Lucky for Life
Lucky for Life gives players in 23 states the chance to win an astonishing amount of cash for many years to come. Originally launched in March 2012 in Connecticut, it was quickly revamped to add bigger prizes, including a second-tier prize of $25,000 per year, in September 2013. Oklahoma became the latest state to offer Lucky for Life when tickets went on sale on February 25, 2018. Drawings now take place daily, with the winning numbers selected in Connecticut seven nights a week.
How to Play Lucky for Life
To play Lucky for Life, follow the steps below:
- 1. Choose five numbers from 1 to 48 and one Lucky Ball from 1 to 18. Alternatively, go for a Quick Pick and have your numbers randomly generated.
- 2. Decide how many drawings in advance to enter. You can play just the next game or enter multiple consecutive drawings.
- 3. Pay for your entries before the cut-off time and wait for the winning numbers to be selected. It costs $2 for one game.
Drawings take place at approximately 10:38pm EST every day. Draws are witnessed by an Independent Certified Public Accounting Firm. All equipment is inspected regularly and drawings are recorded.
The exact rules for playing vary by state, so the number of consecutive drawings you can enter is different depending on where you are. The deadline for purchasing entries also varies by location, but is usually around an hour before the drawing at 9:30pm EST.
Lucky for Life is a great game that offers incredible, life-changing prizes, but you'll need to be the minimum age to take part. You have to be at least 18 years old in most states, although in Nebraska the minimum age is 19 and in Iowa it is 21.
Lucky for Life Prizes
Match all five of the main winning numbers, plus the Lucky Ball, and you win the top prize. Instead of a one-off jackpot, the grand prize is $1,000 a day for life. If you win the second prize, you receive $25,000 a year for life. There are cash alternatives if you prefer, but one of the game’s great attractions is that it offers a guaranteed income ‘for life’.
There are a total of 10 prize categories. Here’s a breakdown of all the available payouts and the ways to win.
| Numbers Matched | Prize | Odds of Winning | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Match 5 + Lucky Ball | $1,000 a day for life (Cash option $5.75 million) | 1 in 30,821,472 | |
| Match 5 | $25,000 a year for life (Cash option $390,000) | 1 in 1,813,028 | |
| Match 4 + Lucky Ball | $5,000 | 1 in 143,356 | |
| Match 4 | $200 | 1 in 8,433 | |
| Match 3 + Lucky Ball | $150 | 1 in 3413 | |
| Match 3 | $20 | 1 in 201 | |
| Match 2 + Lucky Ball | $25 | 1 in 250 | |
| Match 2 | $3 | 1 in 15 | |
| Match 1 + Lucky Ball | $6 | 1 in 50 | |
| Match Lucky Ball | $4 | 1 in 32 | |
| The overall Odds of winning any Lucky for Life prize are 1 in 7.8 based on a $2 wager | |||
The top prize is split if there are multiple winners. For example, if there are two players who match all the numbers, they will both receive $500 a day for life. The top two prizes are paid out for a minimum of 20 years, so if a winner dies before that time the remaining payments will go to their estate.
Lucky4Life States
Lucky for Life is a regional game offered by the following states and districts:
- Arkansas
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Washington D.C.
- Idaho
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Maine
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Montana
- Nebraska
- New Hampshire
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Rhode Island
- South Dakota
- Vermont
- Wyoming
Buying Lucky for Life Tickets
Want to play Lucky for Life? All you need to do is visit an authorized retailer for your state lottery.
If you live outside the participating states but are curious about this great game and want to join in on the fun, then why not take a road trip and buy a ticket from an authorized retailer? Draws previously took place every Monday and Thursday, but have been daily since July 19, 2021.
Claiming a Prize
Smaller Lucky for Life prizes can usually be claimed from any authorized lottery retailer in your state. If you've won a bigger prize, you should get in touch with your state lottery to find out how to claim your winnings. You may have to present the winning ticket in person. Deadlines for making a claim can vary between states, so check how much time you have to come forward and make sure to contact lottery officials while your ticket is still valid. You must claim your prize in the same state as where you purchased your ticket.