Lottery Drawings Produce $9.3 Million in Winnings in May While Scratch-Off Winners Claim $22 Million

The Louisiana Lottery Corporation reported more than $9.3 million in winning tickets for its draw-style games during May, highlighted by one Lotto jackpot-winning ticket worth $975,000. Also during May, scratch-off players claimed more than $22 million in cash prizes.

May’s draw-style game winnings included one Powerball match-4 + PB prize worth $50,000 and 45 Powerball match-4 prizes totaling $4,500. There was also one Mega Millions with Megaplier match-4 + MB prize worth $40,000 and 33 Mega Millions match-4 prizes totaling $16,500. In addition to the one player winning a Lotto jackpot prize worth $975,000, 88 players won Lotto match-5 prizes totaling $196,210, helping to bring Lotto’s monthly total winnings to $1,543,479. Pick 3 winning tickets totaled $3,269,020 and Pick 4 winning tickets totaled $2,819,100.

There were five Easy 5 jackpot-winning tickets totaling $285,455, which brought the game’s monthly total winnings to $433,596 with an additional $144,042 won on ezmatch, an instant-win option available for an additional $1.

 “More than 25,000 Power Play purchasers won an extra $254,195 in addition to their regular Powerball prizes,” Lottery President Rose Hudson said. “Also, more than 24,000 Megaplier purchasers won a bonus total of $193,384 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 May were $9,325,013. 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 $22,064,089 in scratch-off cash prizes paid during May, players also claimed $3,724,888 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.

In response to the COVID-19 health crisis, Lottery claims offices opened to the public by appointment only, beginning May 18. Player prize payment options currently available can be found on its website at www.louisianalottery.com/claim. Also, prizes that were set to expire during March 24 – May 17, 2020, have had their expiration extended to Aug. 17, 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.