Connecticut Lottery

The Connecticut Lottery Corporation, also known as the CT Lottery, was established in 1971 after Public Act No.865 came into being. The first tickets went on sale in early 1972 at 3000 retailer outlets across the state. Much of the lottery proceeds are given to a fund which in turn distributes the money to good causes in the areas of public health, safety and education. Since the first lottery draw, the CT lottery has contributed over $8 billion.

The Games and Odds

  • Powerball (5/69 + 1/26) – Odds of winning jackpot: 1 in 292,201,338
  • Mega Millions (5/75 + 1/15) – Odds of winning jackpot: 1 in 258,890,850
  • Lotto (6/44) – Odds of winning jackpot: 1 in 7,059,052
  • Lucky for Life (5/48 + 1/18) – Odds of winning jackpot: 1 in 30,821,472
  • Cash 5 (5/35) – Odds of winning jackpot: 1 in 324,632
  • Play 3 (3/9) – Odds of winning jackpot: 1 in 1000
  • Play 4 (4/9) – Odds of winning jackpot: 1 in 10,000
  • Lucky Links (8/22) – Odds of winning jackpot: 1 in 319,770

Powerball

Powerball is a multi-state lottery game which operates in 44 states. It has a 5/69 + 1/26 format which means 5 balls are drawn from 69 as well as an additional ‘power ball’ from a pool of 26. The huge odds, which stand at 1 in 292,201,338, are offset to a certain degree by the large jackpots which are paid out.

  • Biggest Payout – $254 million (£199.5 million)
  • Draw Days – Wednesday, Saturday

Powerball Lottery Ticket

There are five play boards on each Powerball ticket with 69 check boxes for the main number selection. Quick-pick options are also included for players who want to opt for randomly selected numbers.

How to Win Powerball

  • 5 correct numbers with Powerball
  • 5 correct numbers
  • 4 correct numbers with Powerball
  • 4 correct numbers
  • 3 correct numbers with Powerball
  • 3 correct numbers with Powerball
  • 2 correct numbers with Powerball
  • 1 correct number with Powerball
  • Powerball

Mega Millions

Mega Millions is a multi-state lottery which follows a 5/75 + 1/15 format. This means that 5 numbers are drawn from a pool of 75 and an additional bonus ball from 15. The odds are marginally more favourable than Powerball at 1 in 258,890,850.

Mega Millions Lottery Ticket

Mega Millions tickets include five play boards with 75 check boxes for the main numbers and 15 for the extra ‘mega ball’. Players are also able to choose quick pick boxes for random number selection – there’s also an ‘advanced play’ column allowing participants to choose the same numbers for up to 26 consecutive draws.

  • Biggest Payout – $10,000
  • Draw Days –Tuesday, Friday

How to be a Mega Millions Winner

  • 5 correct numbers with Mega Ball
  • 5 correct numbers, no Mega Ball
  • 4 correct numbers with Mega Ball
  • 4 correct numbers, no Mega Ball
  • 3 correct numbers with Mega Ball
  • 3 correct numbers, no Mega Ball
  • 2 correct numbers with Mega Ball
  • 1 correct number with Mega Ball
  • Mega Ball Only

Lotto

Known as Connecticut’s Game of Choice, the Lotto features a minimum jackpot of $1 million. Its 6/44 format is relatively unique with only Arizona and Missouri using the same structure. The chances of walking away with the jackpot are 1 in 7,059,052.

  • Biggest Payout – $28.5 million (£22.3 million)
  • Draw Days –Tuesday, Friday

Lotto Ticket

The Connecticut Lotto ticket consists of five $1 game boards containing 44 check boxes for the main number selection with quick pick boxes beneath. To the left of each ticket, players can select an ‘advanced action’ board to indicate if they’d like to play consecutive draws with the same numbers. Up to 26 can be played provided only one game board is played per ticket.

How to be a Lotto Winner

  • 6 correct numbers
  • 5 correct numbers
  • 4 correct numbers
  • 3 correct numbers

Lucky for Life

Lucky for Life is a multi-state, draw based game with a 5/48 + 1/18 structure, meaning that 5 numbers are drawn from a pool of 35 with another ‘lucky ball’ taken from a smaller pot of 18 – the odds of winning it’s jackpot are 1 in 30,821,472. First prize winners are given $1000 a day for life, while second prize winners are awarded £25,000 a year for life.

  • Biggest Payout – $25,000 p/a
  • Draw Days – Monday, Thursday

Lucky for Life Lottery Ticket

Lucky for Life lottery tickets consist of 5 grids for the selection of the main numbers. Beneath these are the ‘lucky ball’ panels where players pick the supplementary number. To the left of each ticket is an ‘advanced action’ column for participants to choose up to 26 consecutive draws.

How to be a Lucky for Life Winner

  • 5 correct numbers with lucky ball
  • 5 correct numbers
  • 4 correct numbers with lucky ball
  • 4 correct numbers
  • 3 correct numbers with lucky ball
  • 3 correct numbers
  • 2 correct numbers with lucky ball
  • 2 correct numbers
  • 1 correct number with lucky ball
  • Lucky ball

Cash 5

Cash 5 follows the relatively common 5/35 format in which five numbers are drawn from a pot of 35. Given the favourable odds which arise from this structure (1 in 324,632), the jackpots tend to be smaller. In this case the maximum prize is $100,000.

  • Biggest Payout – $100,000
  • Draw Days –Monday to Sunday (Evenings)

Cash 5 Lottery Ticket

Cash 5 lottery tickets feature 10 game boards with 35 numbered check boxes. The usual quick pick option is also included for random selections and there’s an ‘advance action’ column for consecutive draw play. In addition, there are five ‘kicker’ number panels allowing players to pick one number in an effort to match a unique digit printed on the ticket.

How to be a Cash 5 Winner

  • 5 correct numbers
  • 4 correct numbers
  • 4 correct numbers with Kicker
  • 3 correct numbers
  • 3 correct numbers with Kicker
  • 2 correct numbers with Kicker
  • 1 correct number with Kicker

Play 3

Play 3 is a simple lottery game in which three numbers from a small pot of 9. Players are required to match the numbers in a certain sequence which decides the size of the pay-out. The odds of winning a prize stand at 1 in 1000 with a maximum jackpot ceiling of $250

  • Biggest Payout – $250 (£196)
  • Draw Days – Monday to Sunday (Afternoons, Evenings)

How to be a Play 3 Winner

  • 3 correct numbers in order
  • 3 correct numbers in any order
  • First 2 correct numbers in order
  • Last 2 correct numbers in order
  • First and last 2 correct numbers order
  • 3 correct numbers in order + 3 correct numbers in any order
  • 3 correct numbers in all combinations

Play 4

Play 4 has the same format as Play 3 but with 4 numbers. However, the odds of winning a prize increase to 1 in 10,000.

  • Biggest Payout – $25,000
  • Draw Days – Draw Days – Monday to Sunday (Afternoons, Evenings)

How to be a Play 4 Winner

  • 4 correct numbers in order
  • 4 correct numbers in any order
  • 3 correct numbers
  • 3 correct numbers in order + 3 correct numbers in any order
  • 2 pairs of the same numbers
  • 2 correct numbers

Biggest Ever Lottery Win in Connecticut – $254 million (£199.5 million) – Powerball

Connecticut’s biggest everwin on the lottery occurred in 2011 when Greg Skidmore, Brandon Lacoff and Tim Davidson shared a $254 million prize. The men chose to keep as low a profile as possible, given that all three were already successful wealth managers.