The California Lottery began in 1985 with the California Jackpot
instant game. Players purchased 21.4 million tickets in the first 24 hours
alone. In 1986, the lottery added the Lotto 6/49 draw game. Today, the
California Lottery offers various games, including Hot Spot, Daily Derby, and
Fantasy 5.
Approximately 87% of lottery revenue goes toward prizes and
education contributions. Each year, the California Lottery generates more than
$1 billion for education.
Here's the process for claiming California Lottery prizes.
To claim a prize by mail, send the signed winning ticket and a completed claim form to:
California State Lottery
730 North 10th Street
Sacramento, CA 95811
Keep a copy of all claim documents for your records.
Prize | Options |
---|---|
$599 or less | Option 1 Claim at any local retailer. |
Option 2 Claim in person at any California Lottery claim center. | |
Option 3 Claim by mail. | |
$600 or more | Option 1 Claim in person at any California Lottery claim center. |
Option 2 Claim by mail. |
The California Lottery withholds a percentage of prizes greater than $5,000 as federal tax.
Here are the taxes withheld from lottery winnings for U.S. citizens or residents.
Winnings | Tax | Percentage |
---|---|---|
Over $5,000 | State Tax | 0% |
Federal Tax | 24% | |
Total: 24% |
If the winner is not a U.S. citizen or resident, the California Lottery withholds taxes on winnings at a higher rate.
Winnings | Tax | Percentage |
---|---|---|
Over $5,000 | State Tax | 0% |
Federal Tax | 30% | |
Total: 30% |
The California Lottery began in 1985 with the California Jackpot
instant game. Players purchased 21.4 million tickets in the first 24 hours
alone. In 1986, the lottery added the Lotto 6/49 draw game. Today, the
California Lottery offers various games, including Hot Spot, Daily Derby, and
Fantasy 5.
Approximately 87% of lottery revenue goes toward prizes and
education contributions. Each year, the California Lottery generates more than
$1 billion for education.
You must be at least 18 years old to play the California Lottery.
The price for a California Lottery ticket varies by game. Many
lotteries cost $1 or $2 to play. Some lottery games, such as Pick 3 and Pick 4,
allow you to adjust your wager. Prize amounts also vary by game and wager.
When you're determining which California Lottery has the best
odds, you must also consider the prize's size. The odds are nearly always
better for smaller winnings than for the massive jackpots. The odds of winning
the highest jackpot are as follows:
The overall odds of winning a prize of any type are much greater.
The odds become increasingly better as the prizes get smaller. The chance of
winning anything at all is 1-9 for the Fantasy 5. Your odds are 1-23 for a
prize with SuperLotto Plus, 1-24 for Mega Millions, and 1-25 for the Powerball.
Lottery drawing and closing times vary by game. Find out what
you need to know to get your lottery ticket in time and catch the drawing
of the winning numbers:
Game |
Sales Close |
Lottery Drawing |
Hot Spot |
Every 4 minutes |
Every 4 minutes from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m. |
Daily 3 Midday |
1 p.m. |
1 p.m. daily |
Daily 3 Evening |
6:30 p.m. |
6:30 p.m. daily |
Daily 4 |
6:30 p.m. |
6:30 p.m. daily |
Daily Derby |
6:30 p.m. |
6:30 p.m. daily |
Fantasy 5 |
6:30 p.m. |
6:30 p.m. daily |
SuperLotto Plus |
7:45 p.m. |
7:57 p.m. Wednesday and Saturday |
Powerball |
7 p.m. |
7:59 p.m. Wednesday and Saturday |
Mega Millions |
7:45 p.m. |
8 p.m. Tuesday and Friday |
You can follow lottery drawings online or on the radio or TV.
Watching draws on television is often one of the most exciting ways to catch
the lottery action. You can see California Lottery drawings on the following
television stations:
California's public disclosure laws state that the names of
lottery winners are public record. The name and location of the retailer who
sold the winning ticket, the date that you won, and the sum of the winnings are
public record as well. The California Lottery maintains a list of winners on
its website.
It's important to know what to do if you win the lottery in
California. You can claim prizes of $599 and less at a local lottery retailer
or by mail. Sign your ticket and mail it to the California Lottery. If you win
$600 or more, you must complete a prize claim form and provide this form and
your signed lottery ticket to the California State Lottery in person or by
mail. If you're claiming a prize by mail, send the appropriate documents to:
California State Lottery
730 N. 10th St.
Sacramento, CA 95811
If you have additional questions about playing the lottery in
California, contact Lottery Current.
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