Louisiana Lottery Reports More Than $8.3 Million in Winning Draw-Style Tickets & More Than $7.9 Million Claimed from Scratch-Off Tickets during February
February's winning draw-style tickets included one "match-5" Powerball prize of $200,000, nine Powerball prizes of $10,000 each, and 197 "match-5" Lotto prizes averaging $1,781 each. Pick 3 prizes totaled $1,625,210 and Pick 4 prizes totaled $1,174,800.
Easy 5 prizes totaled $461,032 with an additional $247,606 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. In total, draw-style game winnings were $8,346,901 for last month.
"Over 33,000 Power Play purchasers won a bonus total of $508,141 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.
Lottery draw-style game players have 180 days from the date of the drawing to claim any winnings.
"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 $7,901,205 in scratch-off cash prizes paid during February, players also claimed $1,524,926 worth of free tickets. Scratch-off players have 90 days from the official game closure date to redeem a winning ticket. According to Lottery policy, scratch-off games are closed when all top prizes are claimed.
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.
A list of current scratch-off games, prizes remaining and claim deadlines, as well as winning numbers and large unclaimed prizes for the Lottery's draw-style games, can be found on our Web site.
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.