Illinois lottery guide
Illinois was an early adopter of selling lottery tickets through its official channel.
The essentials
- Official lottery: Illinois Lottery
- National jackpot games: Powerball, Mega Millions
- Game types available: 5 (national, in-state, daily, keno, Scratchers)
- Play responsibly: 18+ (21+ where required)
The Illinois Lottery offers 5 broad types of game, from the headline multi-state jackpots down to everyday numbers draws and instant Scratchers. Each type is set out below, with the games sold in Illinois named in full. Rules, prices and exact odds are confirmed on the official lottery; the game pages linked here cover the national draws in detail.
National jackpot games
The big multi-state jackpots — Powerball and Mega Millions — are sold across Illinois through the Illinois Lottery. Their top prizes roll over until won and routinely climb into the hundreds of millions, with the same number matrix used in every participating state.
In-state draw games
Run only in Illinois, Lotto is the Illinois Lottery’s own jackpot draw, with prize tiers and number pools set by the state. Odds are typically friendlier than the national games, with smaller — but more frequently won — top prizes.
Daily & numbers games
For a quick daily flutter, the Illinois Lottery runs Lucky Day Lotto, Pick 3, Pick 4 and Fast Play — short, fast numbers and cash games drawn once or twice a day with fixed or pari-mutuel prizes. They carry far shorter odds than the jackpot draws, which is what makes them popular for regular play.
Keno & fast-draw
HotWins is a fast, monitor-style draw repeated throughout the day at many Illinois retailers, letting players pick how many numbers to match and how much to stake on each draw.
Instant Scratchers
Pre-printed scratch-off tickets are sold statewide by Illinois Lottery retailers across a range of price points and themes. Prizes are revealed instantly, and the lottery publishes the odds and remaining top prizes for each Scratcher so players can see what is still in play.
How to play in Illinois
For any Illinois Lottery game you choose your numbers (or ask for a quick pick), confirm the draw you’re entering, and keep your ticket safe until results are published. Scratchers are played on the spot — buy, scratch and check against the official prize structure.
Checking results and claiming
Winning numbers for every game are posted by the Illinois Lottery after each draw. The official lottery is always the source of truth: validate any ticket through its channels, and note that larger prizes follow a formal claim process with deadlines set by the state. Our guide to checking results walks through the steps.
Odds and responsible play
The odds of every draw are fixed and published — no system or pattern changes them. Treat the lottery as entertainment, set a budget you’re comfortable with, and step away if it stops being fun. See how lottery odds work for the full picture.
Frequently asked questions
Which lottery operates in Illinois?
Illinois is served by the Illinois Lottery, the official body responsible for the state’s draw games, instant tickets and prize payouts.
Can I play Powerball and Mega Millions in Illinois?
Yes. As a participating jurisdiction, Illinois offers Powerball and Mega Millions alongside its own in-state games through the Illinois Lottery.
What in-state games does Illinois have?
Beyond the national draws, the Illinois Lottery runs Lotto, Lucky Day Lotto, Pick 3, Pick 4 and Fast Play, plus a range of instant Scratchers.
How do I check Illinois results?
Winning numbers are published by the Illinois Lottery at each official draw time. The official lottery is always the source of truth — validate any ticket through its channels before celebrating.