We’ve all watched lotteries grow in size from week to week and drawing to drawing. The bigger the grand prize, the more we dream about winning. But how does it get so big?
It happens as a result of a lottery rollover, and it's important to understand the meaning of rollover lottery to fully appreciate how lottery games can evolve over time. Do you wait for the jackpot to reach a certain level before joining in on the fun? The lottery rollover impacts when you play the game.
What Does Rollover Mean in Lottery Games?
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Definition
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How rollovers impact jackpot size
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Role in lottery strategy
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Largest rollover streaks
Luckily, it’s easy to understand lottery rollover rules. A lottery rollover happens when the jackpot prize isn’t won in a particular drawing. Instead, it accumulates and is added to the next drawing. Are there any rollover lotteries in the U.S.? You bet there are! There are many games at the multi-state (think Powerball or Mega Millions) and at the state level that roll over when the top prize isn’t won.
Lottery games offering a rollover jackpot can grow exponentially in size. The jackpot is not only affected by whether there was a winner in the previous drawing but also by the number of lottery lovers who participate. The bigger the jackpot, the more interest in getting a ticket intensifies. Since approximately 60% of each ticket sold goes into funding the prize pool, the more tickets ordered, the bigger the jackpot.
As lottery rollovers create record-breaking jackpots, psychology takes over. The thought of claiming a huge prize captures people’s imaginations, and people who wouldn’t normally play order tickets as they dream about what they would do with so much money.
Rollovers do not impact the odds of winning, except that with many more lottery tickets sold, there is a greater chance you may have to share the top prize if there is more than one winning ticket.
Largest Lottery Rollover Streaks
Ticket sales, random chance and jackpot size impact the frequency and length of lottery rollovers. In recent years, changes to the range of numbers to choose from, combined with higher starting jackpots and changes to the odds of winning, have also impacted rollovers.
The top three jackpot rollovers are all from Powerball and Mega Millions. In 2022, Powerball rolled over 40 times to create a jackpot worth $2.04 billion. In 2023, Mega Millions had a lottery rollover streak that ran 31 times to make a $1.602 billion jackpot and 25 rollovers that created a $1.348 billion grand prize.
Rollover Lottery Rules: What Players Should Know
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Rollovers impact ticket sales
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Ever hear of the quadruple rollover?
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Is there a rollover limit?
Have you ever had a friend or family member who isn’t in a participating state call you to ask you to order lottery tickets for them because the grand prize was that enticing? We bet you got their tickets on top of your own. Yep, we understand. (Hint: In participating states, use Smart Order to get your tickets automatically when the jackpot hits a level you designate. Never miss out on a drawing for a potentially huge prize!)
The reason the grand prize got so astronomically huge is thanks to lottery rollovers. The more rollovers happen, the more people join the lottery fun, and the bigger the grand prize. Ever hear of a quadruple rollover? This means that four draws happened without someone claiming the top prize. As we’ve seen above, the lottery rollover can happen many more times than four.
Is there a limit to when the rollover stops and the jackpot returns to the initial amount? Only when someone matches all the required numbers and wins the grand prize!
Lottery Rollover Games in the US
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Multi-state games
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Single state games
We are all familiar with Powerball and Mega Millions and how huge those jackpots get. These are the biggest multi-state lottery games available, played in almost all states in the U.S. Some games have smaller groups of states that participate in rollover lottery games, such as Lucky For Life.
In addition to these huge games, each state has lottery rollover games. Individual states can have rollover lotteries, meaning rollovers aren’t just for the big multi-state games. See your state’s lottery website to see what rollover games are available in your area.
Popular Lottery Rollover Games and Their Impact on Prizes
With the large odds of winning the grand prize for Powerball (1 in 292 million) and Mega Millions (1 in 302 million), it's easy to see how these games roll over so many times in a row without a winner. The bigger the jackpot, the more people will get in on the game. The more people who get in on the game, the bigger the jackpot.
How a Lottery Rollover Jackpot Is Won
To win the grand prize of any lottery game, you must match all the numbers drawn. In Powerball, that would mean matching all five white balls and the red Powerball to win the top prize. And if no one matches all the numbers? The jackpot rolls over to the next drawing. But if you win, what then?
What to Do if You Win?
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Steps to claim vary by state
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If jackpot won, gather your team
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Come up with a plan
If you win a large sum of money in the lottery, the first step is to claim your prize (this varies by state). Plan another trip if you got your Mega Millions ticket while on vacation! You will need to return to the state where the ticket was received to claim your prize, and you will be subject to that state’s claim rules. See your state’s lottery website for more information about how to claim your winnings (or the state’s lottery website where you got your ticket).
Now that you know how long you have to claim your prize, it’s time to gather your team. Your team will require a financial investment, but protecting your lottery winnings will be well worth it. Here’s who you should consider:
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A lawyer that specializes in lottery winnings - They can help you set up a trust if that is allowed by your state and help with any rules around gifting if you are considering sharing your fortune with friends and family.
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A Certified Public Accountant - They will help you understand your tax situation, including if taking a lump sum or annuity is best for you.
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A Financial Planner - With a considerable lottery prize, a financial planner can help you manage your winnings.
Jackpocket Has Your Game
Download the Jackpocket app in participating states and take advantage of every chance to win your favorite lottery games. Participate when it's convenient for you from your phone or computer!
