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Lottery guides
A lottery ticket is a priced long shot. These pages count the combinations, compare games, and walk through taxes and claiming. They are not a system for beating the draw.
Read this first
Odds of winning the lottery, counted from the balls
Odds of winning the lottery are a combination count, not a mood about lucky numbers. A Powerball line is 1 chance in 292,201,338 because the game draws 5 white balls from 69 and 1 red ball from 26. Mega Millions, on the current 5-from-70 plus 1-from-24 matrix, is 1 in 290,472,336. A Pick 3 straight bet is 1 in 1,000. The headline jackpot does not change any of those counts. Adults only, and 18 is the minimum in most states that sell tickets.
Jackpot games
Which lottery has the best odds depends on the prize you mean
We rank US lottery games by odds and expected value so you know which lottery has the best odds of winning, and which tickets are pure long shots.
Powerball odds for every prize tier
Powerball odds for every prize tier, from 1 in 292 million jackpot to the $4 prize, plus what Power Play changes and the expected value per ticket.
How to play Powerball in one drawing
Learn how to play Powerball step by step: picking numbers, Power Play, drawing days, prize tiers and how to claim, with a quick-start checklist.
How to play Mega Millions under the current matrix
How to play Mega Millions in plain English: picking numbers, the Megaplier, drawing days, every prize tier and the true odds of winning the jackpot.
State games and scratchers
Pick 3 strategy that survives a look at the odds
Pick 3 and Pick 4 odds explained, straight vs box vs combo bets, payout math and which pick 3 strategy claims hold up against basic probability.
Scratch off odds are printed, and they are easy to misread
How scratch off odds work, why price matters, how to read overall odds on the back and which scratch-off tickets give you the best real chance to win.
After a win
Lump sum vs annuity on a real jackpot choice
Lump sum vs annuity compared with real numbers: taxes, investment returns and risks, so you can decide which lottery payout option fits you best.
Lottery taxes are withholding plus a final bill
Find out how lottery winnings are taxed: federal withholding, state rates, lump sum vs annuity impact and a worked example of what you really keep.
A lottery calculator you can reuse on paper
Free lottery calculator showing your jackpot after federal and state taxes, lump sum vs annuity, and the expected value of a ticket at any jackpot size.
What to do if you win the lottery, in order
A step-by-step plan for what to do if you win the lottery: sign the ticket, stay quiet, build your team, pick a payout and protect your new money.
How to claim lottery winnings anonymously where the state allows it
Which states let you claim lottery winnings anonymously, how lottery trusts and LLCs work, and the exact steps to protect your identity after a win.
A lottery pool agreement before anyone buys the ticket
Set up an office lottery pool the right way with a free lottery pool agreement template, clear payout rules and tips to avoid disputes and tax issues.