Overview of Ohio Lottery Results and Game Types

The Ohio Lottery has been in operation since 1973, and provides a wide array of lotto options from national draws, instant scratch cards and local in-state games. Both locals and residents can chase these jackpots as long as they buy tickets within the state, so what are you waiting for?

In this guide, we’ve explored the many different facets of the Buckeye State’s lotto system. We’ve started with a brief introduction of the kinds of lotto games available and what makes them special. We’ve then discussed the draw games you can play and their perks.

With our up-to date drawing times schedules and overview of the history and laws governing the state lottery, you’ll learn all there is that’s worth knowing about the OH lotto. You will also always find details for the most recent Ohio winning numbers for the major lottery games, so be sure to return to our guide if you miss the live draw!

The Various Ohio Lottery Games are Available

Ohio offers many different lottery game types, with the two most popular being scratchers and draw games. The main difference between both games is that scratch cards are an instant game that can reveal wins right away. Draw games require players to select numbers before a draw deadline.

Ohio players are able to enjoy national draw games such as the Powerball and Mega Millions, as well as smaller local games such as Rolling Cash 5. Below, we’ve explained how draw games work in further detail, the prizes available and the odds of winning.

Draw Games: OH Lottos with Huge Jackpots

Draw games are the most widely enjoyed style of lottery game and sales of these tickets make up the majority of lottery revenues around the country. Major national draws are known for offering huge jackpot prizes, with prizes building beyond $1.5 billion in the past. However, the odds of winning these games are very small.

Most draw games follow a similar format. Participants must select a set of numbers from a lottery retailer either by choice or at random. Later, a draw will take place that will randomly select a set of numbers. The more numbers you match, the larger the prize

As the above schedule shows, draw games take place every night of the week in Ohio. The national draws only take place twice a week and tend to offer larger jackpots, while the in-state games occur more regularly. These games tend to offer smaller prizes, but the odds for winning are generally higher.

To give you a better idea about the different selling points of each of the listed games, we’ve provided details of some of the most popular draws in Ohio. We’ve covered everything from the price of tickets, the game rules and the odds of winning to help you choose the best Ohio lottery games for your budget.

Mega Millions: The Billion Dollar Win

The Mega Millions progressive jackpot prize starts at $40 million and grows with every draw until the prize is claimed. Historically, the Mega Millions has grown to offer gargantuan prizes, with the largest ever single winner of any world lottery taking home a Mega Millions jackpot prize of over $1.5 billion.

To play, select five numbers between 1 and 70, then 1 Mega Ball number between 1 and 25. Tickets cost $2, with a bonus Megaplier ticket available for an additional $1. Of course, the odds for winning are tiny, but when the prize hovers around the $1 billion mark, who could resist?

Powerball: Jackpot Starts at $40 Million

The Powerball is like the older sibling of the Mega Millions in that it was the first national lottery in the US, and is also a part of the Multi-State Lottery association. Jackpot prizes also start at $40 million, though regular tickets only cost $1.

To play, choose five numbers between 1 and 69, then one Powerball number between 1 and 26. There are 8 different lower prize tiers other than the jackpot that increase from $2 to $1,000,000. There is also a $1 multiplier option available for those lower tiers when the jackpot is below $150 million.

Classic Lotto: Jackpot Starts at $1 million

Classic Lotto is an Ohio-only local game that is drawn three times a week. Jackpots start at $1 million and are guaranteed to increase by $100,000 after every draw. In the past, the jackpot has increased to above $13 million, making the odds for winning very attractive.

To participate, tickets cost $1. Players must select 6 numbers out of 49 numbers or have them selected at random. There is also an additional $1 Kicker option which can boost the lower-tier prize wins.

Lucky for Life: Set for Life

Lucky for Life is a semi-national game that is available to players in 25 states. The jackpot prize awards winners $1,000 a day for the rest of their lives for a minimum of 20 years. The second tier prize is also incredibly generous and guarantees $25,000 a year for the rest of the winner’s lives. It costs $2 per play and games are drawn twice a week.

Rolling Cash 5:

Rolling Cash 5 is a daily draw game that requires players to select five numbers between 1 and 39. Jackpots start at $100,000 and continue to build by no less than $10,000 a day until the prize is claimed. In the past this has neared the $1 million mark.

Considering the reasonable odds for the jackpot prize, this would be a great time to enter. A ticket costs $1, and there are no special multiplier ticket options. All prizes are paid in one lump cash payment as opposed to annual installments.

The Best Ohio Scratchers: Lottery Scratchers with Best Odds

Scratch off games are unique to each state, and Ohio has some particularly interesting scratchers to play. Cards start from $1 and increase in price up until $30. Below, we’ve listed five scratchers that offer great odds to win at varying price ranges that will suit every budget.

1. $1 – Cash Explosion (Odds: 1 out of 4.70)
2. $5 – Double the Money (Odds: 1 out of 4.14)
3. $10 – $1 Million Black Titanium (Odds: 1 out of 3.54)
4. $20 – $5 Million Jackpot (Odds: 1 out of 3.06)
5. $30 – 40th Anniversary Millions (Odds: 1 out of 2.66)

Generally speaking, the higher the price of the ticket, the better the odds. This is likely because higher price tickets offer more lower prize tiers and are more likely to replace the cost of the overall ticket at the very least.

Unique Ohio Lottery Games

In addition to the above-mentioned games, Ohio also offers a number of special instant and draw games that are unique to the state. A number of these unique titles are EZPLAY games, which are a kind of instant-style draw game. Essentially, these games are played through lottery terminals and each have their own rules.

All the information needed to win is printed out on EZPLAY tickets, so there’s an instantaneous element to gameplay that keeps things fun and exciting. Some of these include progressive jackpots based on pari-mutuel wagers, while others are standalone individual games with preset prize values.

There is also a Keno game available, which is a kind of fast-paced draw game that is played every 4 minutes. Keno requires players to select as 1 to 10 numbers between 0 and 80. Wins occur by matching chosen numbers to the 20 drawn out by the lottery. Wagers are between $1 and $10 per game, with every dollar acting as a multiplier on the prize value.

There are also digital Touch & Win games that are playable at retailers with special Touch & Win Terminals. These interactive games are like a blend of EZPLAY and Keno games, and there are dozens of games to choose from with their own visually appealing graphics and mechanics.

Important Laws Regarding OH Lotteries

Every state in the country has their own laws regarding who can play the lottery and what happens when you win, and Ohio is no different. These laws cover everything from the minimum age requirements to buy tickets and claim prizes and how much tax needs to be paid on wins.

As the below table shows, players must be over 18 years old to buy lottery tickets in Ohio. In the case that players win more than $600 in the lottery, they must notify their tax department, and winnings above $5,000 will incur a state tax of 4 percent.

Ohio is one of only a small number of states that allow winners to remain anonymous if they win jackpot prizes. This is helpful for those wanting to keep news of their sudden wealth private. In the past, some winners have been targeted by criminals for their cash, so this is understandable.

For wins from draw games, winners have 180 days to claim their prizes after a draw, while scratch card winners have 180 days to claim prizes from the end date of scratcher games. While there are no special online only games on the Ohio Lottery website, players are still allowed to buy lottery tickets online.

Overview of the Ohio Lotto

The Ohio Lottery is ruled and regulated by the Ohio Lottery Commission. This Commission was created in 1973 after a long campaign to legalize the games in the state were successful. One year later, the first draw game called Buckeye 300 debuted, and not long after that, scratchers made their debut.

The Commission is fronted by a Director, who reports to the Ohio Governor, and consists of nine members. The initial state laws allowed lottery revenues to go toward the State General Fund, but since 1983 all OH lotto profits go toward education.

In recent years, the lottery has indicated plans to introduce an iLottery suite of games. This would replicate online games offered by the lotteries of state’s such as Michigan and Pennsylvania, which can include everything from online bingo to slots-like games.

In our opinion, these games represent the future of the lottery and a move to the online sphere will ensure that players keep returning to the games. There is also government legislation looking to introduce mobile sports betting through the lottery, which could be introduced by as early as 2021.

Conclusion

The Ohio Lottery has long been a beloved pastime in the Buckeye State and is set to become one of the most modern systems of the American Lottery. In addition to the great selection of draw games and scratch cards, players will hopefully soon be able to enjoy online games and sports betting too.

With plenty of ongoing games and even more to look out for in the future, we recommend returning to this guide for the latest news on the OH lotto. Consider this page your one stop destination for everything lottery related, including the most recent Ohio Lottery winning numbers to updates to laws and new games.

Common Questions that People Also Ask

Do you still have some questions about how the Ohio lottery works? Below, we’ve answered some frequently asked questions about the OH lotto. We’ve covered everything from how the lotto revenues are used to how you can claim your prizes, so be sure to read as you may find out something important.