How to Play in Pennsylvania

In Pennsylvania, you can buy lottery tickets online in a matter of seconds, giving you a level of convenience and security that you just don’t get with retail purchases. The PA Lottery started to offer some games over the internet in 2018, with Mega Millions and Powerball coming a couple of years later. Find out how to play Powerball and Mega Millions in Pennsylvania below.

Powerball

Pennsylvania is one of the most successful states in Powerball history and has been offering the game since June 2002. You can now play online or by going to a PA Lottery retailer.

Drawings are held on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday nights. Here is what you need to do to take part:

• Decide how many plays you want – 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5
• Specify how many consecutive draws you want to enter, up to a maximum of 20.
• Add Power Play for an extra fee. If you win a non-jackpot prize, you will receive 2x, 3x, 4x, 5x or 10x the standard amount.
• You can also select the double Play option for an additional cost. Your numbers will be entered into the supplementary Double Play draw, which has prizes of up to $10 million.
• Select your numbers. You have to choose five numbers from 1 to 69 and a Powerball from 1 to 26, or you can get a random Quick Pick.

You’ll need to make sure you have sufficient funds in your account if you’re playing online, or just hand over your playslip if you are at a retail store. There is a draw break between 9:55 p.m. ET and 10:05 p.m. ET for online players, while retail sales end at 9:59 p.m. ET on drawing nights.

To win a prize, you just need to match the Powerball that is drawn, or get at least three of the main numbers. There are nine ways to win in total, with a jackpot worth at least $20 million if you match all the numbers.

Mega Millions

You can look forward to Mega Millions drawings on Tuesday and Friday nights. To play, go to any PA Lottery retailer or select the ‘Buy Now’ button online, then follow the steps below:

• Select your numbers - five main numbers from 1 to 70 and a Mega Ball from 1 to 25. Alternatively, get a Quick Pick if you want a random set.
• You can submit up to five plays at a time.
• Decide how many consecutive drawings to enter, up to a maximum of 26.
• Add the Megaplier and any non-jackpot prizes you win will be multiplied by 2, 3, 4 or 5 times.

The cut-off time for ticket sales at a retailer is 9:59 p.m. ET on draw nights, while if you play online you must get your entries in before 9:55 p.m. You can then wait for the draw to take place to find out if you are a winner.

Match all the numbers and you’ll win the jackpot, which starts at $20 million and has been known to go all the way past $1 billion. There are also eight other ways to win if you match fewer numbers.

Additional Play Options in Pennsylvania

When you play online in Pennsylvania, you have the option to set up a subscription and never miss a drawing. Tickets will be bought for you automatically every four weeks – all you need to do is make sure there are sufficient funds in your account otherwise the subscription will be shown as inactive. An email reminder will be sent out prior to each renewal.

The majority of online prizes are paid automatically into your account and you can just withdraw the money when you want it. For prizes above $600, you need to fill out a claim form, while retail players can mail in tickets worth more than $2,500 or visit one of the PA Lottery’s Area Offices.

You have one year to come forward and claim prizes in Pennsylvania. You are not allowed to stay anonymous, but you can claim through a trust to effectively shield your identity.

The PA Lottery

Formed in 1971, the Pennsylvania Lottery is dedicated to raising funds to support the state’s older residents. It also pays out billions of dollars in prize money every year.

The Keystone State has been the scene of some huge jackpot wins for both Mega Millions and Powerball. The Peace of Mind Trust won a $516 million Mega Millions prize in May 2021, while the Emerald Legacy Trust landed $457 million on Powerball in March 2018.