How to Play in Pennsylvania

In Pennsylvania, playing the lottery online is fast, secure, and offers conveniences you don’t get in retail shops. The PA Lottery rolled out internet sales in 2018, with Powerball and Mega Millions added shortly after. Below is everything you need to know to play those games from the Keystone State.

Powerball

Powerball has been offered in Pennsylvania since June 2002 and the state has racked up an impressive track record of wins. You can play via the PA Lottery’s website or at any authorized retailer. Drawings happen three times a week; Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.

Here is how you take part:

• Choose how many plays you want (1‑5), and decide how many consecutive drawings to enter. You can play up to 20 in a row.
• There’s an option to add Power Play which can multiply non‑jackpot prizes by 2×, 3×, 4×, 5× or even 10× (for an extra fee).
• There’s also a Double Play option: for another cost, your numbers are entered into an additional draw that offers secondary prizes up to $10 million.
• Pick five main numbers (1 to 69) and one Powerball (1 to 26), or use Quick Pick to let random numbers be chosen.
• If playing online, ensure your account has enough funds; if you're playing at a retailer, fill out a playslip and pay at the counter.

Cut‑off times differ: Online entries must be submitted by 9:55 p.m. ET on draw nights, retail ticket sales stop at 9:59 p.m. ET. To win, you need to match at least the Powerball or at least three of the main numbers. There are nine prize tiers in all. The jackpot starts at $20 million and grows until someone wins!

Mega Millions

Mega Millions drawings occur twice weekly on Tuesday and Friday nights. The game is offered both online and at retail outlets across Pennsylvania. If you want to play, just go to any PA Lottery retailer, or you can select the ‘Buy Now’ button online and follow the steps below:

• Choose five main numbers between 1 and 70, and one Mega Ball from 1 to 25, or go with Quick Pick.
• You can play up to five tickets per purchase, and enter the same numbers into up to 26 consecutive drawings.
• Add the Megaplier feature for an extra cost — it multiplies non‑jackpot winnings by 2×, 3×, 4× or 5×.

The cut‑off for buying tickets in-store is 9:59 p.m. ET; online, you'll need to submit before 9:55 p.m. ET. Match all six numbers for the jackpot, which starts at $20 million. If you match fewer, there are eight other prize levels available.

If you match all numbers on your ticket to the ones drawn, you'll win the jackpot! This starts at $20 million and has reached all the way past $1 billion in the past. If you match fewer numbers then you can still win prizes.

Additional Play Options & Prize Claims

If you play regularly, you can set up an automatic purchase every four weeks. Just makes sure your online account has the required funds, or it will remain inactive. You’ll also get an email before each renewal.

Prize Payouts: For most wins, the money shows up in your online account and you can withdraw whenever you like. For winnings over $600, you’ll need to fill out a claim form. Retail players with tickets worth more than $2,500 can either mail them in or go to a PA Lottery Area Office.

You have one year from the draw date to claim any prize in Pennsylvania. The state doesn’t allow anonymous winners, but you can claim through a trust if you want to shield your identity.

The PA Lottery

The PA Lottery was established in 1971. Its mission is to generate revenue to help older residents, and it also distributes billions of dollars in prizes every year.

Some of the memorable big wins include The Peace of Mind Trust, which won $516 million in Mega Millions in May 2021. Additionally, The Emerald Legacy Trust, which captured $457 million in Powerball in March 2018.