Florida Lottery Games
The Florida Lottery was founded in 1986 following a constitutional amendment that enabled the establishment of a state lottery to fund state-wide education.
The first Florida Lottery tickets were sold in 1988 and immediately proved popular. To date, the Florida Lottery has raised nearly $40 billion for educational initiatives, with 25.5% of all revenue going to such causes.
As of June 2021, the Florida Lottery operates seven state-level games in addition to being part of the multi-jurisdictional Powerball, Mega Millions and Cash4Life games.
Powerball
Powerball is one of the world’s most famous lottery games, as well as being one of the hardest to win!
Tickets cost $2.00, with players entering Powerball by choosing five numbers between 1 and 69 and a Powerball number between 1 and 26, with Quick Pick also being available. Players can also add Power Play to their ticket for $1.00, to multiply non-jackpot winnings up to 10 times!
Jackpot winners can take a lump-sum payout or 30 annual installments.
Lotto
Lotto is a traditional lottery game in which players enter six numbers between 1 and 53 for $2.00. Players can enter secondary games for just $1.00 per play for the chance to win the Double Play jackpot of $250,000 or instant cash prizes of up to $500.
Jackpot winners have the choice of taking a lump-sum payout or annual payments over 30 years, with several secondary prize tiers also being available.
Mega Millions
Mega Millions is another world-famous lottery that is even harder to win than Powerball!
Entry costs $2.00, with players selecting five numbers between 1 and 70 and a Mega Ball number between 1 and 25, or can go for a Quick Pick for random selections. Players can also add a Megaplier to their ticket for $1.00, which multiplies non-jackpot winnings by up to 10 times.
Jackpot winners can take a lump-sum payout or get paid in 30 annual installments.
Cash4Life
Cash4Life is a multi-jurisdictional game played across nine states, giving players the chance to win annual payouts for 20 years or a take-home lump-sum jackpot of $7 million.
Entry costs $2.00, with players choosing five main numbers from 1 to 60 and a Cash Ball number between 1 and 4. Quick Pick is also available for those who want to play with random selections.
Jackpot Triple Play
Jackpot Triple Play offers exceptional value, with players getting three entries for just $1.00!
Players choose six numbers between 1 and 46 or can go for a Quick Pick to play with random selections. Only the first set of numbers can be selected manually, with the second and third entries being Quick Picks.
Jackpot Triple Play also has a Combo feature that costs an extra $1.00 per line for the chance to win $10,000 by matching all six numbers across each entry.
Fantasy 5
Fantasy 5 is a popular lottery game that utilizes a jackpot roll-down feature, with secondary prizes often growing significantly beyond their expected amount.
Entry costs just $1.00, with players choosing five numbers between 1 and 36 or going for a Quick Pick to play with random selections. Players can also add EZmatch to their ticket for an additional $1.00 for the chance to win an instant cash prize of up to $500.
Pick 2
Pick 2 is a straightforward draw game that costs as little as $0.50 to enter, although it should be noted that the stake influences how much can be won!
To enter, simply choose two numbers between 0 and 9, including the possibility of selecting both numbers twice if desired. The jackpot is won by matching both numbers in the order drawn, although players can bet on matching the numbers in any order or on matching just the first or second number drawn.
Pick 3
Pick 3 is a popular lottery game with multiple entry options and stake-based flexibility, which determines the value of prizes that can be won.
To enter, players must choose three numbers between 0 and 9, including how they wish to play. Each digit is chosen independently, so the same number can be chosen twice or thrice if desired.
The jackpot is won by matching all three numbers in the order drawn, although players can win by matching numbers in any order, or by betting on matching the first and last numbers only, the first two numbers only and the last two numbers only.
Pick 4
Pick 4 is a straightforward draw game that offers players multiple opportunities to win prizes, with flexibility on entry options and stakes.
Players must choose four numbers from 0 to 9, being able to choose the same number two, three or four times if they wish. The jackpot is won by matching all four numbers in the order drawn, with multiple secondary prizes available depending on the type of bet placed. Options include betting on specific pairs of numbers, or that two or three of the same digit will be drawn.
Pick 5
Despite having the most selections, Pick 5 is one of the simplest Pick games.
With entry starting at just $0.50, players enter by choosing five numbers from 0 to 9. As with other Pick games, players can choose the same number on multiple occasions, although Pick 5 doesn’t have the option to match specific sets or pairs of numbers, with players simply betting on whether they will match their selections in the correct order or in any order.
Florida Lottery Game Schedule
The table below provides an overview of the schedule for each Florida lottery game.
| Lottery Game | MON | TUE | WED | THU | FRI | SAT | SUN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Powerball | 22:59 | 22:59 | 22:59 | ||||
| Lotto | 23:15 | 23:15 | |||||
| Mega Millions | 23:00 | 23:00 | |||||
| Cash4Life | 21:00 | 21:00 | 21:00 | 21:00 | 21:00 | 21:00 | 21:00 |
| Jackpot Triple Play | 23:15 | 23:15 | |||||
| Fantasy 5 | 23:15 | 23:15 | 23:15 | 23:15 | 23:15 | 23:15 | 23:15 |
| Pick 2 | 13:30 21:45 | 13:30 21:45 | 13:30 21:45 | 13:30 21:45 | 13:30 21:45 | 13:30 21:45 | 13:30 21:45 |
| Pick 3 | 13:30 21:45 | 13:30 21:45 | 13:30 21:45 | 13:30 21:45 | 13:30 21:45 | 13:30 21:45 | 13:30 21:45 |
| Pick 4 | 13:30 21:45 | 13:30 21:45 | 13:30 21:45 | 13:30 21:45 | 13:30 21:45 | 13:30 21:45 | 13:30 21:45 |
| Pick 5 | 13:30 21:45 | 13:30 21:45 | 13:30 21:45 | 13:30 21:45 | 13:30 21:45 | 13:30 21:45 | 13:30 21:45 |
Florida Lottery Odds and Jackpots
Pick 2 has the most attractive odds at just 1 in 100, although the potential jackpot pales in comparison to what is available from other games, albeit at much longer odds. Cash4Life has great value odds at 1 in 21,846,048, with the opportunity to win $1,000 a day for 20 years or a $7 million lump sum.
| Lottery Game | Winning Odds | Minimum Jackpot |
|---|---|---|
| Mega Millions | 1 in 302,575,350 | $40 million |
| Powerball | 1 in 292,201,338 | $40 million |
| Lotto | 1 in 22,957,480 | $2 million |
| Cash4Life | 1 in 21,846,048 | $1,000 a day for life ($7 million if players take the lump-sum option) |
| Jackpot Triple Play | 1 in 3,122,273 | $500,000 |
| Fantasy 5 | 1 in 376,992 | Depends on ticket sales |
| Pick 5 | 1 in 100,000 | $25,000 (Depends on the stake) |
| Pick 4 | 1 in 10,000 | $2,500 (Depends on the stake) |
| Pick 3 | 1 in 1,000 | $250 (Depends on the stake) |
| Pick 2 | 1 in 100 | $25 (Depends on the stake) |
Florida Lottery Advance Play Options
All Florida Lottery games have Advance Play options, with the number of draws that players can enter at once being highlighted below.
| Lottery Game | Advance Draws Players Can Enter |
|---|---|
| Pick 2 | Up to 14 |
| Pick 3 | Up to 14 |
| Pick 4 | Up to 14 |
| Pick 5 | Up to 14 |
| Mega Millions | Up to 26 |
| Fantasy 5 | Up to 30 |
| Jackpot Triple Play | Up to 30 |
| Cash4Life | Up to 30 |
| Lotto | Up to 52 |
| Powerball | Up to 52 |
Florida Lottery Subscription
Unlike some other states, as of July 2021 the Florida Lottery no longer offers a subscription option.
Florida Lottery Scratch-Offs
Scratch-offs offer a variety of prizes, with jackpots typically being proportionate to the cost of the ticket. Florida Lottery scratch-offs range in price from $1.00 to $30, with jackpots ranging from $50 to $15 million!
The odds of winning a prize range from around 1 in 2.5 for the more lucrative scratch-offs, to around 1 in 5 for those with lower-value prizes. The odds of winning the jackpot vary in a similar way, with odds of over 1 in 11,500,000 of winning the most lucrative jackpot!
Unlike some other states, the Florida Lottery allows scratch-offs to remain on sale even after all jackpots have been claimed.
As with lottery games, some scratch-offs provide regular payout prizes rather than lump sum options.
Detailed information about scratch-offs, prize tiers, payouts and odds is available on the official Florida Lottery website .
Florida Lottery Tax Information
The tables below detail the taxes paid on Florida Lottery prizes. Although the Florida Lottery withholds tax at source, U.S. citizens and residents are still required to disclose wins on their tax returns.
Florida Lottery Taxes for U.S. citizens and residents amount to 24% on prizes exceeding $600, as detailed below.
| Prize Value | Tax | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Over $600 | State Taxes | 0% |
| Federal Taxes | 24% |
Florida Lottery Taxes for non-U.S citizens and non-residents amount to 30% on all prizes, as detailed below.
| Prize Value | Tax | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| All Prizes | State Taxes | 0% |
| Federal Taxes | 30% |
How to Claim Florida Lottery Payouts
Prize winners have a range of available options for claiming their winnings:
Prizes of $599 and below can be claimed at any authorized lottery retailer.
Prizes from $600 to $999,999 can be claimed:
- By visiting any Florida Lottery district office and making a claim in person, or via drop box.
- By mailing in a completed claim form.
Prizes exceeding $1 million or with an annual payment option can only be claimed from the Florida Lottery headquarters:
- By visiting the Florida Lottery headquarters in person.
- By dropping off their ticket and claim form at the Florida Lottery headquarters.
- By mailing in a completed claim form.
- By visiting a Florida Lottery district office, where claims will be escalated to the Florida Lottery headquarters for verification and subsequent payment.
A claim form must be completed for all prizes exceeding $600, as well as being accompanied by a form of identification issued in the past five years and bearing a serial number or another identifying verifiable number. Players who claim via drop box or mail must send a clear scan of their identification documents.
Claim forms can be downloaded directly from the Florida Lottery here .
How to Contact the Florida Lottery
| Operator | Games | Official Website | Main Address | Local Tel. No. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida Lottery | Powerball Lotto Mega Millions Cash4Life Jackpot Triple Play Fantasy 5 Pick 2 Pick 3 Pick 4 Pick 5 | https://www.flalottery.com/ | The Florida Lottery, 250 Marriott Drive, Tallahassee, Florida, 32301 | +1 (850) 487-7787 |
Which Florida Lottery scratch-off has the biggest jackpot?
While the value of the most lucrative Florida Lottery scratch-offs change on a periodic basis, the biggest jackpots are typically $15 million.
Can I buy Florida Lottery tickets online?
No. Florida Lottery tickets are only available from authorized lottery retailers across the state.
How much tax is paid on Florida Lottery winnings?
Tax of between 24% and 30% applies to Florida Lottery winnings, depending on player citizenship, residency status and the prize won. All applicable taxes are federal taxes, with no state taxes being levied.
U.S. citizens and residents pay 24% tax on Florida Lottery winnings exceeding $600.
Non-U.S. citizens or non-residents pay 30% tax on Florida Lottery winnings of any value.
How do Florida Lottery winners get paid?
Payouts depend on the specific rules and structures of each game. Some lottery games offer the choice of receiving regular payments or lump sums, while others pay out a lump sum only.
How long does it take to receive Florida Lottery winnings?
Prize wins of $250,000 and below can be paid out immediately at any authorized lottery retailer or the same day via bank transfer from the Florida Lottery. Non-jackpot prizes ofover $250,000 typically take two days to be paid out, with jackpots usually being paid a minimum of 15 working days after making a claim. Payouts take a minimum of 30 working days for prizes claimed via mail.
How is the $1,000 a day Cash4Life jackpot paid out?
Despite the game’s name, the Cash4Life jackpot is not paid daily!
Cash4Life jackpot winners can receive their prize in two ways:
- 20 annual payments of $365,000.
- A lump sum of $7 million.
All jackpot winners win the full prize even if there are multiple winners from a specific draw!
