How to Play Lotto America
Lotto America has a similar format to Powerball and Mega Millions, as you have to pick five main numbers from one pool and one extra number from a separate set. There's also an optional multiplier, in this case the All Star Bonus.
Drawings take place every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday evening at 10:15pm Eastern Time. You can currently take part in 13 states - Delaware, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Montana, Minnesota, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee and West Virginia.
The steps below outline how to play Lotto America:
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Pick your numbers
You have to select five numbers from 1 to 52 for the main red balls. You also have to choose one Star Ball from a separate pool of 1 to 10, so this can be the same as one of your main numbers. The simplest way to play is by Quick Pick, also known as an Easy Pick, where your selections are generated at random.
Add the All Star Bonus
The All Star Bonus is a multiplier which boosts the value of non-jackpot prizes by 2, 3, 4 or 5 times. You need to decide whether to add this when you buy your ticket, for an extra $1 per play.
Choose how many draws
Enter just the upcoming drawing or multiple drawings in a row. When you play several draws in advance, it saves you from having to go out to buy more tickets in the meantime.
Pay for entries and wait for the draw
Lotto America costs just $1 per play (twice as much if you add the All Star Bonus). Make sure to get your entries in on time, then keep them safe and sit back until the drawing takes place. See the latest winning numbers as soon as they are drawn.
Each of the Participating States lotteries has its own specific rules regarding the exact time when sales close, or how many drawings you can play in advance.
All Star Bonus
The All Star Bonus works very much like Power Play in Powerball, or Mega Millions' Megaplier. It is not a feature that is automatically included when you play, so make sure to select the All Star Bonus option and pay an extra $1 if you want to be eligible for a larger payout than the standard prize value.
The multiplier is randomly selected just before the drawing, from a set of numbers marked 2x, 3x, 4x or 5x. If you win a prize, it will be increased by the value of that multiplier. The only exception is the jackpot, which cannot be multiplied. Go to the Odds page to find out the chances of each All Star Bonus multiplier being drawn.
How to Win
Lotto America has the same prize levels as Powerball and Mega Millions. You can win just by having the same Star Ball as the winning line, or there are eight other categories if you match more numbers.
To win the grand prize, you need to match all five of the main red balls and the blue Star Ball. The jackpot starts at $2 million and grows until it is won. It is split between players if there are multiple winners. All the other payouts are fixed amounts.
The overall odds of winning a Lotto America prize are 1 in 9.63, while the chances of winning the jackpot are 1 in 25,989,600 - around 10 times better than the chances of winning Powerball or Mega Millions. More information can be found on the Odds and Prizes page.
Claiming Prizes
You need to claim any Lotto America prizes you win in the same state as you bought your ticket. The process depends on your location and how much you have won, but small prizes can always be claimed from retailers and the majority of larger prizes can be claimed by mail. Visit the How to Claim page for more information.
