Lottery guides
Plain-English answers, checked against official sources. Each guide lists its sources and the date we last updated it.
The basics
How Lottery Drawings Work: Inside Powerball and Mega Millions
Where Powerball and Mega Millions draw their numbers, the machines and ball sets they use, who watches every drawing, and how results reach you.
How to Play Mega Millions: The $5 Game With a Built-In Multiplier
Mega Millions costs $5 with a multiplier on every play. Pick five numbers from 1 to 70 and a Mega Ball from 1 to 24. Here's how draws and prizes work.
How to Play Powerball: Numbers, Draws, Power Play and Prizes
Pick five numbers from 1 to 69 and a Powerball from 1 to 26 for $2. Here's how the drawings, Power Play, Double Play, prizes and ticket checks work.
How to Run a Lottery Pool: A Simple Setup Guide
Put the deal in writing, collect money up front, share ticket copies, and agree how small wins and big prizes get split. Here's how to run a smooth pool.
Lottery Number Patterns: Myths, Math and What the Data Shows
Hot streaks, birthday picks and AI forecasts: a fun look at lottery number myths, why every draw is truly random, and the one thing your picks can change.
Lump Sum vs. Annuity: How Jackpot Payouts Work
The cash option pays a smaller amount all at once. The annuity pays the full advertised jackpot over 29 years. Here's how each one works.
Second-Chance Drawings: How to Enter Your Non-Winning Tickets
Many state lotteries let you enter non-winning tickets for extra prize drawings. Here's how second-chance programs work and how to find the one in your state.
The Biggest Powerball and Mega Millions Jackpots Ever
Every billion-dollar Powerball and Mega Millions jackpot ever won, with cash values, draw dates and states, plus the big wins of 2025 and 2026.
Taxes and payouts
Rules and buying online
Buying Lottery Tickets Online: How Official State Sales Work
17 states and DC sell lottery tickets online in some form. Here's how official accounts, location checks and subscriptions work, and where couriers fit in.
How to Claim a Lottery Prize: Steps, Deadlines and Where to Go
Sign your ticket, check your state's deadline, and know where to go: stores pay small prizes, while claim centers and headquarters handle bigger ones.
Lottery Couriers Explained: How They Work, State by State
Lottery couriers buy real paper tickets for you at licensed stores. Seven states ban them, five regulate them, and most states have no specific law.
What to Do If You Win the Lottery: Your First Steps
Congratulations! Sign your ticket, keep it safe, check your state's claim rules and deadline, and line up tax and legal advice before you claim.