how to play lucky for life
Tips & Tricks

How to Play Lucky for Life

Win this game and get paid every day.

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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How Lucky for Life Works

Choose 5 numbers from 1–48 and 1 Lucky Ball number from 1–18. You can Quick Pick or choose your own lucky numbers. Match all 5 numbers and the Lucky Ball to win the grand prize of $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 5 numbers without the Lucky Ball to win $25,000 a year for life. Not too shabby! Matching 4 out of 5 numbers plus the Lucky Ball earns you $5,000. Matching just the Lucky Ball wins $4.

The bottom line: your chance of winning any Lucky for Life prize is 1 in 7.8.

Lucky for Life prizes and odds
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

*Prizes made be split if there are multiple winners. Source: Lucky for Life

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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 dies, 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 dies, 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 players nationwide who have won $25,000 a year for life using 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 player, 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 juridiscions that offer Lucky for Life, including 9 Jackpocket states:

  • 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!

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. 🤞

Feeling Lucky?

Download the Jackpocket app and choose your lucky numbers

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