Washington Lottery Games
Founded in November 1982, the Washington’s Lottery (its official name) offers a selection of multi-jurisdictional and locally run games, including opportunities to win significant sums of money every day.
Proceeds from the Washington Lottery are mostly used to fund educational initiatives, with cash also being committed to the state’s General Fund, to economic development and to support problem gambling groups.
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. A Power Play option is also available, costing $1.00 for the chance to multiply non-jackpot prizes by up to 10 times.
For an additional $1.00, players can add Double Play to their ticket using the same set of chosen numbers, for an additional 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 available for those wishing to play with random selections. Mega Millions has an additional Megaplier option for $1.00, for the chance to multiply non-jackpot prizes by up to 10 times.
Lotto
Lotto is a traditional lottery using the familiar 6 from 49 format. Entry costs $1.00 for two sets of six numbers from 1 to 49, with Quick Picks also available for random selections.
Daily Keno
Daily Keno has multiple entry-based and stake-based options.
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 needing to choose a stake of $1.00, $2.00, $3.00, $4.00, $5.00, $10 or $20.
Hit 5
Hit 5 is a straightforward lottery that costs just $1.00 to enter.
Players choose five numbers between 1 and 42 or can go for a Quick Pick to enter with randomly chosen numbers.
Match 4
Match 4 is an easy-to-play lottery game that costs $2.00 to enter.
Participants must choose four numbers between 1 and 24 or can go for a Quick Pick to play with random selections.
Pick 3
Pick 3 has multiple entry options, with initial stakes of $0.50 and $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 numbers in the order drawn, in any order, or on matching the front or back pairs of numbers in exact order.
Players can also choose a Superbox bet: a Combo bet with every possible combination of the three player-chosen numbers. This increases the ticket cost to as much as $6.00 depending on the numbers chosen.
Washington Lottery Game Schedule
The table below provides an overview of the schedule for each Washington lottery game.
| Lottery Game | MON | TUE | WED | THU | FRI | SAT | SUN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mega Millions | 19:59 | 19:59 | |||||
| Powerball | 19:59 | 19:59 | 19:59 | ||||
| Lotto | 20:00 | 20:00 | 20:00 | ||||
| Daily Keno | 20:00 | 20:00 | 20:00 | 20:00 | 20:00 | 20:00 | 20:00 |
| Hit 5 | 20:00 | 20:00 | 20:00 | 20:00 | 20:00 | 20:00 | 20:00 |
| Match 4 | 20:00 | 20:00 | 20:00 | 20:00 | 20:00 | 20:00 | 20:00 |
| Pick 3 | 20:00 | 20:00 | 20:00 | 20:00 | 20:00 | 20:00 | 20:00 |
Washington Lottery Odds and Jackpots
Although Pick 3 has the best odds, the most lucrative jackpots can be obtained through Mega Millions and Powerball.
| Lottery Game | Winning Odds | Minimum Jackpot |
|---|---|---|
| Mega Millions | 1 in 302,575,350 | $40 million |
| Powerball | 1 in 292,201,338 | $40 million |
| Lotto | 1 in 13,983,816 | $1 million |
| Daily Keno | 1 in 8,911,711 | $100,000 |
| Hit 5 | 1 in 850,668 | $100,000 |
| Match 4 | 1 in 10,626 | $10,000 |
| Pick 3 | 1 in 1,000 | $250 |
Washington Lottery Advance Play Options
All Washington 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 24 |
| Lotto | Up to 25 |
| Hit 5 | Up to 25 |
| Match 4 | Up to 25 |
| Pick 3 | Up to 25 |
| Daily Keno | Up to 25 |
Washington Lottery Scratch-Offs
Known as Scratch Games in Washington, scratch-offs can pay out multiple prizes, with jackpots typically being proportional to the cost of the scratch-off itself.
Washington Lottery scratch-offs range inprice from $1.00 to $30, with jackpots ranging from $999 to $500,000 for games that pay as lump sums, and up to $2 million for games with annual payments.
Lower-priced games have winning odds of around 1 in 4, with the more lucrative games having winning odds of around 1 in 3.
Washington Lottery Scratch Games are removed from sale once all top prizes have been claimed, with players having 180 days to claim prizes for the respective game.
Detailed information about scratch-offs, prize tiers, payouts and odds is available on the official Washington Lottery website .
Washington Lottery Tax Information
The tables below highlight taxes payable on Washington Lottery prizes.
Washington Lottery Taxes for U.S. citizens and residents amount to 24% on prizes over $5,000, as detailed below.
| Prize Value | Tax | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Over $5,000 | Federal Taxes | 24% |
Washington Lottery Taxes for non-U.S. citizens or non-residents amount to 30% on all prizes over $5,000, as detailed below.
| Prize Value | Tax | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Over $5,000 | Federal Taxes | 30% |
How to Claim Washington Lottery Payouts
There are multiple ways that winnings can be collected in Washington.
Prizes under $600 can be claimed:
- At Washington Lottery Retailers
- By mail
Prizes between $600 and $99,999 can be claimed:
- At any Washington Lottery Claim Center
- By mail
Prizes of $100,000 and over can only be claimed in person at Washington Lottery Headquarters.
All claims for prizes exceeding $600 must include the signed winning lottery ticket, a copy of a valid photo ID and a Social Security card, plus a completed claim form . Players who prefer payment by bank transfer need to provide a voided check to confirm bank details.
How to Contact the Washington Lottery
| Operator | Games | Official Website | Main Address | Local Tel. No. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington’s Lottery | Powerball Mega Millions Lotto Hit 5 Match 4 Pick 3 Daily Keno | https://www.walottery.com/ | 814 4th Avenue East, Olympia, WA 98506, USA | 1-360-810-2888 |
Which Washington Lottery scratch-off has the biggest jackpot?
Although the value of the most lucrative Washington Lottery scratch-offs change on a periodic basis, the biggest lump-sum jackpot is typically around $500,000. Scratch-offs with annual payments have a jackpot of around $80,000 a year for 25 years, for a total prize of $2 million.
Can I buy Washington Lottery tickets online?
No, tickets are only sold at authorized Washington Lottery retailers.
How much tax is paid on Washington Lottery winnings?
Taxation on Washington Lottery winnings depends on player residency and citizenship; however, Washington is just one of a handful of U.S. states that doesn’t levy state taxes on lottery gains.
For U.S. citizens and residents, 24% federal tax is levied on all Washington Lottery prizes over $5,000.
Non-U.S. citizens or non-residents pay 30% federal tax on all prizes over $5,000.
How do Washington Lottery winners get paid?
Some Washington lottery games pay out regular installments or lump sums, while others pay out lump sums only.
How long does it take to receive Washington Lottery winnings?
All prizes claimed in person at Washington Lottery Retailers, Washington Lottery Claim Centers and Washington Lottery Headquarters are paid out the same day.
All prizes claimed by mail will be processed in the order received. Although the Washington Lottery does not set out a specific timeline for payouts, players can expect to wait up to a month for winnings.
