The Idaho Lottery selection is varied, well-funded and frequent. In this state, you’ll have plenty of lottery variants to choose between, from high jackpot games to those offering low prizes at relatively short odds, the plethora of options is huge. This page is dedicated to bringing you up-to-date information regarding all aspects of the state lottery offerings in Idaho, with detailed descriptions of each of the most popular games available, rules surrounding age limits and taxation, as well as an overview of the current selection of scratch cards. We will then finish off with a helpful FAQ section to alleviate any lingering concerns you might have.
Throughout this page, you’ll find the results of our research. State lotteries available in Idaho run on regular schedules often two times per week, with rollover jackpots on many of them. To find the latest information regarding the Jackpot values, we have provided sign-posts towards the end of this page. The remaining sections provide a detailed and topographical view of the main components of lottery gambling in Idaho. We will be mainly focusing on Draw Games specific to Idaho, but will also touch on the national lotteries that can be enjoyed by anyone in this state.
Contents
The Various ID Lotto Games are Available
If you decide to play ID lotto, you’ll have a wonderful range of options available. In the following sections, we will outline the most popular lottery games residents of this state choose for their lottery picks, also we will touch on the many types of scratchers being offered. Some of the following lotteries are not specific to the state and are in fact national lottery jackpots accessible across the whole nation. Of course, the wide-reaching national lottos carry a much larger pot with Jackpot prizes often in the hundreds of millions of dollars.
Draw Games: Idaho Lottos with Huge Jackpots
Let us begin with 4 of the best Idaho lottery games. We have selected a well-balanced mixture of games, some of them are just a weekly occurrence, with others taking place multiple times throughout the week. The main consideration to keep in mind is the timings of the lottery draw. As you know, Idaho sits between 2 separate time-zones, the timings of the lottery draw in the table below reflect the draw in Mountain Time, which is GMT -7. Another major difference is the prize pool involved with each game, reflected in the odds price it is simple for any customer to quickly calculate the worthiness of a lottery ticket compared to the other options.
| Game | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday | Sunday |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Powerball | – | – | 8:59 PM | – | – | 8:59 PM | – |
| Mega Millions | – | 9:00 PM | – | 9:00 PM | – | – | – |
| Lotto America | – | – | 9:00 PM | – | – | 9:00 PM | – |
| Lucky for Life | 8:38 PM | – | – | 8:38 PM | – | – | – |
| *Times Based on Mountain Time (GMT-7:00) | |||||||
The relative odds for each ID lotto game vary greatly, and the prize structure accompanying each game can also be drastically different. For each of the four most popular lottery games in Idaho, we have created a bespoke table of odds to payout, and the requirement to achieve each payout. For many of these games, a bonus ball determines whether you can win the Jackpot or just the regular prizes. Considering the probabilities of each game is an important pre-requisite to selecting your next lottery ticket. So without further ado, let’s crunch the numbers!
Powerball: A Brief Look
Powerball is the largest American national lottery, offered across 45 states, as well as the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The lowest Jackpot prize for a Powerball draw is $40 million, and winners have the choice of taking the payments in 30 instalments, or as a lump sum. In January 2016, Powerball produced the largest lottery jackpot win in history, as a whopping $1.5 billion was split three-ways between tickets in California state lottery, Tennessee and Florida.
| Matching Numbers | Prize Amount | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| 5 +Star Ball | Jackpot | 1:25,989,600 |
| 5 | $20,000 | 1:2,887,733 |
| 4 + Star Ball | $1,000 | 1:110,594 |
| 4 | $100 | 1:12,288 |
| 3 +Star Ball | $20 | 1:2,404 |
| 3 | $5 | 1:267 |
| 2 +Star Ball | $5 | 1:160 |
| 1 + Star Ball | $2 | 1:29 |
| Star Ball Only | $2 | 1:16.9 |
Mega Millions: Rules and Odds
Mega Millions is a fantastic national lottery offered across the country in 40 + states. With huge jackpot prizes being offered twice per week, it remains one of the most popular lottery competitions on the planet. In the past, ticket holders have been known to win hundreds of millions of dollars, and for players in Idaho, the Mega Millions lottery represents one of the best chances you’ll have to hit mega-riches.
| Matching Numbers | Prize Amount (most recent) | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| 5 + Megaball | $164,000,000 | 1:302,575,350 |
| 5 | $1,654,256 | 1:12,607,306 |
| 4 + Megaball | $15,209 | 1:931,001 |
| 4 | $552 | 1:38,792 |
| 3 + Megaball | $223 | 1:14,547 |
| 3 | $11 | 1:606 |
| 2 + Megaball | $10 | 1:693 |
| 1 + Megaball | $4 | 1:89 |
| Megaball only | $2 | 1:37 |
Lotto America Rules and Prize Amounts
Lotto America is a great game to play twice a week, as the odds for winning are much lower than the two previous lottery variations we highlighted above. In Lotto America, the balls are drawn from a much smaller pool, making your chances of hitting the prize breakdown much higher than the higher ticket competitions. This is a perfect variant for those who prefer a more realistic chance of winning, and are will to make the trade-off for much lower prize money.
| Matching Numbers | Prize Amount | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| 5 +Star Ball | Jackpot | 1:25,989,600 |
| 5 | $20,000 | 1:2,887,733 |
| 4 + Star Ball | $1,000 | 1:110,594 |
| 4 | $100 | 1:12,288 |
| 3 +Star Ball | $20 | 1:2,404 |
| 3 | $5 | 1:267 |
| 2 +Star Ball | $5 | 1:160 |
| 1 + Star Ball | $2 | 1:29 |
| Star Ball Only | $2 | 1:16.9 |
Lucky for Life
One of the alternative options for lottery players is the Lucky for Life national lottery, available in 25 states, including the District of Columbia. The lottery began in 2009 in Connecticut, and offers a very unique proposition to the player. Winners will be granted the option of $1000 per day for the rest of their lives or take a multi-million dollar lump-sum payment. Depending on your age when winning would depend on which route to take with this one.
| Matching Numbers | Prize Amount | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| 5 + Lucky Ball | $1,000 a day for life | 1:30,821,472 |
| 5 | $25,000 a year for life | 1:1,813,028 |
| 4 + Lucky Ball | $5,000 | 1:143,356 |
| 4 | $200 | 1:8,433 |
| 3 + Lucky Ball | $150 | 1:3,413 |
| 3 | $20 | 1:201 |
| 2 + Lucky Ball | $25 | 1:250 |
| 2 | $3 | 1:15 |
| 1 + Lucky Ball | $6 | 1:50 |
| Lucky Ball Only | $4 | 1:32 |
The Best Idaho Scratchers: Lottery Scratchers with Best Odds
As well as offering residents of Idaho the chance to enjoy a series of state-run lottery competitions, there is also a wide-offering of scratch-cards that can be enjoyed. The instant win or lose games can be picked up for $1 or $2 per play, and are pre-determined cash prize draws. Below we’ve listed the 5 best scratchers in Idaho with the corresponding win probabilities in each!
- Green Line Bingo (Odds: 1 out of 3.45)
- Power Purple (Odds: 1 out of 3.75)
- Limited 6 (Odds: 1 out of 8.59)
- Pharaoh Fortune (Odds: 1 out of 3.08)
- Cactus Cashworld (Odds: 1 out of 3.29)
It can be tempting to overdo the Scratchers every time you step into a convenience store – having a basic understanding of the statistics involved is vital to avoiding the trap of gamblers fallacy (i.e. thinking because you lost 3 in a row, the next time will be a winner). Keep track of the amount you spend on these things, as they’re famously good at pinching all your spare change!
Unique Idaho Lottery Games: Online Lotto Available?
Since 1989 Idaho has welcomed lottery companies from across the nation to offer there draw games to its residents. Whilst these national lotteries carry a huge prize-winning potential, smaller and more local games have cropped up over the years and can be just as fun!
Idaho Ca$h is the largest draw lottery game specific to the state. It takes place 2 times per week, and players have the chance to win modest Jackpot prizes if they can correctly predict 5 numbers, each selected from a pool of 45. The drawing is done via computer random number generator and takes place at 8:00 PM on Wednesday and Saturday – the Idaho lottery winning numbers & results are available online shortly after.
Unfortunately in Idaho, there is no online lottery gambling permitted. State laws are changing rapidly on this issue, and we will endeavor to update this space as soon as any changes in this prohibitory stance are enacted. Be sure to watch this space for updates on the legality of online lotteries in Idaho.
Important Laws Regarding ID Lotteries
The state of Idaho, like the majority of other jurisdictions in the United States, has not legalized lottery gambling for online. However, given the huge range of available lotteries and scratchers available to play in person, there is not such a huge demand for this, and the law is unlikely to change anytime soon. Other than that, you will need to be 18 years old or older to play. In terms of residency or citizenship, anybody over 18 can play lottery games and win in Idaho.
| Legal Age for Lottery Games: | 18+ |
| Tax on Winnings: | 7.4% |
| Anonymity for Winners: | Yes |
| Limit to Claim Win: | 6 Months |
| Online Lottery: | No |
Federal tax can be confusing to many winners, and the IRS are able to take taxes of up to 37% on lottery winnings. However, the tax withholding rate is only around 24%, this large disparity has caused huge financial problems for winners in the past who fail to properly account for their real tax obligations. These federal tax rates are on top of the 7.4% tax that the state of Idaho will claim on any winnings from lottery winners in their jurisdiction.
Overview of the State Lotto
The Idaho state lottery options have been refined and include a mixture of high-jackpot national lotteries, as well as the more modest internal state games. The Idaho Lottery is the management body overseeing lottery options within the state, it is managed by the government of the state of Idaho and is a member of the Multi-State Lottery Association.
| Company: | Government of Idaho | Founded: | 19 July 1989 |
| Headquarters: | Boise, ID | Social Media: | |
| Website: | www.idaholottery.com | Biggest Win: | $190 million |
Idaho has a wonderful range of lottery options for players within the state and has witnessed thousands of life-changing sums of money claimed by winners residing in Idaho. The proceeds of the ticket sales from the various lottery games serve a vital role in the government budget, with 50% of all net funds given to public schools across the state, the remainder is plowed into the Permanent Building Fund, a financial resource supporting state’s colleges and esteemed universities.
Conclusion
Now you’re fully informed regarding all the available poker options within this state, you can go ahead and confidently make selections from the vast available lottery options in Idaho. Don’t forget, if lottery draw wagers aren’t your thing, there are plenty of scratchers in this state that residents have enjoyed for the best part of 20 years. Watch this space for regular updates regarding each of the lottery games in Idaho, the development of the Idaho lotto app, as well as the dynamic legality of online lottery gambling. Head on back to our homepage to learn more about the current status of American Lottery.
Common Questions that People Also Ask
If you are still feeling slightly unclear regarding any of the content presented in this page, or need further clarification on some of the points we’ve made throughout this article, please look through our FAQ section below for helpful guidance on the most pertinent issues our readers encounter.
How does the Idaho Lottery work?
There are several types of draw games in Idaho, and players are free to pick and choose the games they want to play. There will be a tax applied to the winnings of each game, firstly the Federal tax rate of 24%, and also the Idaho tax rate of 7.4%.
How much is the Powerball Jackpot?
The Powerball is a national lottery that carries a huge pot, the minimum Jackpot is $20 million, but this figure often goes above $100 million when going unclaimed for a sustained period of time. In the past, huge wins of $500 million + have been made on this lottery variant.
Can you remain anonymous in Idaho Lottery?
By claiming a lottery ticket over the value of $600 you will automatically be identified under the Idaho Public Records Law, although you can request anonymity, the local press are often able to obtain details through exercising the Public Records Law, as the lottery is overseen by the Idaho state government.
How old do you have to be to buy scratch cards in Idaho?
To participate in the state legislated scratch card games, in Idaho, the law regulates the activity for 18 years and over. Any person who purchases a scratch card legitimately and wins can claim a prize, regardless of their residency or citizenship.