Lotto America Rules

Make sure you know all the Lotto America rules and regulations before you start playing, in order to avoid any unpleasant surprises when it comes time to claim your winnings. This page covers all the important points you need to know to play Lotto America within the rules; head over to the How to Play page if you want to find out how to enter an upcoming draw.

Playing Lotto America

• You must mark five numbers between 1 and 52 and one Star Ball from 1 to 10 on your playslip. Marking the incorrect amount of numbers, or the ‘void’ box on your playslip, will invalidate your slip. Your Star Ball number can be the same as one of your main numbers.
• You must mark your playslip only with blue or black ink, or as instructed by the selling lottery. You may not use red ink. A ticket will not be issued if you fail to fill in the playslip as instructed.
• If you want to enter your numbers into multiple draws, you must mark the relevant box on your playslip. The maximum number of draws you can enter at one time is determined by each selling lottery.
• It is your responsibility as the player to verify that the information printed on your ticket is accurate and corresponds with the selections you made on your playslip. The retailer or the selling lottery will not accept any liability for any losses that may result from errors made when you fill in your playslip.
• Your ticket is the only valid proof that you have played the game. It is your responsibility to keep your entry safe until the drawing takes place and you have used it to claim any prizes for which it may be eligible. A Lotto America playslip does not count as proof of entry.
• Once you have purchased your ticket, it may only be returned at the discretion of the selling lottery.
• It is your responsibility to adhere to the minimum age limit in the state where you are buying a ticket. If you are not old enough to play, you will not be eligible to claim a prize even if you have a valid winning ticket.
• You are eligible to play and win as a non-US citizen, provided you are of legal age in the state where you are participating.
• Employees of the Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL), state lottery employees and members of their immediate families residing in the same household are ineligible to play Lotto America or claim prizes.
• You must purchase a Lotto America play to be eligible to add the All Star Bonus option. The All Star Bonus must be added at the time when you purchase your ticket. You cannot add the All Star Bonus after your ticket has been printed.
• You will not be able to purchase tickets after the cut-off time specified by your state lottery.

Prizes and Claims

• A winning ticket is the only valid receipt for claiming a prize. Your entry must be intact and cannot be damaged or altered in any way.
• The data on your ticket must have been recorded on the central computer system prior to the drawing and must match the computer records exactly.
• If there is a dispute over the validity of a ticket, the selling lottery’s decision will be final. You may be entitled to a refund or a ticket for a future draw, at the discretion of the selling lottery.
• You may only win one prize per line of Lotto America numbers and only the maximum eligible prize will be paid out.
• You must claim your prize within the time period specified by the state lottery which issued your ticket. You must claim your prize in the same state your ticket was bought.
• Payment of any prize may be delayed if there any questions regarding the validity of the claimant or the ticket, or if any dispute occurs over the prize.
• The prize pool is estimated to be 50 percent of Lotto America sales, but may be higher or lower depending on the number of winners at each fixed prize level. Prizes may become pari-mutuel in extreme circumstances and a percentage of the prize fund will be allocated to each category.
• You must choose whether to receive a jackpot prize as a lump sum or graduated annuity payments within 60 days of the draw taking place. If this decision is not made in time, you will automatically receive the annuity.
• If you die before you receive all of your annuity payments, the remaining proceeds will go to your estate. The remaining payments may be accelerated or paid as a lump sum, depending on the conditions laid out by your state lottery.
• The selling lottery will pay prizes by cash, check, warrant or electronic transfer.