Pennsylvania Lottery Games
Founded in August 1971, the first Pennsylvania Lottery draw took place in March the following year. The Pennsylvania Lottery offers a wide range of multi-jurisdictional and locally run games, with opportunities to win significant sums of money every day.
Proceeds from Pennsylvania Lottery fund programs are designed to benefit older residents, with it currently being the only lottery in the United States that distributes proceeds in this manner.
Powerball
Powerball is a world-famous lottery renowned for its long odds and often lucrative jackpots.
Powerball tickets cost $2.00, with players choosing five numbers between 1 and 69 plus a Powerball number between 1 and 26. Players can choose their numbers manually or go for a Quick Pick if they wish. A Power Play option is also available, costing $1.00 for the chance to multiply non-jackpot prizes by up to 10 times.
Mega Millions
Mega Millions is another world-renowned lottery that’s even harder to win than Powerball, but with a very similar format.
As with Powerball, tickets cost $2.00.
Players must choose five numbers between 1 and 70 and a Mega Ball number between 1 and 25, with a Quick Pick option also available for random selections. Mega Millions has an additional Megaplier feature for $1.00, for the chance to multiply non-jackpot prizes by up to 10 times.
Cash4Life
Cash4Life is a popular multi-jurisdictional game played across nine states, giving players the chance to win annual payouts for 20 years or take home a lump-sum jackpot of $7 million.
Entry costs $2.00, with players choosing five main numbers from 1 to 60 and a Cash Ball number between 1 and 4. Quick Pick is also available for random selections.
Match 6
Match 6 is a traditional 6 from 49 lottery. Entries cost $2.00 for three sets of six numbers.
Participants must choose six numbers from 1 to 49 or can go for a Quick Pick for random selections. Note that the second and third sets of numbers are always Quick Picks.
Cash 5
Cash 5 is a straightforward lottery game that costs $2.00 to enter.
Players choose five numbers from 1 to 43 or can go for a Quick Pick to enter with random selections.
Each Cash 5 ticket includes the Quick Cash instant-win game at no additional cost, although the payouts of $2.00 and $6.00 are very modest!
Millionaire Raffle
The Millionaire Raffle is a seasonal raffle-style draw that costs $20 to enter.
Only 500,000 Millionaire Raffle tickets are sold, with tickets being sequentially listed from 000001 to 500000 and, because there are no play slips to complete, simply ask for a Millionaire Raffle ticket to get the next available number.
In total, eight Millionaire Raffle draws take place across the festive season, with four top prizes of $1 million available.
Treasure Hunt
Treasure Hunt is a straightforward lottery game that costs just $1.00 to enter.
Participants must choose five numbers from 1 to 30 or can go for a Quick Pick for randomly chosen numbers.
Pick 5
Pick 5 has multiple entry options and costs just $1.00 to enter.
Players must choose five numbers from 0 to 9, and because each number is chosen independently, players can make repeat selections if desired. Players then select the type of bet to place, with exact order, any order, front and back pair, front and back three, and front and back four options available.
Players can also add a Wild Ball to their ticket for an additional $1.00. The Wild Ball number is drawn after each game and can be used as a replacement number when the result is only a single digit from winning a prize. Note that while adding the Wild Ball improves prize-winning odds, prizes are paid out at a lower value.
Pick 4
Pick 4 has multiple entry options, with stakes of $0.50 or $1.00 being available.
Players must choose four numbers from 0 to 9, and because each number is chosen independently, the same number can be chosen repeatedly if desired. Participants then choose whether to bet on matching their numbers in the order drawn, in any order, or to split a $1.00 stake equally between both options.
Players can also add a Wild Ball to their ticket to double the stake. The Wild Ball number is drawn after each game and can be used as a replacement number when the result is only a single digit from winning a prize. Note that while adding the Wild Ball improves prize-winning odds, prizes are paid out at a lower value.
Pick 3
Pick 3 has multiple entry options, with stakes of $0.50 or $1.00 being available.
Players must choose three numbers from 0 to 9, and because each number is chosen independently, the same number can be chosen repeatedly if desired. Participants then choose whether to bet on matching their numbers in the order drawn, in any order, or to split a $1.00 stake equally between both options.
Additionally, Super Straight is available for a ticket with every possible combination of the three player-chosen numbers. In this instance, players pay $0.50 or $1.00 per combination, so if a participant chooses 1, 2 and 3 as a Super Straight entry, tickets would respectively cost $3.00 or $6.00.
Participants can also wager against matching the first or final pairs of numbers drawn.
Players can also add a Wild Ball to their ticket to double the stake. The Wild Ball number is drawn after each game and can be used as a replacement number when the result is only a single digit from winning a prize. Note that while adding the Wild Ball improves prize-winning odds, prizes are paid out at a lower value.
Pick 2
Pick 2 has multiple entry options and costs just $1.00 to enter.
Players must choose two numbers from 0 to 9, and because both numbers are chosen independently, the same number can be chosen twice if desired. Participants then choose whether to bet on matching the numbers in the order drawn, in any order, or matching the first or last numbers only.
Participants can combine an exact-order and an any-order bet for $2.00 if they wish. Also, a Super Straight bet works in the same way and costs the same as combining an exact-order and an any-order bet, but pays out more money. Therefore, choose a Super Straight entry to maximise your winnings!
Players can also add a Wild Ball to their ticket to double the stake. The Wild Ball number is drawn after each game and can be used as a replacement number when the result is only a single digit from winning a prize. Note that while adding the Wild Ball improves prize-winning odds, prizes are paid out at a lower value.
Pennsylvania Lottery Game Schedule
The table below provides an overview of the schedule for each Pennsylvania lottery game.
| Lottery Game | MON | TUE | WED | THU | FRI | SAT | SUN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mega Millions | 23:00 | 23:00 | |||||
| Powerball | 23:00 | 23:00 | 23:00 | ||||
| Cash4Life | 21:00 | 21:00 | 21:00 | 21:00 | 21:00 | 21:00 | 21:00 |
| Match 6 | 18:59 | 18:59 | 18:59 | 18:59 | 18:59 | 18:59 | 18:59 |
| Cash 5 | 18:59 | 18:59 | 18:59 | 18:59 | 18:59 | 18:59 | 18:59 |
| Millionaire Raffle | Eight weekly draws, from the penultimate Saturday in November to the second Saturday in January | ||||||
| Treasure Hunt | 13:35 | 13:35 | 13:35 | 13:35 | 13:35 | 13:35 | 13:35 |
| Pick 5 | 13:35 18:59 | 13:35 18:59 | 13:35 18:59 | 13:35 18:59 | 13:35 18:59 | 13:35 18:59 | 13:35 18:59 |
| Pick 4 | 13:35 18:59 | 13:35 18:59 | 13:35 18:59 | 13:35 18:59 | 13:35 18:59 | 13:35 18:59 | 13:35 18:59 |
| Pick 3 | 13:35 18:59 | 13:35 18:59 | 13:35 18:59 | 13:35 18:59 | 13:35 18:59 | 13:35 18:59 | 13:35 18:59 |
| Pick 2 | 13:35 18:59 | 13:35 18:59 | 13:35 18:59 | 13:35 18:59 | 13:35 18:59 | 13:35 18:59 | 13:35 18:59 |
Pennsylvania Lottery Odds and Jackpots
Although Pick 2 has the best odds, the most lucrative jackpots can be obtained through Mega Millions and Powerball. Cash4Life is also a particularly attractive game, given the odds and potential prizes on offer.
| Lottery Game | Winning Odds | Minimum Jackpot |
|---|---|---|
| Mega Millions | 1 in 302,575,350 | $40 million |
| Powerball | 1 in 292,201,338 | $40 million |
| Cash4Life | 1 in 21,846,048 | $1,000 a day for life ($7 million if players take the lump-sum option) |
| Match 6 | 1 in 13,983,816 | $500,000 |
| Cash 5 | 1 in 962,598 | Depends on ticket sales |
| Millionaire Raffle | 1 in 500,000 | $1 million |
| Treasure Hunt | 1 in 142,506 | Depends on ticket sales |
| Pick 5 | 1 in 100,000 | $50,000 |
| Pick 4 | 1 in 10,000 | $2,500 |
| Pick 3 | 1 in 1,000 | $250 |
| Pick 2 | 1 in 100 | $50 |
Pennsylvania Lottery Advance Play Options
All regular Pennsylvania Lottery games have Advance Play options, with the number of draws that can be entered at once being highlighted in the table below.
| Lottery Game | No. of Advance Draws Players Can Enter |
|---|---|
| Pick 2 | Up to 7 |
| Pick 3 | Up to 7 |
| Pick 4 | Up to 7 |
| Pick 5 | Up to 7 |
| Cash 5 | Up to 7 |
| Treasure Hunt | Up to 7 |
| Cash4Life | Up to 10 |
| Powerball | Up to 20 |
| Match 6 | Up to 26 |
| Mega Millions | Up to 26 |
Pennsylvania Lottery Scratch-Offs
Scratch-offs can pay out multiple prizes, with jackpots typically being proportional to the cost of the scratch-off itself.
Pennsylvania Lottery scratch-offs range inprice from $1.00 to $30, with jackpots ranging from $2,500 to $1 million!
Lower-priced games have winning odds of around 1 in 5, with the more lucrative games having winning odds of around 1 in 3.
Detailed information about scratch-offs, prize tiers, payouts and odds is available on the official Pennsylvania Lottery website .
Pennsylvania Lottery Tax Information
The tables below highlight taxes payable on Pennsylvania Lottery prizes.
Pennsylvania Lottery Taxes for U.S. citizens and residents amount to 27.07% on prizes over $5,000, as detailed below.
| Prize Value | Tax | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Over $5,000 | State Taxes | 3.07% |
| Federal Taxes | 24% |
Pennsylvania Lottery Taxes for non-U.S. citizens or non-residents amount to 33.07% on all prizes over $5,000, as detailed below.
| Prize Value | Tax | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Over $5,000 | State Taxes | 3.07% |
| Federal Taxes | 30% |
How to Claim Pennsylvania Lottery Payouts
There are multiple ways that winnings can be collected in Pennsylvania.
Prizes of $2,500 or less can be claimed:
- At Pennsylvania Lottery retailers
- By mail
Some retailers have policies regarding how much cash can be paid out by employees. Players are therefore advised to check that retailers can make payouts before travelling.
Most prizes exceeding $2,500 can be claimed:
- At Pennsylvania Lottery Claim Centers
- At Pennsylvania Lottery Headquarters
- By mail
Mega Millions, Powerball and Cash4Life jackpots must be claimed in person at Pennsylvania Lottery Headquarters.
All claims for prizes exceeding $600 must include the signed winning lottery ticket and a completed Claim Form .
How to Contact the Pennsylvania Lottery
| Operator | Games | Official Website | Main Address | Local Tel. No. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania Lottery | Powerball Mega Millions Cash4Life Treasure Hunt Millionaire Raffle Match 6 Cash 5 Pick 5 Pick 4 Pick 3 Pick 2 | https://www.palottery.state.pa.us/ | 1200 Fulling Mill Road, Suite One, Middletown, PA 17057, USA | 1-833-530-7529 |
Which Pennsylvania Lottery scratch-off has the biggest jackpot?
Although the value of the most lucrative Pennsylvania Lottery scratch-offs change on a periodic basis, the biggest jackpot on offer is typically around $3 million.
Can I buy Pennsylvania Lottery tickets online?
Powerball, Mega Millions, Cash4Life and Treasure Hunt are all available online, with tickets for other games only being sold at authorized Pennsylvania Lottery retailers.
How much tax is paid on Pennsylvania Lottery winnings?
Taxation on Pennsylvania Lottery winnings depends on player residency and citizenship.
For U.S. citizens and residents, 27.07% tax is levied on all Pennsylvania Lottery prizes over $5,000, of which 3.07% is state tax and 24% is federal tax.
Non-U.S. citizens or non-residents pay 33.07% tax on all prizes over $5,000, of which 3.07% is state tax and 30% is federal tax.
How do Pennsylvania Lottery winners get paid?
Some Pennsylvania lottery games pay out regular instalments or lump sums, while others pay out lump sums only.
How long does it take to receive Pennsylvania Lottery winnings?
All prizes claimed in person are paid out the same day.
All prizes claimed by mail take up to six weeks to process. Prizes claimed in December may have to wait until January so that payments and tax forms can be issued in the same calendar year.
How is the $1,000 a day Cash4Life jackpot paid out?
Players who win the Cash4Life jackpot will receive annual payments of $365,000 for the rest of their lives, or a lump sum of $7 million.
If there are multiple jackpot winners, a lump sum of $7 million will be split equally between them.
Cash4Life annuity payouts are guaranteed for a minimum of 20 years, so if the winner dies before receiving 20 years of payouts, the remaining payments will go to their estate.
