Lottery Drawings Produce $8.6 Million in Winnings in April While Scratch-Off Winners Claim $13.5 Million

The Louisiana Lottery Corporation reported nearly $8.6 million in winning tickets for its draw-style games during April, highlighted by three Easy 5 jackpot-winning tickets worth $80,000, $70,000 and $60,000. Also during April, scratch-off players claimed more than $13.5 million in cash prizes.

April’s draw-style game winnings included two Powerball with Power Play match-4 + PB prizes worth $100,000 each, two Powerball match-4 + PB prizes totaling $100,000 and 30 Powerball match-4 prizes totaling $3,000. There was also one Mega Millions match-4 + MB prize worth $10,000 and 14 Mega Millions match-4 prizes totaling $7,000. There were 82 Lotto match-5 prizes totaling $178,564, helping to bring Lotto’s monthly total winnings to $518,197. Pick 3 winning tickets totaled $3,186,150 and Pick 4 winning tickets totaled $3,474,700. Easy 5 prizes totaled $330,531 with an additional $116,645 won on ezmatch, an instant-win option available for an additional $1. 

 “More than 19,000 Power Play purchasers won an extra $254,898 in addition to their regular Powerball prizes,” Lottery President Rose Hudson said. “Also, more than 14,000 Megaplier purchasers won a bonus total of $93,814 in addition to their regular Mega Millions prizes.” The $1 Power Play option offers Powerball players the chance to increase any nonjackpot winnings. The $1 Megaplier add-on multiplies nonjackpot Mega Millions prizes by a multiplier number selected during the drawing. 

In total, draw-style game winnings from drawings held in April were $8,592,675. Lottery draw-style game players have 180 days from the date of the drawing to claim the winnings from those tickets.

“We encourage players to sign the back of their tickets immediately after purchasing and to check them promptly after the drawing. Even if a ticket does not win the jackpot, it could have won another prize,” Hudson added.

In addition to $13,543,839 in scratch-off cash prizes paid during April, players also claimed $2,671,465 worth of free-ticket prizes. According to Lottery policy, scratch-off games are closed when all top prizes are claimed, and scratch-off players have 90 days from the official game closure date to redeem a winning ticket. A list of current scratch-off games, prizes remaining and claim deadlines can be found on its website, www.louisianalottery.com/scratch-offs/last-day-to-claim.

In response to the COVID-19 health crisis, Lottery claims offices remain closed to the public. Effective May 4, the Lottery made new player prize payment options available, which can be found on its website at www.louisianalottery.com/claim. Also, prizes that were set to expire during March 24 – May 15, 2020, have had their expiration extended to Aug. 15, 2020. 

While actual game performance and the amount of prizes claimed will vary from month to month, the Lottery allocates nearly 53.7% of sales to fund prizes. At least 35% of sales is transferred to the state treasury for the Minimum Foundation Program that funds K-12 public education in Louisiana. Retailers are paid 5.6% compensation, and the Lottery retains less than 6% of sales to operate.

Hudson reminded ticket purchasers to play responsibly, encouraging anyone who has a gambling problem, or friends and family of anyone with a gambling problem, to call toll-free 1-877-770-7867 for help.  Ticket purchasers must be at least 21 years of age.