Lotto America
How to Play
Lotto America isn’t that different from other lottery games, meaning the main goal is to get the numbers right and win the highest prize. Still, if you have no experience playing lottery games, here’s how you can enjoy Lotto America.
Buy a Ticket
First of all, you need to buy a ticket to take part in Lotto America. They cost $1 and are available at lottery outlets in Delaware, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Minnesota, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, and Tennessee. You can pay extra to multiply your potential rewards. They can be multiplied up to five times, and the multiplier is randomly selected before every draw.
Select Numbers
Select five numbers from one to 52 — these are your red ball numbers. However, players are also required to select their Lotto America Star Ball® from 1 to 10. If you don’t feel like picking the numbers yourself, you can use the Quick Pick feature to generate your ticket numbers randomly.
Check Results
After the drawings take place, compare your selected numbers to learn whether you’ve won a prize. To get the biggest prize, you need to guess all five red balls right, as well as the star ball. The good news is that there are lower prizes for tickets that get some of the numbers right.
Lotto America Drawing Schedule
Lotto America drawings take place two times a week — every Wednesday and Saturday at 9:00pm CST.
Payouts, Odds, and Rules
Let’s take a look at the payout table below to see the prizes you can win by taking part in Lotto America.
| Combination | Prize | x2 | x3 | x4 | x5 |
| Five red balls + star ball | Grand Prize | Grand Prize | Grand Prize | Grand Prize | Grand Prize |
| Five red balls | $20,000 | $40,000 | $60,000 | $80,000 | $100,000 |
| Four red balls + star ball | $1,000 | $2,000 | $3,000 | $4,000 | $5,000 |
| Four red balls | $100 | $200 | $300 | $400 | $500 |
| Three red balls + star ball | $20 | $40 | $60 | $80 | $100 |
| Three red balls | $5 | $10 | $15 | $20 | $25 |
| Two red balls + star ball | $5 | $10 | $15 | $20 | $25 |
| One red ball + star ball | $2 | $4 | $6 | $8 | $10 |
| One star ball | $2 | $4 | $6 | $8 | $10 |
Let’s now explore the odds of winning the prizes listed above.
| Combination | Odds |
| Five red balls + star ball | 1 in 25,989,600 |
| Five red balls | 1 in 2,887,733 |
| Four red balls + star ball | 1 in 110,594 |
| Four red balls | 1 in 12,288 |
| Three red balls + star ball | 1 in 2,404 |
| Three red balls | 1 in 267 |
| Two red balls + star ball | 1 in 160 |
| One red ball + star ball | 1 in 29 |
| One star ball | 1 in 17 |
How to Claim Lotto America Prizes
If you’re lucky enough to land some winning numbers, there are a few ways to claim your prize depending on the value of your win.
For wins of $599 and under, you can claim your prize at any lottery retailer in your state, although please note that individual stores may not carry enough cash for such payouts. You can also mail your winning ticket and a copy of your ID to your state lottery office, but remember to check for the correct address and ID before sending it. Opting for tracked postage is highly recommended.
For wins of over $600 you can claim through your state lottery’s district offices and claim centers. Mailed tickets may be accepted in your state for prizes of more than $600, but it’s important to make certain of this before sending your ticket.
Jackpot winners should get in contact with the headquarters of whichever lottery they bought the ticket from. You will need to arrange to collect your winnings in person. Details for state lottery offices can be found here.
Lotto America Biggest Winners
The modern edition of Lotto America hasn’t been around for a long time, having been relaunched in 2017. Still, many people have already filled their pockets with prizes by taking part in this game. Here are some of the biggest winners:
- On April 1, 2020, Rodney Young bought a ticket in Woodbury, TN, and managed to win a total of $9.01 million;
- On July 10, 2019, Jeffrey Love from Roseville, Minnesota, managed to win $21.6 million on Lotto America;
- On May 10, 2018, Chuck Anderson from Clive, Iowa, claimed a total of $4.38 million. He used a free ticket from a lottery promotion to win this prize;
- On March 14, 2018, the Kujava family from Roseville, Minnesota, won $22.8 million.
Lotto America History and Facts
The first edition of Lotto America started in 1988 and lasted for four years. In 1992, the game was shut down, only to be revived in 2017. Since then, it has been popular in many states.
The contemporary Lotto America was created to fill in the gap created by Hot Lotto, which was the subject of a fraud scandal. The first official drawing took place on November 15, 2017.
Unlike Hot Lotto, which used a random number generator to determine the numbers, Lotto America is drawn by a machine using numbered balls — just like in the old days. The device is located in Tallahassee, Florida, even though this game is not on the Florida Lottery’s list.
Lotto America FAQ
How do I win the main prize in Lotto America?
To win the main prize, you need to guess all five red balls and the star ball. There are 52 red balls and ten star ball numbers to choose from.
When does the Lotto America draw take place?
The draw happens twice a week — Wednesday and Saturday at 9:00pm CST.
Do I have to pay tax on Lotto America winnings?
There are no taxes on gambling winnings, but there’s 24% federal tax for all winnings higher than $5,000.
How much money does a single Lotto America ticket cost?
A single ticket costs $1, but you may choose to pay $2 to get a chance to win multiplied prizes.
