Winning once is awesome. But what if you could win every day…for the rest of your life? Meet Lucky for Life, the lottery game that could make your morning alarm your new best friend. ⏰
Lucky for Life: In a Nutshell…
Lucky for Life is a lottery game that’s available in 22 states and Washington D.C.
Cost: $2.00
Jackpot: $1,000 a day for life or a $5.75 million lump sum payout
Drawings: Lucky for LIfe drawings are 7 nights a week at 10:38 pm EST
Overall odds of winning a prize: 1 in 7.8
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Lucky for Life Rules
Get your game on, and learn how to play Lucky for Life: Choose five numbers from one through 48 and one Lucky Ball number from one through 18. You can Quick Pick or choose your own lucky numbers. Match all five numbers and the Lucky Ball and your Lucky for Life winnings will be $1,000 a day for life.
Lucky for Life Prizes
There are 10 ways to win a Lucky for Life prize by matching numbers. For example, match five out of five numbers without the Lucky Ball for a Lucky for Life payout of $25,000 a year for life. Not too shabby! Matching four out of five numbers plus the Lucky Ball earns you $5,000. Matching just the Lucky Ball wins $4.
The bottom line: Your odds of winning a Lucky for Life prize is one in 7.8.
*Prizes made be split if there are multiple winners. Source: Lucky for Life
| Match | Win | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| 5 numbers + Lucky Ball | $1,000 a day for life* | 1 in 30,821,472 |
| 5 numbers | $25,000 a year for life* | 1 in 1,813,028 |
| 4 numbers + Lucky Ball | $5,000* | 1 in 143,356 |
| 4 numbers | $200 | 1 in 8,433 |
| 3 numbers + Lucky Ball | $150 | >1 in 3,413 |
| 3 numbers | $20 | 1 in 201 |
| 2 numbers + Lucky Ball | $25 | 1 in 250 |
| 2 numbers | $3 | 1 in 15 |
| 1 number + Lucky Ball | $6 | 1 in 50 |
| Lucky Ball | $4 | 1 in 32 |
Does Lucky for Life Actually Pay for Life?
It depends which prize level you win and if you pick the annuity vs lump sum option! If you win first or second prize in Lucky for Life, you get to choose how you want to be paid!
Cash vs Annuity Payouts
First-prize winners who pick the annuity option are paid the equivalent of $365,000 a year (the timing of the payments is according to the rules where the ticket was sold), with a 20-year guarantee. If the winner passes away, payments continue to the winner's estate. The first-prize cash option is $5,750,000.
Second-prize winners who pick the annuity option are paid the equivalent of $25,000 a year (the timing of the payments is according to the rules where the ticket was sold), with a 20-year guarantee. If the winner passes away, payments continue to the winner's estate. The second-prize cash option is $390,000.
Has Anyone on Jackpocket Ever Won Lucky for Life?
YES. A Jackpocket user in Arkansas won the Lucky for Life grand prize in September 2023. Five Jackpocket users nationwide have won $25,000 a year for life with Jackpocket, most recently a teacher in Nebraska who won in July 2023.
What Happens When You Win?
Winning numbers are drawn every night at approximately 10:38 PM EST. If you bought your Lucky for Life ticket in person from a retailer, check your state lottery website for more information on how to claim your prize. It can vary by state.
If you’re a Jackpocket user, you are automatically notified by email when you win!
For prizes ~$600 and under (or whatever the threshold amount in your state is), Jackpocket credits your account for the full amount. If you win $600 or more, we arrange to have the ticket securely delivered to you so that you can claim your prize from the state lottery.
Lucky for Life States
There are 23 jurisdictions that offer Lucky for Life, including 9 Jackpocket states:
- Arkansas*
- Colorado*
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia*
- Idaho*
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Maine
- Massachusetts*
- Michigan
- Montana*
- Nebraska*
- New Hampshire*
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio*
- Oklahoma
- Rhode Island
- South Dakota
- Vermont
- Wyoming
*Jackpocket state!
Lucky for Life online
If you forget to pick up your ticket at the store, no worries! With Jackpocket, you can order lottery tickets online. Choose your own numbers or use Quick Pick as you would at your local store. Even better, use your Jackpocket app to place a Smart Order and order your tickets automatically without having to remember!
FAQs
What happens to the money I spend on Lucky for Life lottery tickets?
In most states, the majority of the ticket revenue goes into a pot to be paid out as prizes. In each state, a portion of lottery revenue raised goes to fund state programs. Many states fund educational programs; some help the homeless, others help veterans and more. See your state’s lottery website for more information.
How often are the drawings?
Drawings used to be held twice per week on Mondays and Thursdays. In July 2021, a Lucky for Life update occurred, and drawings are now held seven days per week!
Are prizes taxable?
Yes. All prizes are subject to federal taxes and are considered taxable income. Many states will require taxes to be paid on winnings, too. The tax amount will vary by state and may depend on the amount won. See your local state tax office for more information.
Lucky for Life tips
What are the odds of winning Lucky for Life? The odds of winning the grand prize in Lucky for Life are one in 30,821,472, which is based on the number of possible winning combinations of regular balls and the lucky balls that can be drawn. Overall odds are determined by adding all of the chances for each prize level together. In Lucky for Life, the overall odds of winning are one in 7.8.
Get Your Lucky for Life Ticket
Now that you’ve got the hang of the game, head over the Jackpocket app and join the next Lucky for Life drawing. We find it helps to whisper “private beach cabana” over and over as you choose your lucky numbers. 🤞
