The DC lottery offers a wide selection of draw and scratch games with prizes ranging from a free ticket up to millions of dollars.Some of the most popular draw games include Powerball, Mega Millions,Did You Win Big DC Lucky Numbers, DC-3, DC-4, and DC Keno. Powerball and Mega Millions are multi-state games that offer jackpots starting at $40 million or more. DC Lucky Numbers is an in-state game with a top prize of $250,000. DC-3, DC-4, and DC Keno offer simpler number selections and more frequent drawings with smaller prizes.
Scratchers offer instant wins up to $250,000.
Powerball is one of the most popular national lottery games in the United States.
Powerball is a multi-state lottery game that offers incredibly large jackpot prizes that can grow into the hundreds of millions of dollars. Players select 5 white ball numbers from 1 to 69 and 1 red Powerball number from 1 to 26.
To play Powerball, players choose 5 main numbers and 1 Powerball number for $2 per play. There are 9 ways to win prizes in the game.The odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 292 million.
Some of the largest Powerball jackpots won in Washington DC include:
-
$336.4 million, won on March 23, 2019 by a single ticket. It was the 7th largest Powerball jackpot in history at the time.
-
$184 million, won on May 7, 2016 by a single ticket.
-
$151.8 million, won on February 11, 2015 by a single ticket. This winner chose the cash option of $108 million.
Players dream of one day hitting the jackpot that could make them instant millionaires. The excitement and appeal of potentially life-changing winnings continues to drive strong interest and ticket sales for Powerball.
Mega Millions
Mega Millions is one of the biggest multi-state lottery games in the United States.
To win the Mega Millions jackpot, you must match all six numbers. The odds of winning the jackpot are about 1 in 303 million.
In March 2012, three public school employees who pooled their money won a $218.6 million jackpot. Each took home nearly $35 million after taxes. More recently in October 2018, someone bought a winning $1.537 billion ticket at a convenience store in DC. It was the second largest lottery jackpot ever in the US.
Mega Millions offers eight other prize levels too for matching some of the numbers. For matching just the Mega Ball number, you can win $2.
DC Lucky Numbers
Here’s how it works:
-
Players choose 5 numbers from 1 to 39. Each play costs $1.
-
Twice a day, at 12:30 PM and 7:30 PM, DC Lottery draws 5 winning numbers.
-
If a player matches all 5 of their numbers to the winning numbers, they win the $50,000 top prize.
-
The most frequently drawn numbers are 31, 32, 36, 37, and 38.
-
The least frequently drawn numbers are 9, 15, 20, 21, and 22.
DC Pick 3/Pick 4
Both games involve picking 3 or 4 numbers between 0-9.
This allows multiple ways to win prizes.
In Pick 3, the most common numbers are 0, 1, 7 and 8. The least common are 2, 3, and 9. For Pick 4, the most frequently occurring digits are 0, 1, 2, and 8. The least common are 3, 4, and 9.
DC Keno
DC Keno is a numbers game where players select up to 10 numbers from 1 to 80.
Here are the odds for some sample combinations:
- Match all 10 numbers picked: 1 in 8,911,711
- Match 9 of 10 numbers: 1 in 163,381
- Match 8 of 10 numbers: 1 in 6,464
- Match 7 of 10 numbers: 1 in 819
- Match 6 of 10 numbers: 1 in 87
- Match 5 of 10 numbers: 1 in 15
- Match 4 of 10 numbers: 1 in 7
- Match 3 of 10 numbers: 1 in 4
The top prize for matching all 10 numbers is $100,000. Smaller prizes range from $1 for matching 3 numbers to $5,000 for matching 9 numbers.
DC Keno offers frequent drawings and decent odds, making it an entertaining game for lottery players looking for rapid results. Strategic number picking can help improve the chances of winning.
Scratchers
Scratchers come in different price points like $1, $2, $3, $5, $10, $20, and $30. Some of the most popular scratch-off games include:
$1 Games
-
Lucky Numbers: Match any of your numbers to the winning numbers to win up to $1,000. Top prizes remaining: 4.
-
Loose Change: Reveal amounts to win up to $1,000. Top prizes remaining: 12.
-
Jumbo Bucks: Match symbols to win up to $1,000. Top prizes remaining: 8.
$2 Games
-
Money Bags: Match symbols to win up to $20,000. Top prizes remaining: 4.
-
Double Dollar Fortune: Match numbers to win up to $20,000. Top prizes remaining: 12.
-
Lucky 7s: Reveal 7 symbols to win up to $77,777. Top prizes remaining: 6.
$5 Games
-
$250,000 Jackpot: Match numbers to win up to $250,000. Top prizes remaining: 2.
-
Cash Payout: Match symbols to win up to $50,000. Top prizes remaining: 8.
-
Triple Fortune: Match 3 like amounts to win up to $50,000. Top prizes remaining: 6.
Scratchers offer instant excitement and a chance to win big prizes for just a few dollars. They are popular with lottery players looking for fun, affordable games with potential huge payouts.
Where the Money Goes
In fiscal year 2021, the DC Lottery generated over $273 million in revenue for the city. This money helps support a variety of public programs and services for DC residents.
Some of the key beneficiaries of DC lottery funds include:
-
Education – A portion of lottery funds go towards supporting DC public and charter schools. This helps provide critical resources for students across the city.
-
Healthcare – DC lottery funds help support healthcare programs and services, including Medicaid assistance and community health centers. This expands access to medical care for many residents.
-
Public Safety – Some lottery revenue goes to supporting public safety efforts in DC, including police, fire, and emergency medical services. This helps keep communities safe.
-
Housing – Affordable housing initiatives rely in part on lottery funds. This expands housing access for DC residents with lower incomes.
-
Infrastructure – Lottery funds contribute to transportation, parks, libraries, and other infrastructure needs. This improves quality of life across DC neighborhoods.
-
This helps DC residents gain skills and find employment.
Playing the Lottery Responsibly
Here are some tips:
-
Set a budget for lottery spending and stick to it. Only spend what you can afford to lose.
-
Think of the lottery as entertainment, not as a way to make money. Going in with realistic expectations helps avoid problems down the road.
-
Don’t borrow money or use rent/grocery money to buy lottery tickets. This type of high-risk spending can lead to financial issues.
-
Don’t chase losses or try to “win back” money you’ve spent. This tends to lead to overspending.
-
Don’t play underage. Lottery games are only for adults over the legal age in your jurisdiction.
-
If gambling starts causing problems, reach out for help. Uncontrolled gambling can negatively impact finances, relationships, work, and more.
-
Set limits on time spent playing lottery games. Extended gambling sessions can lead to bigger losses and addiction issues.
-
Take a break if you find yourself becoming obsessed over winning or compulsively playing. Stepping back helps provide perspective.
-
Play for fun, not out of desperation.
The bottom line is to enjoy lottery games responsibly within your means. Playing smart and staying in control are key to having fun without negative consequences. If problems do arise, support services are available to get back on track.
Checking Results
After playing the lottery, you’ll naturally want to check to see if you’re a winner! Here are some tips on how to check results and claim prizes for the DC lottery:
How to Check Winning Numbers
-
Match the symbols to the legend to see if you have any winning combinations.
Claiming Prizes
-
For prizes up to $600, you can cash in your winning ticket at any DC lottery retailer.
-
For larger prizes, you’ll need to claim at one of the Lottery Claim Centers located throughout DC.
-
You’ll need to fill out a claim form and provide a valid government-issued photo ID and your Social Security number.
- The lottery will withhold taxes for prizes over $5,000.
-
Unclaimed prizes go back to the lottery for future games and promotions.
-
Check details on the lottery website for the most up-to-date information on where and how to claim prizes. Celebrate your good fortune if you have a winning ticket!