Lottery Reports More Than $5 Million Won in Draw-style Games and More Than $6.1 Million Claimed from Scratch-off Tickets During May

Louisiana Lottery reported more than $5 million in winning tickets for its draw-style games during May, highlighted by two Powerball Match-5 tickets worth $200,000 each and four Cash Quest jackpot tickets worth $50,000 each.  Also during the same month, scratch-off players claimed more than $6.1 million in prizes, highlighted by a Ruby Red 7's ticket worth $77,777 and a 3-D Tic-Tac-Toe ticket worth $30,000.

May's winning tickets totaled $5,007,435, which included nine Powerball prizes of $10,000 each, 122 Lotto Match-5 prizes averaging $2,353 each and more than 85,000 Cash Quest prizes totaling $322,556.  Pick 3 prizes totaled $1,618,040 and Pick 4 prizes totaled $806,200. Lottery draw-style game players have 180 days from the date of the drawing to claim their winnings.

"Last month more than 24,000 Power Play purchasers won a bonus total of $202,397 in addition to their regular Powerball prize," President Rose Hudson said.  The Power Play option offers Powerball ticket purchasers the chance to multiply their winnings up to five times on all nonjackpot prizes for an additional $1. 

In addition to the $6,156,924 in scratch-off cash prizes paid during May, scratch-off players also won more than $1,244,863 worth of free-tickets. Scratch-off players have 90 days from the official game closure date to claim a winning ticket.

While actual game performance and the amount of prizes claimed will vary from month to month, the Lottery sets aside at least 50 percent of all sales to fund prizes with 35 percent of sales transferred to the state treasury for the Minimum Foundation Program that funds public education in Louisiana. Retailers are paid at least 5 percent in commission and the Lottery retains less than 10 percent 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.