Winning Numbers & Games of the Rhode Island Lottery

The Rhode Island lottery, known as “The Lot,” has an epic history. Lottos were a large part of early colonial life, until being banned in the early 1700s. After a comeback, the RI lotto was banned again in the 1800s, and finally revitalized in its current form in 1974.

Since then, The Lot has grown into a massive success as part of the original Multi-State Lottery Association. On this page, you will find all of the information you need to start participating in the lotto’s many games, including draw times, types of games available, and much more.

To start, you can take a look at the many types of games available. Rhode Island offers both draw games and scratchers. Each game has different odds and ways to play, so read fully to find the one that most suits your playing style.

Read on to find RI lotto winning numbers schedules, laws, more detailed games descriptions and more. You can also jump directly to our frequently asked questions section to answer any burning questions you may have.

The Various Rhode Island Lottery Games are Available

The following sections discuss the full range of RI lotto games available, from multi-jurisdictional hits like Mega Millions, to in-house draws like The Numbers and Wild Money, to bingo, Keno, scratch card games and more. It is no wonder that with so many ways to play, Rhode Island’s lotto consistently brings in huge revenues for the state.

We will go over the differences between these games, their odds and drawing times, below, as well as distinguishing between draw games and instant games, otherwise known as scratch off games.

Draw Games: RI Lottos with Huge Jackpots

Draw games are fairly straight forward: A player picks a selection of numbers, or is given those numbers at random, the lotto draws numbers randomly and players hope to match up as much of their sequence as possible. The more numbers they match, the bigger the prizes.

Though draw games give out enormous winnings compared to scratchers, they are also harder to win. The bigger the jackpot pool, the more difficult the odds that your numbers will come up as a match. The table below features draw times for RI’s standard games.

As you can see, the chances to play RI lotto are numerous. You can test your luck every day — even multiple times a day in the case of bingo, keno, and the Numbers Game!

Below we will dig into further details about some of Rhode Island’s more popular draw games. By reading onward, you’ll learn about playing odds, prize amounts and even a bit of game history.

Mega Millions: A Brief Look

Mega Millions is easily one of the most popular draw games in all of the US. It began in 1996 as “The Big Game,” and part of a multi-jurisdictional lotto. Rhode Island started taking part in 2010. The game has very large jackpots — for example $1.537 billion in 2018 — and they are made even larger by “Megapliers.”

Tickets cost $2 each unless bought with a Megaplier, which costs $3. Draws happen twice a week, and the game is now played in 45 states across the US! You can select your own numbers or choose Quick Picks to speed up the process.

Powerball: Rules and Odds

Another contender for the biggest jackpots in America is Powerball. Powerball started as Lotto America in 1987. Rhode Island was part of the original MUSL that offered it. Like Mega Millions, Powerball offers an added multiplier called Power Play, which can make jackpots even larger.

Pick your own numbers or choose Quick Picks. The largest jackpot to date was $1.5 billion in 2016. You can try your luck by playing twice a week. See your odds below!

Lucky for Life Prize Amounts

Lucky for Life sets itself apart from other draw games by offering a daily payout for the rest of your life rather than one grand jackpot. Winning the top prize means earning $1,000 a day for life, while the second prize is $25,000 a year for life. They will be paid for a minimum of 20 years, though winners can also select a one-time cash out option instead.

Each board played costs $2 and offers Quick Pick (QP) or your own number choice. Matching a “Lucky Ball” increases your earnings and is necessary to reach the jackpot!

Wild Money: Rhode Island’s Lotto Draw

Wild Money is unique to Rhode Island. It replaced a similar game called Money Roll in 2002. Though it has smaller jackpots that the multi-jurisdictional games mentioned above, the odds are also better for winning. Draws also occur fairly often: three times a week.

Wild Money is a progressive jackpot that starts at $20,000 and increases until there is a winner. It also boasts a rolling jackpot, as well as the “Extra Ball.” Each board costs $1 to play and Quick Picks are also available.

The Numbers Game: Pick Your Wager

The Numbers Game is also unique to Rhode Island and draws happen within the state. It started in 1976, shortly after the state lotto was legalized. One sweet fact about the game is that the host of the draw is usually a Communications student from local RI universities, a tradition that started in 1994.

Draws happen twice a day, providing ample opportunity for gameplay. There are no bonus ball numbers to pick like with most other lotto games. Unlike other games, prize amounts are determined by how much you bet on that particular board, ranging from $0.50 to $5.

Bingo: X Marks the Spot!

Most people are familiar with some form of bingo, but perhaps not with how lottery bingo works. In the US, the game was called “beano,” based on a fairground game which involved used beans to mark cards as they were drawn. It can actually be traced even further back to Italian lottery games in the 1500s.

Bingo was offered in Rhode Island starting in 2012. There is now a draw every 8 minutes. It is possible to buy tickets at all lotto retailers, though only a few have a screen where you can watch the draws. It is also possible to play online. Winnings are determined by matching patterns, rather than consecutive numbers. Winnings are determined by your wager: from $1 to $10 on each board.

The Best Rhode Island Scratchers: The Best Odds

Rhode Island lotto clearly provides lots of great draw games, but fans of instant games, otherwise known as scratches, also have plenty to choose from within the state. Whether buying from a physical retailer or online, you can choose the amount that is right for you. Prizes increase depending on your wager, and the rest is the luck of the scratch off!

Though there are many more to choose from, we have listed our favorite scratch off cards below, along with their odds:

1. Aces High (Odds: 1 out of 3.71)
2. Lucky Loot (Odds: 1 out of 3.96)
3. Dynamic 2-0 (Odds: 1 out of 4.34)
4. Diamond Dazzler (Odds: 1 out of 3.91)
5. Super Loteria (Odds: 1 out of 3.76)

Each of these is available for a different cost, for example $10 per play for Aces High or $2 for Dynamic 2-0. RI scratchers cost between $1 to $25 per ticket, meaning you have a big range of possible payouts as well. Many of these offer top wins of around $40,000 – $50,000. Not bad for a scratch off!

Unique Rhode Island Lottery Games and Online Lottery Games

As of 2018, Rhode Island also offers sports betting which falls under the lotto’s jurisdiction to regulate. The Ocean State also offers video lottery at two casinos: Twin River Casino Hotel and Tiverton Casino Hotel. Charitable not-for-profit organizations in the state can also offer pull tab games as a way to fundraise for their respective causes.

Lastly, “The Lot” offers vast amounts of online lottos. It is possible to play bingo and keno online each day, as well as various other lotto games directly on their website. We recommend downloading the official Rhode Island lottery app for easy mobile access to these games.

Important Laws Regarding RI Lotteries

Since lottos are regulated at the state level, players should know that all lottos function differently and Rhode Island will have different rules than other states. That means even nearby New York lotto has different laws.

We have outlined some of the most pressing information below, including the legal age to play, paying tax on lotto earnings, anonymity for winners and claim limits.

Prizes over $5,000 are taxable by the federal government at 24%. However, various states also add on their own tax. In RI, that number is 5.99%. The state also does its best to ensure anonymity for winners if that is what they wish, but since this information falls under the “Freedom of Information Act,” it is possible for interested parties to file a claim to find out winners’ names.

Overview of the Rhode Island Lotto

As mentioned earlier, lottos have a long history in the New England area. Rhode Island’s lotto went strong until it was banned in 1842. It was finally brought back after a vote in 1973, with an emphasis placed on how the earnings would help bring revenue to various state endeavors.

The state has seen great revenue and big wins for its players since then. In 2012, resident Louise White won $336 million on Powerball.

The lotto now employs 104 people and continuously brings great earnings to the Ocean State. About 81.64% is distributed back as prizes, while 9.23% goes to the state’s general fund, 8.72% to commissions for retailers and .42% for operating costs.

Conclusion

Rhode Island’s “The Lot” has A LOT to offer players, from fantastic multi-jurisdictional draw games with immense jackpot prizes, to local progressive draws, physical scratcher games and online instant tickets. There’s really something for every player.

Don’t forget to see all of the best Rhode Island lottery games on their official website. You can also check here for the latest winning numbers every day, and for the Rhode Island lotto app. For more info about all American Lottery games, visit our main page.

Common Questions that People Also Ask

We hope that this page has answered most of your most pressing questions about the Rhode Island lottery. However, we understand that there may be more specific questions you are after. That is why we have compiled all of the commonly asked questions about the RI lotto below!