How are the Illinois Lottery numbers drawn?

Illinois Lottery Drawings Winning numbers for all in-state draw games (Lotto, Lucky Day Lotto, Pick 3 and Pick 4) are selected using an online digital draw system . Powered by a random number generator program, this system randomly selects winning number combinations.

Does Illinois have the lottery?

Founded in 1974, the Illinois Lottery has contributed over $19 billion (since 1985) to the state's Common School Fund to assist K-12 public schools, as well as hundreds of millions of dollars to the Capital Projects Fund and other special causes.

Did anybody win tonight's Mega Millions?

Complete game information and prize claiming instructions are available at all Lottery retailers. There was no jackpot winner in California for this draw .

What does "straight and box" mean in Lottery?

In the Pick 4 lottery game, the "Straight/Box" play type is a combination of both the "Straight" and "Box" play styles. This means you have two ways to win: either match the winning numbers in exact order (Straight) or in any order (Box) .

How much does Illinois pick 4 payout?

Play your four favorite numbers and choose your play style. For just $. 50, you can win up to $2,500, and for $1.00 you can win up to $5,000 ! Play your lucky pick today!

What is the pattern of winning the lottery numbers?

The idea that you can win the lottery by looking for patterns in previous winning numbers is a common misconception. Lotteries are designed to be random and fair, and each number combination has the same odds of winning, regardless of past results .

What does 2 draws mean in lottery?

Number of Draws means the number of Drawings for which a Multi-Draw and/or Future Play Ticket is valid. Sample 1Sample 2. Number of Draws means the number of Drawings for which a Future Play Ticket is valid .

How do you predict winning lottery numbers?

8 Different Ways To Pick Your Lottery Numbers Study The Statistics. This method involves looking up previous draws and noting down the balls that get drawn most frequently. ... Use Numerology. Next up, we come onto numerology. ... Use Lucky Numbers. ... Go Random. ... Pick Numbers Over 31. ... Make A Pattern. ... Use A System. ... Leave It To The Machine.

Does the Illinois lottery app tell you if you won?

If I use the app, how do I know if I have won? If you've won a game you purchased on the app, we will send an email to the address associated with your Illinois Lottery account . You can also find information on past draws in the Account section of your app under My Games.

What happens if you win the Lottery in Illinois?

First, sign the back of your ticket if purchased in retail. Second, follow the appropriate claim process based on the amount you won. You could claim your prize, depending on the prize amount: at retail, at a Claim Center, by mail, or via an e-Claim .

How long does it take to get your Lottery winnings in Illinois?

You can expect to receive your check by mail in 3-4 weeks . Every effort will be made to process your claim as quickly as possible. This estimated timeframe is dependent upon several factors, including completion of the claim form, submission of all required documents, and the quality of the uploaded ticket images. 4.

What time is the Illinois Lottery drawing tonight?

Lotto drawings are conducted on Monday, Thursday, and Saturday evenings at 9:22 PM CT . Drawing results can be found on the Illinois Lottery website, www.illinoislottery.com and on the Illinois Lottery app.

When did Pick 3 start in Illinois?

The first Instant Ticket, 7-11-21®, was released a year later in 1975. Then, in 1985 , the Illinois-favorite daily draw game Pick 3 hit the scene.

Illinois Lottery Numbers and Information (2024)

You can find all the latest Illinois Lottery results right here on this page. Simply click on a game below for a full prize breakdown and winning numbers.

Playing the Illinois Lottery is a win for the whole state. Out of every dollar spent on the Lottery, twenty-five cents goes to good causes locally, primarily K-12 public schools - $14 million per week on average.

The Illinois Lottery launched on July 1, 1974, and initially contributed to the General Revenue Fund. In 1985, a new law directed profits to the Common School Fund, which is still the largest recipient of Lottery support, receiving more than $21 billion to date.

Specialty Tickets have contributed over $53 million to special causes statewide since 2006, including Illinois Veterans' programs; support for breast cancer, MS, Alzheimer's, and HIV/AIDS; Special Olympics training; police memorials; and homelessness prevention.

Mega Millions

Next Estimated Jackpot:

$162 Million

Illinois Lottery Draw Schedule

Can't remember when your favorite game is played? Get the draw days and times for all Illinois lotteries below:

Game	Draw Days	Draw Times*	Ticket Sales Close At*
Powerball	Monday, Wednesday & Saturday	9:59 PM	9:00 PM
Mega Millions	Tuesday & Friday	10:00 PM	9:45 PM
Lotto	Monday, Thursday & Saturday	9:22 PM	9:15 PM
Lucky Day Lotto	Daily	12:40 PM & 9:22 PM	12:35 PM & 9:15 PM
Pick 3	Daily	12:40 PM & 9:22 PM	12:35 PM & 9:15 PM
Pick 4	Daily	12:40 PM & 9:22 PM	12:35 PM & 9:15 PM
*Times are shown in CT.

Game Information

There's more to the Illinois Lottery than just Powerball and Mega Millions - players can buy tickets for home-grown draw games that are as robust as the Illinois prairies.

Illinois Lotto

Lotto is a homegrown favorite with a multi-million dollar jackpot and draws every Monday, Thursday and Saturday night. Add Extra Shot for six more ways to win.

Lucky Day Lotto

Lucky Day Lotto is an Illinois exclusive with a $100,000 starting jackpot, the best chance of winning of all IL draw games, and draws twice every day.

Pick 3

Pick 3 is the Illinois game where players can win up to $500 twice a day with Midday and Evening draws. Add plus Fireball to your ticket for even more ways to win great cash prizes.

Pick 4

Pick 4 is an Illinois-only game where you can score cash prizes up to $5,000 seven days a week in Midday and Evening draws. The plus Fireball add-on option gives you extra ways to win and bigger prizes.

Other Illinois Games

Instant win games are a great option for those who want that thrilling lottery experience right away with no waiting for a draw. Available from authorized retailers, prices for these games start at $1 and can net you a windfall that could rival those offered by Lotto and other Illinois Lottery draw games. Visit your local Illinois Lottery retailer to buy some - who knows, you could snag a prize the first time around with beginner's luck!

Certain instant win games donate a portion of the revenue raised through sales to specific good causes. The Veterans Cash game has raised over $11 million for veterans in the state since 2006, while the Ticket for the Cure has raised over $7.6 million for breast cancer research.

Buying Lottery Tickets

Powerball and Mega Millions are currently available to play outside of the USA, unfortunately it is not yet possible to purchase Illinois state lottery tickets without making a trip there in person.

Claiming Illinois Lottery Prizes

The claiming period for all Illinois Lottery prizes is one year after the drawing date. However, Powerball, Mega Millions and Lotto winners who choose the cash lump sum payment need to claim their winnings within 60 days. Winners can claim prizes of all values by mail. Most Illinois Lottery retailers will also be able to pay out prizes worth up to $600 depending on their preferences and amount of cash on hand. You can also cash your tickets at dedicated Prize Claim Centers across Illinois.

If you've won between $600 and $25,000 in a drawing, you can visit a Prize Claim Center - take your ticket and supporting evidence of your identity, including photo ID and your Social Security number.

Prizes worth $25,001 to $999,999 can only be claimed by mail.

If you're lucky enough to win over $1 million, you'll need to get in touch with the Illinois Lottery yourself to begin the claims process.

Claim a prize by mail

Prizes of all amounts may be claimed by mail. If you have questions, email the Lottery Claims Department at LOT.Claims@illinois.gov.

Fill in and sign the back of your ticket and send it along with a completed claim form and winner questionnaire to the address below. Make a copy of the documents and send the originals.

If you've won more than $25,000, the lottery can deposit the payout into your bank account. Fill out a direct deposit form and mail it, plus a voided check, to:

Illinois Lottery Claims Department
P.O. Box 19080
Springfield, IL 62794-9912

Claims processing may take 4-6 weeks.

History of the Illinois Lottery

The Illinois Lottery was established on July 1st, 1974 and started selling lottery tickets on July 30th. The first-ever Illinois Lottery drawing took place on August 8th of that same year. The first instant win games were introduced in 1975 and in 1985 the Illinois Lottery began allocating proceeds to the Common School Fund as opposed to the General Revenue Fund for the state. Illinois was the first state in the country to offer online ticket sales to residents.

Today, the Illinois Lottery transfers revenue raised from ticket sales to a number of good causes, including the Common School Fund, the Capital Projects fund and a number of special initiatives. In the 2013 Fiscal Year, the Lottery raised $793 million for these institutions. In addition, four instant win games are specifically dedicated to raising money for veterans, for those living with HIV/AIDS, breast cancer research and multiple sclerosis research.

Biggest Winners

The biggest lottery win in Illinois came on July 29, 2022, when the $1.337 billion Mega Millions jackpot (cash value of $780.5 million) was won by a single ticket holder. The winning ticket was sold at Speedway #4250, 885 E. Touhy Avenue in Des Plaines. The winners came forward two months later and chose the cash option of $780.5 million, while the retailer received a $500,000 bonus for selling the winning ticket.

The previous record holder was a player who won the $552 million jackpot on the June 4, 2024 draw. The winning ticket was sold online. The online player, nicknamed the 'MEGA Millionaire' claimed the prize in less than a week from the winning draw and confessed she was left in 'shock and disbelief' after seeing on her app how much she actually won.

The third-largest prize won in Illinois went to Patricia Busking, a retired healthcare worker from Palos Heights. She won the $393 million Mega Millions jackpot on August 11, 2017 and decided to take the cash option of $246 million.