Lottery Reports More Than $9 Million in Winning Draw-Style Tickets and More Than $5.8 Million Claimed from Scratch-Off Tickets During April
April's winning draw-style tickets totaled $9,149,727, which included four "match-5" Powerball prizes of $200,000 each, 12 Powerball prizes of $10,000 each, and 151 "match-5" Lotto prizes averaging $2,189 each. Pick 3 prizes totaled $1,958,120 and Pick 4 prizes totaled $1,104,400.
Easy 5 prizes totaled $199,862 with an additional $290,009 in ezmatch prizes. For an additional $1, players can add ezmatch to their Easy 5 ticket for the chance to win up to $250 instantly.
"Last month, more than 34,000 Power Play purchasers won a bonus total of $746,191 in addition to their regular Powerball prize," Lottery President Rose Hudson said. For an additional $1, the Power Play option offers Powerball ticket purchasers the chance to multiply any nonjackpot-related prize up to five times depending upon the Power Play multiplier number randomly selected during the drawing.
The Power Play is a $1 add-on to a Powerball ticket that allows players to multiply any nonjackpot prize by a number randomly selected from the Power Play wheel during the drawing. The wheel is typically numbered with equal slots of 2, 3, 4 and 5. However, through April 30, one of the "5s" on the wheel was replaced with a "10", giving Power Play purchasers the chance to win up to $2 million.
Lottery draw-style game players have 180 days from the date of the drawing to claim any winnings.
In addition to $5,895,478 in scratch-off cash prizes paid during April, players also claimed $1,183,286 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 allocates at least 50 percent of sales to fund prizes. At least 35 percent of sales is 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 of sales to operate.
"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 doesn't win the jackpot, it could possibly have won a smaller prize," Hudson added.
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.
