Ohio Lottery Games
Founded in May 1973, the first Ohio Lottery draw took place in August the following year. Today, the Ohio Lottery offers a wide range of multi-jurisdictional and state-wide games, with multiple chances to win significant sums of cash every day.
Proceeds from the Ohio Lottery have been used as a revenue stream for state education at all levels since 1983.
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 numbers manually or go for a Quick Pick. A Power Play option is also available, costing $1.00 for the chance to multiply non-jackpot prizes by up to 10 times.
Players can add Double Play to their ticket for an additional $1.00 using the same set of chosen numbers, for an extra draw with a $10 million jackpot.
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 being available for random selections. Mega Millions has an additional Megaplier feature for $1.00, for the chance to boost non-jackpot prizes by up to 10 times.
Lucky for Life
Lucky for Life is a popular lottery game played across 23 states and the District of Columbia, giving players the chance to win $1,000 a day (paid out as $365,000 annually) for the rest of their lives, or the option to take home a lump sum of $5.75 million.
Tickets cost $2.00, with players choosing five main numbers from 1 to 48 and a Lucky Ball number between 1 and 18. Quick Pick is also available for random selections.
Classic Lotto
Classic Lotto is a traditional 6 from 49 lottery that costs just $1.00 to enter.
Players need to choose six numbers from 1 to 49 or can go for a Quick Pick for random selections.
For an extra $1.00, players can add a KICKER for the chance to win prizes from $10 to $100,000.
KENO
KENO has multiple entry and stake-based options, plus the opportunity to enhance the base prize by adding a prize multiplier.
Players must decide on how many numbers to match from 1 to 10, before choosing the relevant number of selections between 1 and 80. Quick Picks are available for random selections, with participants choosing a stake of $1.00, $2.00, $3.00, $4.00, $5.00, $10 and $20.
Players can also add a Booster as a prize multiplier, chosen before each draw to multiply prizes by up to 10 times.
Rolling Cash 5
Rolling Cash 5 is a straightforward lottery game that costs just $1.00 to enter.
Players must choose five numbers from 1 to 39 or can go for a Quick Pick to enter with random selections.
Pick 5
Pick 5 has multiple entry options, with stakes of $0.50 and $1.00 being available.
Players must choose five numbers from 0 to 9, and because each number is chosen independently, repeat selections can be made. Participants 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.
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 or in any order.
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. Players then select the type of bet to place, with exact order, any order, front and back pair, and split pair options available.
Participants can also go for a WHEEL bet: essentially a Combo entry with every possible combination of the numbers on the ticket. This increases the odds of winning, but results in a ticket price of $3.00 or $6.00.
The Lucky One
The Lucky One is a straightforward single-number lottery game. Entry starts at $1.00, with stakes of up to $50 being available.
Players choose a single number between 1 and 36 or can go for a Quick Pick for randomly chosen selections. Alternatively, participants can specify an odd or even number or a high or low number chosen at random.
Ohio Lottery Game Schedule
The table below provides an overview of the schedule for each Ohio lottery game.
| Lottery Game | MON | TUE | WED | THU | FRI | SAT | SUN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mega Millions | 23:00 | 23:00 | |||||
| Powerball | 23:00 | 23:00 | 23:00 | ||||
| Lucky for Life | 22:35 | 22:35 | 22:35 | 22:35 | 22:35 | 22:35 | 22:35 |
| Classic Lotto | 19:05 | 19:05 | 19:05 | ||||
| KENO | Every few minutes, from 06:04 to 02:29 | ||||||
| Rolling Cash 5 | 19:05 | 19:05 | 19:05 | 19:05 | 19:05 | 19:05 | 19:05 |
| Pick 5 | 12:29 19:29 | 12:29 19:29 | 12:29 19:29 | 12:29 19:29 | 12:29 19:29 | 12:29 19:49 | 12:29 19:29 |
| Pick 4 | 12:29 19:29 | 12:29 19:29 | 12:29 19:29 | 12:29 19:29 | 12:29 19:29 | 12:29 19:49 | 12:29 19:29 |
| Pick 3 | 12:29 19:29 | 12:29 19:29 | 12:29 19:29 | 12:29 19:29 | 12:29 19:29 | 12:29 19:49 | 12:29 19:29 |
| The Lucky One | Every few minutes from 06:07 to 02:32 | ||||||
Ohio Lottery Odds and Jackpots
Although The Lucky One has the best odds, the most lucrative jackpots can be obtained through Mega Millions, Powerball and Lucky for Life. With far better odds than KENO for the same initial jackpot and the potential for repeated rollovers, Rolling Cash 5 is also a highly attractive game.
| Lottery Game | Winning Odds | Minimum Jackpot |
|---|---|---|
| Mega Millions | 1 in 302,575,350 | $40 million |
| Powerball | 1 in 292,201,338 | $40 million |
| Lucky for Life | 1 in 30,821,472 | $1,000 a day for life ($5.75 million if players take the lump-sum option) |
| Classic Lotto | 1 in 13,983,816 | $1 million |
| KENO | 1 in 8,911,711 | $100,000 |
| Rolling Cash 5 | 1 in 575,757 | $100,000 |
| Pick 5 | 1 in 100,000 | $25,000 |
| Pick 4 | 1 in 10,000 | $2,500 |
| Pick 3 | 1 in 1,000 | $250 |
| The Lucky One | 1 in 36 | $24 |
Ohio Lottery Advance Play Options
All Ohio 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 |
|---|---|
| Mega Millions | Up to 10 |
| Powerball | Up to 10 |
| Lucky for Life | Up to 10 |
| Classic Lotto | Up to 10 |
| Rolling Cash 5 | Up to 14 |
| The Lucky One | Up to 20 |
| Pick 3 | Up to 28 |
| Pick 4 | Up to 28 |
| Pick 5 | Up to 28 |
| KENO | Up to 50 |
Ohio Lottery Scratch-Offs
Scratch-offs can pay out multiple prizes, with jackpots typically being proportional to the cost of the scratch-off itself.
Ohio Lottery scratch-offs range in price from $1.00 to $30 , with jackpots ranging from $1,000 to $10 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.
In Ohio, scratch-offs remain on sale even after all top prizes have been won. Players can check the Ohio Lottery website to see which scratch-offs are still on sale, plus all remaining prizes.
Detailed information about scratch-offs, prize tiers, payouts and odds is available on the official Ohio Lottery website .
Ohio Lottery Tax Information
The tables below highlight taxes payable on Ohio Lottery prizes.
Ohio Lottery Taxes for U.S. citizens and residents amount to 28% on prizes over $5,000, as detailed below.
| Prize Value | Tax | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Over $5,000 | State Taxes | 4% |
| Federal Taxes | 24% |
Ohio Lottery Taxes for non-U.S. citizens or non-residents amount to 34% on all prizes over $5,000, as detailed below.
| Prize Value | Tax | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Over $5,000 | State Taxes | 4% |
| Federal Taxes | 30% |
How to Claim Ohio Lottery Payouts
There are multiple ways that winnings can be collected in Ohio.
Prizes under $600 can be claimed at Ohio Lottery retailers.
Prizes between $600 and $5,000 can be claimed:
- At the Cedar Downs or Northfield Park claim centers
- At any of Ohio’s seven casinos
- At Ohio Lottery Super Retailer locations
- Using the Ohio Lottery app
- By mail
Prizes exceeding $5,000 can be claimed:
- By contacting the Ohio Lottery to make an appointment
- Using the Ohio Lottery online claim form
- By mail
All non-online claims for prizes exceeding $600 must include the signed winning lottery ticket, a copy of a valid photo ID and a completed Claim Form .
How to Contact the Ohio Lottery
| Operator | Games | Official Website | Main Address | Local Tel. No. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio Lottery | Powerball Mega Millions KENO Lucky for Life Classic Lotto Rolling Cash 5 Pick 5 Pick 4 Pick 3 The Lucky One | https://www.ohiolottery.com/Default.aspx | The Lausche Building – Room 452, 615 West Superior Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44113, USA | 1-800-686-4208 |
Which Ohio Lottery scratch-off has the biggest jackpot?
Although the value of the most lucrative Ohio Lottery scratch-offs change on a periodic basis, the biggest jackpot on offer is typically around $10 million.
Can I buy Ohio Lottery tickets online?
No, tickets are only available from authorized Ohio Lottery retailers.
How much tax is paid on Ohio Lottery winnings?
Taxation on Ohio Lottery winnings depends on player residency and citizenship.
For U.S. citizens and residents, 28% tax is levied on all Ohio Lottery prizes over $5,000, of which 4% is state tax and 24% is federal tax.
Non-U.S. citizens or non-residents pay 34% tax on all prizes over $5,000, of which 4% is state tax and 30% is federal tax.
How do Ohio Lottery winners get paid?
Some Ohio lottery games pay in regular installments or lump sums, while others pay out lump sums only.
How long does it take to receive Ohio Lottery winnings?
All prizes claimed in person at Ohio Lottery Retailers, Ohio Lottery Super Retailers,Ohio Lottery Claim Centers and Casinos are generally paid out the same day.
All prizes claimed by mail are paid by check within 30 days.
How is the $1,000 a day Lucky for Life jackpot paid out?
Players who win the Lucky for Life jackpot will receive annual payments of $365,000 for the rest of their lives, or a lump sum of $5.75 million.
If there are multiple Lucky for Life jackpot winners, a lump sum of $5.75 million will be split equally between them.
Lucky for Life 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.
