Georgia Lottery

The Georgia lottery came into existence in 1992 following a state referendum. The Georgia Lottery Corporation was then set up to oversee all operations. The first draw-based game was called Lotto Georgia which ran on a weekly basis before it was merged with two similar games to become Lotto South. Georgia then joined the trans-state Powerball and Mega Millions games in the mid-1990s. Lottery proceeds are used to fund various programs, of which many are in education and relate to tuition grants, scholarships and student loans.

The Games and Odds

  • Powerball (5/69 + 1/26)– Odds of winning: 1 in 292,201,338
  • Mega Millions (5/75 + 1/15) – Odds of winning jackpot: 1 in 258,890,850
  • Cash 4 Life (5/60 + 1/4) – Odds of winning jackpot: 1 in 21, 846, 048
  • Jumbo Bucks Lotto (6/47) – Odds of winning jackpot: 1 in 10,737, 573
  • Fantasy 5 (5/42) – Odds of winning jackpot: 1 in 850,668

US Powerball

Created in 1992, Powerball is a multi-jurisdictional game played in 44 states. It is one of the first US lotteries to use the dual-matrix format where two pools of numbers are utilised instead of just one. The 5/69 + 1/26 structure means that the chances of winning a jackpot are fairly remote at 1 in 292,201,338.

  • Biggest Payout(Georgia) – $246 million (£192.3 million)
  • Draw Days – Wednesday, Saturday

US Powerball Ticket

There are five game panels on a Powerball lottery ticket. All contain boxes numbered 1 – 69 with additional ‘power ball’ selection boards located underneath. As is standard for all Powerball payslips, a quick pick box is included for both random number and power ball selections. A multi-draw column is also provided for players who’d like to play up to 26 consecutive draws.

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

MegaMillions

Established in 1996, Megamillions replaced the multi-state lottery known as the Big Game. Operating in 44 states, Megamillions is a dual-matrix format where 5 numbers are drawn from 75 and an additional number from a pool of 15 (5/75 + 1/15). Like its Powerball counterpart, the odds of winning a jackpot are very steep at 1 in 258,890,850.

  • Biggest Payout (Georgia) – $195 million (shared) (£152.3 million)
  • Draw Days –Tuesday, Friday

MegaMillions Lottery Ticket

Each Megamillions lottery ticket/play-slip consists of five play boards with 75 numbered check boxes, the ‘Megamillion’ panels and quick pick options for both sets of numbers. A multi-draw board is included at the top of each ticket for consecutive draws, next to which is the ‘Mega Plyer’ option which multiplies all non-jackpot prizes if matched.

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

Cash 4 Life

Cash 4 Life is also a multi-jurisdictional game which was created in 2014. It’s operated in 9 states including Georgia and follows a dual-matrix format where 5 numbers are drawn from a set of 60 and a supplementary number known as a ‘Cash ball’, which is taken from a smaller pool of 4. The chances of winning a jackpot are far more favourable than the other multi-state games at 1 in 21,846,048.

  • Biggest Payout(Georgia) – $1000 a day for life (£782)
  • Draw Days – Monday, Thursday

Cash 4 Life Lottery Ticket

Cash 4 Life Lottery tickets have a relatively straightforward layout with five game panels which contain 60 numbered selection boxes, underneath which are the cash ball selection boards. Players are able to use the same numbers for consecutive draws via the ‘advanced play’ box and random selection is also available through quick pick boxes.

How to Win at Cash 4 Life

  • 5 correct numbers with Cash Ball
  • 5 correct numbers
  • 4 correct numbers with Cash Ball
  • 4 correct numbers
  • 3 correct numbers with Cash Ball
  • 3 correct numbers
  • 2 correct numbers with Cash Ball
  • 2 correct numbers
  • 1 correct numbers with Cash Ball

Jumbo Bucks Lotto

The Jumbo Bucks Lotto is an in-state game excusive to Georgia which features a minimum jackpot of $1 million. Unlike the multi-jurisdictional games, it follows quite an unusual single matrix format where six numbers are drawn from a pool of 47 (6/47). Players hoping to win a jackpot will need to overcome odds of 10,737,573 to 1.

  • Biggest Payout – $9.6 million (£7.6 million)
  • Draw Days – Monday, Thursday

Jumbo Bucks Lotto Ticket

There are five play areas on a Jumbo Bucks Lotto ticket. Labelled A – E, they contain 47 selection boxes and allow for five plays per ticket for a $1 each. A multi-draw option is located at the base of each play slip and quick pick boxes are included in every game panel for random number generation. In addition, there’s a Cash Match option where players can win instant cash prizes should they match their main numbers with the Cash Match digits.

How to win at Jumbo Bucks Lotto

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

Fantasy 5

Fantasy 5 is an in-state, draw-based game with a 5/42 format where five numbered balls are drawn from a set of 42. It has a minimum jackpot of $125,500 and players can win up to $500 instantly. The odds taking home the jackpot are just 1 in 850,668.

  • Biggest Payout – $1.89 million (£1.5 million)
  • Draw Days – Monday to Sunday

Fantasy 5 Lottery Ticket

The Fantasy 5 Lottery ticket has ten game panels with 42 numbered selection boxes. Each panel can be played for the same draw for an extra $1 and the cash match option available on the Jumbo Bucks game, is also included. As usual, quick pick boxes are provided for random number generation.

Fantasy 5

• 5 correct numbers
• 4 correct numbers
• 3 correct numbers
• 2 correct numbers

Biggest Ever Lottery Win in Georgia

Georgia’s biggest lottery payout took place in 2017 when Willian and Heather ten Broeke were handed a check for $246,764,131 million. They purchased the winning ticket at their local supermarket and realised they’d become rather rich a few days later.