Ohio Lottery Information (2024)

The Ohio Lottery offers a wide selection of games, including Ohio Classic Lotto with Kicker, Powerball, Mega Millions, Lucky for Life, Pick 3, Pick 4, Pick 5 and Rolling Cash 5.

Find out more about what's on offer in the Buckeye State, including a draw schedule, plus information on claiming prizes and the history of the Ohio Lottery.



Buying Tickets

You can purchase Ohio Lottery tickets from over 9,000 authorized retailers across the state. You can also order tickets online via courier services such as Jackpot.com. Your tickets are then purchased on your behalf, with scanned copies uploaded to your player account. If you're visiting from another part of the USA, you'll need to make sure you claim any winnings before you return home.

Ohio Lottery Drawing Schedule

Check the timetable below to find out the closing times for ticket sales and the next drawing day for your favorite OH games:

GameDraw DaysDraw Times*Ticket Sales Close At*
PowerballMonday, Wednesday & Saturday10:59 PM10:00 PM
Mega MillionsTuesday & Friday11:00 PM10:45 PM
Lucky for LifeDaily10:38 PM9:30 PM
Lotto with KickerMonday, Wednesday & Saturday7:05 PM7:00 PM
Pick 3Daily12:29 PM & 7:29 PM12:25 PM & 7:25 PM
Pick 4Daily12:29 PM & 7:29 PM12:25 PM & 7:25 PM
Pick 5Daily12:29 PM & 7:29 PM12:25 PM & 7:25 PM
Rolling Cash 5Daily7:05 PM7:00 PM
*Times are shown in EST. Ticket sales for the Saturday evening Pick 3, Pick 4 & Pick 5 drawings are open until 7:45 PM.

Game Information

In addition to Powerball and Mega Millions, residents of Ohio and surrounding states can play a number of fun home-grown games:

Classic Lotto & Kicker

Classic Lotto is a draw game that offers big jackpots every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday evening at 7:05 PM. The top prize starts at $1 million and can roll over by at least $100,000 per drawing until a player matches all six numbers drawn. Tickets cost just $1 and players select six numbers from 1 to 49 or use an Auto Pick to create a random entry. Jackpot winners can opt for 30 annual payments or a lump-sum amount.

Kicker is played alongside Classic Lotto for an additional cost of just $1 and gives players the chance to win up to $100,000. A six-digit number is generated on the night of the draw and players must match it in exact order to win the top prize.

Pick 3

Ohio Pick 3 is drawn twice daily. Sunday to Friday the draws are held at 12:29pm and 7:29pm EST, the Saturday midday draw is also held at 12:29pm but the Saturday evening draw occurs slightly later around 7:30 to 8pm EST in order to be broadcast during the Cash Explosion television show.

Pick 4

Ohio Pick 4 is also played two times daily, with the Midday and Evening draws held alongside the Pick 3 drawings. Players can choose from Straight or Box wagers, with entries costing as little as $0.50.

Pick 5

Ohio Pick 5 has the same draw times as the other Pick games, with Midday and Evening draws held seven days a week. The game offers the chance to win up to $50,000 on a $1 bet.

Rolling Cash 5

Rolling Cash 5 is a fun and easy game that offers a starting jackpot of $100,000. Like many other Match 5 games in the United States, players play $1 and select five numbers from 1 to 39. Drawings are held daily around 7:05 PM.

Other Games

Other Ohio Lottery games include a choice of EZPlay options and Keno. If you want to play right away without waiting for a drawing to take place, why not try the instant games sold at authorized retail locations? These scratchcards cost anywhere from $1 to $30 per ticket and offer an amazing variety of fun cash prizes.

Claiming Prizes

All Ohio Lottery prizes must be claimed within 180 days of the date of the relevant draw, the date of game closure for instant games, or date of purchase for EZPLAY prizes.

If you win a prize on Powerball, Mega Millions, Classic Lotto or Rolling Cash 5, your winnings can be redeemed after 6:00 AM the day after the drawing.

Winners can claim prizes under $5,000 by mail - see below for details.

Prizes worth $599 or less can also be claimed from any authorized retailer.

Prizes worth between $600 and $5,000 may be claimed using a Pay to Bearer certificate, which can be obtained from any authorized retailer. You can then use a claim form to have your winnings paid to you.

Prizes worth more than $5,000 must be claimed at one of the following regional lottery centers:

  • Brooklyn Heights (Cleveland)
  • Toledo
  • Dayton
  • Cincinnati
  • Columbus
  • Athens
  • North Canton
  • Youngstown
  • Lorain

Federal withholding taxes of 25 percent apply to larger prizes, with the state of Ohio adding their own tax of four percent to larger winnings.

Claim a prize by mail

Prizes below $5,000 may be redeemed via mail. Sign and print your name on the back of the ticket and send to the address below.

If you won over $600, you'll need to send the following:

  1. Completed original ticket
  2. Completed claim form
  3. Copy of photo ID, e.g. driver's license, verifying your current address

Send to:

The Ohio Lottery
The Lausche Building - Room 452
615 West Superior Avenue
Cleveland, OH 44113

History of the Ohio Lottery

Voters approved a constitutional amendment in May 1973 establishing the current Ohio Lottery, with ticket sales for the first game, called Buckeye 300, starting in August 1974. In 1983, profits from ticket sales began to be transferred to education. Ohio Lotto started that same year.

The Ohio Lottery joined Mega Millions in 2002 and Powerball in April 2010. More than $32 billion has been allocated to educational initiatives in the state since the Ohio Lottery began, providing valuable funds for K-12 and special education as well as vocational programs.

Rules

You must be at least 18 years old to play Ohio Lottery games.

Ohio Lottery Information (2024)

FAQs

How do I know if my name was called on Cash Explosion? ›

Announced contestants will be contacted by a Cash Explosion® Team Member via phone, email or USPS, usually within a week of the announcement date. It is important to make sure your My Lotto Rewards account information is accurate and up to date.

Which lottery has the best odds of winning in Ohio? ›

Rolling Cash 5: As a daily draw game, Rolling Cash 5 offers some of the best odds for jackpot wins in Ohio, with odds of 1 in 575,757. This makes it an appealing choice for players looking for regular opportunities to win substantial prizes.

Why would the Ohio Lottery have my social security number? ›

Your Social Security number will be used to verify your identity. The Lottery takes data security very seriously and all information provided will be treated as confidential information.

Do you have to identify yourself in Ohio Lottery? ›

If you are fortunate to win a significant lottery jackpot in Ohio it is your legal right to remain anonymous. The Buckeye state is one of the few states in the country to allow this.

How does the Ohio Lottery contact you if you win a drawing? ›

Unless you specifically entered a promotion or second-chance drawing sponsored by the Ohio Lottery Commission, you will never be contacted by us informing you that you have won a prize. Be sure you are on the Ohio Lottery's office social channels when talking about the lottery online.

How do I get into an Ohio Cash Explosion? ›

Become a Contestant

Purchase a $1 OR $2 Cash Explosion instant ticket or the NEW $2 Cash Explosion Cashword ticket from any Ohio Lottery retailer. Scratch the ticket, and look for “Entry” three times or the word ENTRY in the bonus box on the Cashword ticket.

Has Ohio ever had a Powerball winner? ›

Only five Ohio tickets have won the Powerball jackpot in 14-plus years. In the 14-plus years that Ohio has participated in the Powerball lottery, only five jackpot-winning tickets have been sold in the Buckeye state, the last one on Wednesday, July 3 at the Huber Heights Walmart.

How much tax is taken out of lottery winnings in Ohio? ›

State tax rates on lottery winnings vary. If you live in Ohio, your state tax rate for lottery winnings is 3.5%. So after federal and state taxes, that leaves you with $277,906,812. If you live in Georgia, your state lottery tax is 5.49%.

What price lottery tickets win the most? ›

More expensive tickets (i.e., those that are $5 USD and up) not only have higher payouts but also a higher percentage of winners: it has a higher jackpot, and cash prizes are spread out among more people. In other words, a $1 USD ticket might be super cheap, but the top prize is pretty low: maybe around $300 USD.

Can you lose your Social Security benefits if you win the lottery? ›

How About Your Retirement Benefits? Just like SSDI, social security retirement benefits are earned benefits. This means winning the lottery will have no impact on your retirement benefits. But it may impact your taxes on your benefits since lottery winnings have to be reported to the IRS.

How long does it take to get your money from the Ohio Lottery? ›

How long does it take for the customer to receive their winnings in their bank account? Please allow 1-3 business days for a bank account. Please remember, the first transfer will take up to 7-10 days as the bank account information is verified.

Who can take your lottery winnings in Ohio? ›

(1) A lottery prize award shall be claimed by the holder of a winning ticket, or by the executor or administrator of the estate or the trustee of a trust, of a deceased holder of a winning ticket, in the manner prescribed in rule 3770:1-8-02 of the Administrative Code.

How long do you have to claim lottery winnings in Ohio? ›

All tickets have limited validation periods established by the Ohio Lottery Commission. Present rules call for tickets to be cashed within 180 days of the drawing date, or 180 days from game closing (Scratch-Offs). For all EZPLAY Games, tickets must be cashed within 180 days of purchase.

Do you have to use cash for Ohio Lottery? ›

What types of payments are accepted? The card reader will accept Visa, Mastercard, and Discover and any eWallet associated with one of these cards; ie. Apple Pay, Android Pay, and Samsung Pay.

What kind of trust is best for lottery winnings? ›

Workers or family members commonly pool resources and enter the lottery using the same number. Only one entity can claim the lottery prize. Thus, funding an irrevocable trust for all the winners ensures a fair distribution of the lump sum payment.

How are Cash Explosion contestants chosen? ›

Winning selections are determined by a random number generator and verified by the Ohio Auditor of State. Contestants will be contacted and prepped for their appearance on the Cash Explosion® Game Show per the Cash Explosion® Game Show Procedures.

Is Cash Explosion live or taped? ›

The show originated in Cleveland and is now taped by Mills James Productions in Columbus, Ohio.

What time is Cash Explosion on in Ohio? ›

Draw Times

Monday through Friday evening drawings are broadcast statewide. Saturday evening drawings occur during the Cash Explosion® television show, which airs from 7:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

How long are Ohio Lottery tickets good for? ›

All tickets have limited validation periods established by the Ohio Lottery Commission. Present rules call for tickets to be cashed within 180 days of the drawing date, or 180 days from game closing (Scratch-Offs). For all EZPLAY Games, tickets must be cashed within 180 days of purchase.

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