You’ve ordered your lottery ticket with Jackpocket, and now you’re eagerly waiting to find out if you’re a winner. Whether you’re participating in a local lottery game or going for Mega Millions, you may be wondering: How are lottery numbers drawn? What exactly goes on behind the scenes?
Good question. Let’s break it down.
Does Jackpocket Draw the Winners?
Jackpocket offers a seamless, secure way to order your tickets. We don’t pick the winners.
The game rules and drawings are administered by the state lotteries. For example, drawings for New York Lottery games like Take 5 and New York Lotto are run by the New York Lottery. Once you place an order, we fulfill it at a licensed lottery retailer, scan your ticket into the app for easy viewing, and store it safely until the drawing.
How are Lottery Numbers Drawn?
A lottery drawing is the process of selecting the winning numbers for a particular game. Those winning numbers determine the number of winning tickets for each prize level. State lotteries use different types of lottery drawing machines to ensure a fair and transparent selection process.
What are the Key Differences Between Lottery Drawing Methods
There are two main types of lottery drawing machines: gravity pick and air mix.
Gravity pick lottery machines: These are the most commonly used machines, complete with spinning paddles that rotate in opposite directions. The device mixes the balls until they drop out of the bottom of the chamber one by one.
Air mix lottery machines: These are usually used in smaller lottery games. The machines have a chamber filled with numbered ping-pong balls that are moved by jets of air from a fan located at the bottom of the drum. The balls move up and out of the chamber through a tube and are pushed out onto a tray.
The Process Behind Drawing Lottery Numbers
No matter the type of lottery draw game you’re playing, winning numbers are always randomly selected, and the entire drawing process is visible to the viewer—both during the "mixing" and the numbers selection process.
How are Lottery Numbers Verified?
Why does it seem that some prizes are paid out quickly while others take longer (especially if it’s a big prize)? The larger the prize, the more thorough the verification process. State lotteries take extra steps to make sure the right winner claims the prize, so if you hit the jackpot, expect a waiting period before you can collect your winnings.
When are Lottery Drawings?
Each lottery draw game has its own drawing days, and times. For many games, you can catch the lottery results live. Your local lottery website will have more information about when specific drawings are held and how to watch (if available).
Wanna get in on those big Mega Millions or Powerball games but not sure which numbers to choose? Check out our list of the most drawn Mega Millions and Powerball numbers.
Now that you know how lottery drawings work, are you ready to test your luck? Get your ticket on Jackpocket today!
FAQs
Have questions? We have answers! Check out some of the most common questions we receive about lottery drawings below.
What is the role of random number generators in lottery drawings?
Have you ever ordered a Quick Pick when participating in the lottery? Then, you’ve used a random number generator. These generators can be found online or in apps like Jackpocket. When you select a Quick Pick, the generator randomly chooses your numbers for you.
Are lottery drawings the same across all states?
The basic premise behind lottery drawings is the same in all states with drawing games. However, the number of options in each game may differ. For example, Powerball uses a pool of 69 white balls, while Mega Millions uses a pool of 70 balls. Despite these differences, the way the drawings are conducted is consistent from state to state.
Can a single ticket be used for multiple lottery drawings?
It depends. When ordering your ticket, there may be options to use a single ticket for multiple consecutive drawings. You might have come across terms like "Multi-Draw" or "Advance Play." Each game has specific rules about how many drawings you can enter with a single ticket.
For Jackpocket users, this feature is called Smart Order, allowing you to order tickets in advance for multiple drawings. In New York, this feature is referred to as Subscriptions. Be sure to check your state’s lottery website for specific rules.
