How to Play in Ohio

You can play a wide variety of lotteries in Ohio, including Powerball, Mega Millions, Lucky for Life and in-state games such as Lotto, Pick 3, Pick 4 and Pick 5. You can play at authorized retailers or via ticket purchasing services.

By using a lottery courier, your tickets are purchased on your behalf. A scanned copy is then uploaded to your online account and you will be notified of any wins. This method means you don’t have to go to a store yourself, while there’s no paper ticket to keep safe and no pressure to check the results.

Powerball

The Ohio Lottery started selling Powerball tickets in April 2010. The game offers jackpots of at least $20 million three times a week – on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday. Ticket sales stop at 10:00 p.m. ET, although if you play through a lottery messenger service the deadline is likely to be earlier so that an agent has time to buy your tickets. The steps below outline how to play Powerball in Ohio.

• Pick five numbers from 1 to 69 and a Powerball from a separate set of 1 to 26. Select the Quick Pick option for a random set, or a partial Quick Pick if you wish to choose some numbers and leave the rest to be filled in.
• Add the Power Play option for a small extra fee. This will see any non-jackpot prizes you win multiplied by 2x, 3x, 4x, 5x or 10x, depending on the number randomly selected in the night’s Power Play draw.
• Choose your drawings. You can play your numbers in up to 10 consecutive draws.
• Check your selections carefully as cancellations are not allowed, then complete your purchase.

To win a Powerball prize, you must match at least the Powerball, or three of the main white balls. There are nine prize tiers in total, with a jackpot of at least $20 million available if anyone can match all six winning numbers. This grand prize rolls over if nobody wins, and has even gone past $2 billion in the past.

Mega Millions

Mega Millions has been one of the most popular lotteries played in Ohio since it was introduced in 2002, and the Buckeye State is one of the most successful in terms of jackpot winners. Draws are held at 11:00 p.m. ET, with in-store sales closing at 10:45 p.m. Find out how to play Mega Millions in Ohio.

• Choose five main numbers from 1 to 70 and a Mega Ball from 1 to 25. Alternatively, get an Auto Pick if you would prefer a random selection.
• Decide whether to add the Megaplier option for an extra free. If you win a non-jackpot prize, it will be multiplied by up to five times its standard value.
• Select which drawings to enter. You can play your numbers in just the next draw, or in up to 10 consecutive drawings.
• Purchase your entries before the deadline. You can submit up to five plays at a time.

When you play through a lottery courier such as Jackpot.com or theLotter, you can just log in to your account to see a copy of the ticket that has been bought for you and the numbers you have played.

Additional Play Options in Ohio

If you have a favorite set of numbers, you can take an old ticket to a retailer in Ohio and ask to Play It Again. A new ticket will then be printed with all the same selections.

You have 180 day to claim any prizes you win. If you play through a lottery courier, most payouts will be credited straight to your online account. For larger prizes, you will be guided through how to collect the money directly from the Ohio Lottery.

Ohio is one of the few states where you can stay anonymous if you win a big lottery jackpot.

The Ohio Lottery

The Ohio Lottery has been supporting good causes since it was created in 1973, providing more than $31 million to the state’s education system as well as offering the chance to win great prizes on a daily basis.

The biggest wins have come on Mega Millions, including a $372 million payout in December 2019 that went to The Great Hope Trust. An anonymous Powerball player also won $261 million in June 2010, just a couple of months after the game’s launch in the state.