
| 4 | 11 |
| 5 | 10 |
| 6 | 7 |
| 7 | 15 |
| 8 | 6 |
| 9 | 4 |
| 10 | 11 |
| 11 | 9 |
| 12 | 7 |
| 13 | 5 |
| 14 | 8 |
| 15 | 10 |
| 16 | 9 |
| 17 | 6 |
| 18 | 11 |
| 19 | 10 |
| 20 | 12 |
As the frequency chart shows, while all Lightning Ball numbers have a balanced chance of being selected, some numbers like 7 and 20 have come up more times in the past year. Other numbers like 9 and 13 have been a bit rarer.
Some Supercash players use these statistics to determine if they should play “hotter” or “colder” Lightning Ball numbers based on past frequency trends. However, keep in mind future drawings will always produce random results. But studying the frequency charts can be an interesting part of the Supercash strategy.
Lightning Ball Number Distribution
We’ve looked at the frequency of individual Lightning Ball numbers over the past year. Another way to analyze results is the overall distribution of Lightning Ball numbers grouped into ranges.
Here is a summary of the Lightning Ball numbers broken down into low, mid, and high ranges over the past year of drawings:
| Number Range | Times Drawn |
| 1 – 7 (Low) | 64 |
| 8 – 14 (Mid) | 57 |
| 15 – 20 (High) | 79 |
Based on the data, higher Lightning Ball numbers from 15 to 20 have been drawn most frequently, while the mid-range numbers 8 to 14 have hit the least times.
Some Supercash players like picking Lightning Ball numbers in ranges that have been coming up less often recently. The idea is that the cooler mid-range numbers may be “due” to start appearing more. However, the 1 in 20 odds of each number are always fixed no matter short-term trends. Still, studying the distribution can help offer ways to pick your personal lucky numbers.
Conclusion
The Lightning Ball add-on feature in Wisconsin’s Supercash lottery provides extra excitement, increases ways to win, and opens up possibilities for huge jackpot prizes. Matching your Supercash numbers and Lightning Ball number results in the game’s top prize. But even hitting just the Lightning Ball alone nets you $5,000.
With so many chances at significant payouts, the Lightning Ball adds worthwhile value to the Supercash game. Understanding the Lightning Ball inside and out using this guide can help you play the game strategically. And who knows – with a strike of lightning luck, the right Lightning Ball choice could lead you to the Supercash jackpot!