Lottery by state

Why lottery rules differ by state

There is no single national lottery in the United States. Each participating state — together with Washington, D.C. — runs its own lottery, sets its own games and decides how tickets are sold. National jackpot games like Powerball and Mega Millions are shared across member states, but everything around them, from local draw games to where results are posted, is organised locally.

A few states have historically chosen not to run a lottery at all: Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, Utah. In those places there are no official state draw games, though residents often follow the national jackpots out of interest. Always rely on your state’s official lottery for the final word on games, rules and results.

How to use this directory

Pick your state above to see which games are offered there, the official lottery that runs them and how to check winning numbers. Most states sell the national Powerball and Mega Millions draws alongside their own in-state games, but the exact line-up, draw days and ticket options vary — which is why each state has its own page rather than a single one-size-fits-all list.

If you are new to the games themselves, start with our games overview for the formats and odds, then the how-to-play guide for buying and checking a ticket. Wherever you are, the published odds are the same for everyone and fixed for every draw, so treat the lottery as a bit of entertainment and set a budget before you play.