FAQs

Winning draw numbers are available from:

• Most daily newspapers on the day after the draw
• Many TV newscasts on draw nights
• Lottery retailers
• Lottery's website www.lottery.nd.gov
• Call the Lottery's player hotline at (701) 328-1111

The Lottery has over 400 licensed retailers across the state - Look for the Lottery jackpot sign in the store window. If a retailer is open for business and at the retailer's discretion, a ticket can be purchased seven days a week from 5:30 a.m. to 2:30 a.m. CT. Locations (PDF)

The prize claim period is 180 days from the draw date.

All unclaimed prizes are retained by the Lottery and ultimately transferred to the state general fund.

Players must be at least 18 years of age to purchase and/or redeem lottery tickets.

Any employee, regardless of age, may sell a lottery ticket.

No. The numbers on the tickets are always printed in ascending order because it is the easiest way for players to compare their tickets to the winning numbers. If the ticket has a winning combination of the numbers that were drawn, it's a winner!

This is at the discretion of each retailer. Depending on store policy, the retailer may allow a check or debit card for the purchase of tickets, limit the number of tickets purchased, or decline to accept a check or debit card. A credit card cannot be used to buy lottery tickets.

No.

The Lottery is not responsible for lost or stolen tickets. Unless a ticket is signed, anyone who redeems it can claim the prize. A player should sign the back of the ticket immediately upon purchase.

Federal law requires that the Lottery report winnings of $600 or more to the IRS. Federal income tax of 24% and state income tax of 2.90% are withheld from any prize over $5,000. Other IRS withholding provisions may apply.

The breakdown of each $1 Lottery ticket is:

• Prizes Expense - 51%
• Contracted Services - 10%
• Retailer Commissions - 5%
• Advertising/Marketing Expense - 2%
• Administrative/Operating Expense - 6%
• Compulsive Gambling Prevention and Treatment Fund - 1%
• Multi-Jurisdictional Drug Task Force Grant Fund - 2%
• Prize Reserve Pools - 1%
• State General Fund - 22%

A prize of $599 or less may be claimed at a lottery retailer.

A prize of $600 or more must be paid by the Lottery. A player may present the player's prize winning ticket in person at the Lottery's office located at 1720 Burlington Drive Suite C, Bismarck, ND 58504-7736 between the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday (excluding holidays). Please arrive at the Lottery no later than 4:00 p.m. to allow adequate time to process your check.

A player may also download and print a Prize Claim Form (PDF) or pick up a form from a lottery retailer, complete and sign the form, and send it along with the signed winning ticket to:

North Dakota Lottery
PO Box 204
Bismarck, ND 58502-0204

Please send a copy of your ID along with the Prize Claim Form and winning ticket.

The risk of mailing a ticket remains with the player. Registered mail is recommended.

Along with presenting the signed winning ticket, all members of a group claiming a shared prize must:

• Read complete Instructions for Sharing a Prize (PDF).
• Complete a Prize Claim - Shared Prizes form. (PDF).
• Present a valid government-issued ID.
• Complete one Prize Sharing Agreement (PDF) for the group.
• If a member will not be present to claim his/her share of the prize, the absent member must complete a Prize Sharing Agreement Addendum (PDF).

Due to updates to the Pick & Click online play service, players are now required to enter the last four digits of their Social Security Number on all Pick & Click online play applications. This information is used only for "Identity Verification", which refers to the process by which the information collected from the player is compared against public records to verify the player exists, is a resident of North Dakota and is 18 years of age or older.

• Powerball
• Lucky for Life
• Mega Millions
• Lotto America
• 2by2

What should a player do if the player has a compulsive behavior to gamble? Call the HELPLINE in North Dakota at 2-1-1 or contact Gamblers Anonymous or GamblerND.

• Federal law prohibits the sale of lottery tickets outside of the state’s boundaries. Geo-Location technologies are used to determine your location. Only Wi-Fi enabled devices (even if not connected to Wi-Fi) and mobile devices with GPS enabled will return accurate results.
• Our system works on most browsers and platforms. However, your computer must be Wi-Fi enabled in order to pass the Geo Location process. The recommended desktop browsers are:
  • PC: Chrome
  • MAC: Chrome or Safari

• For Windows 10, Right-click on the Windows Logo on the bottom left > Select “Network Connections” Right-click on “Wi-Fi” > select “Enable”. If your device doesn’t have a Wi-Fi adapter, “Wi-Fi” will not be present.
• For Windows 8, from the Apps screen, swipe/scroll to the right and find the Windows System category > Control Panel > in the top-right of the Control Panel open the View drop-down menu > select Category > Network and Internet > Network and Sharing Center. If your device does not have a Wi-Fi adapter, this will likely not be present. If it does have a Wi-Fi adapter, you will get an option to select “Change adapter settings” from the left column. If your device does not have a Wi-Fi adapter, this will not be present.
• For Windows 8, from the Apps screen, swipe/scroll to the right and find the Windows System category > Control Panel > in the top-right of the Control Panel open the View drop-down menu > select Category > Network and Internet > Network and Sharing Center. If your device does not have a Wi-Fi adapter, this will likely not be present. If it does have a Wi-Fi adapter, you will get an option to select “Change adapter settings” from the left column. If your device does not have a Wi-Fi adapter, this will not be present.
• For Windows 7, See Help video: https://youtu.be/b-u0zFXG0dM

• For Mac, click the Wi-Fi icon in the menu bar > choose Turn Wi-Fi on > select a nearby Wi-Fi network from the list. If you don't see the Wi-Fi icon in the menu bar, from the Apple menu > choose System Preferences > click Network in the System Preferences window > select Wi-Fi in the list of available network connections > press Turn Wi-Fi on button.
• For Windows 10, Right-click on the Windows Logo on the bottom left > Select “Network Connections” Right-click on “Wi-Fi” > select “Connect/Disconnect” > Select “Wi-Fi” > Switch to “On”.
• For Windows 8, from the Apps screen, swipe/scroll to the right and find the Windows System category > Control Panel > in the top right of the Control Panel open the View drop-down menu > select Category > Network and Internet > Network and Sharing Center. If your device does not have a Wi-Fi adapter, this will likely not be present. If it does have a Wi-Fi adapter, it will appear here, select “Change adapter settings” from the left column > right click on your Wi-Fi adapter (will be called something like Wi-Fi or Wireless Network Connection) and select enable.
• For Windows 7, See Help video: https://youtu.be/IKcJsPe9eu0

It is possible you are not seeing other Wi-Fi connections. You must be in range of, but not necessarily connected to, multiple wireless connections to be accurately Geo-Located. To check if you are in range of multiple wireless connections, Right-click on the Windows Logo on the bottom left > Select “Network Connections” > Select “Show available networks”. You can also click the “Internet Access” icon in the lower right corner of your screen. *You must be located within the state of North Dakota at time of funding/purchase. Pick & Click online play purchases from outside the state are strictly prohibited.

Mobile device web browsers are not supported for Pick & Click online play purchases. In order to purchase from a mobile device, you must download and install the ND Lottery Players Club official mobile app here.

Every web browser returns different amounts of location data. We advise you use Google Chrome as your web browser to properly Geo-Locate your location. You can download the latest version of Google Chrome (PC/MAC) here.

• You can use any mobile device that has the ND Lottery Players Club official mobile app installed. You can download the official mobile app here.
• If you do not have a mobile device, Wi-Fi dongles/adaptors can be purchased and easily plugged in to your desktop computer. We apologize for any inconvenience.

Powerball is played in 45 states, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands.

The cost for a single play is $2. If a player chooses the Power Play option, there is an additional $1 charge per play.

For an extra $1 per play, add Power Play to increase your non-jackpot prizes by 2, 3, 4, 5 or 10* times (except the MATCH FIVE prize)! To add Power Play, simply mark the Power Play option on your play slip or ask your retailer to add it to your Powerball play.

*The 10X multiplier will at a minimum be available for draws with an advertised jackpot of $150 million or less.

If you MATCH 5 (five white balls), you win $1 million. If you MATCH 5 (five white balls) with Power Play, you win $2 million!

Drawings are held each Monday, Wednesday and Saturday night at 9:59 p.m. CT. To be eligible on the nights of the drawing, you must purchase your Powerball tickets before 8:58 p.m. CT.

The odds of winning any prize on a $2 play are 1 in 24.87. More detailed information on odds and prizes is available at: Powerball Game Information

There are nine different ways to win (including the jackpot)! Powerball Game Information

Yes. A player may buy a Powerball ticket for up to fifteen (15) consecutive draws (current draw plus the next fourteen draws). This is a "multiple draw ticket." A player may also choose to purchase a Pick & Click online play for Powerball. A Pick& Click online play is good for one (1) draw up to a full year!

A jackpot prize winner may choose to receive the prize money in annual payments over a period of thirty years, or as a single lump sum payment.

The advertised Powerball jackpot is based on 29-year future value. If the winner chooses annual payments, the jackpot is annuitized and the prize money paid out in 30 graduated payments (increasing each year) by a rate as determined by the Product Group. Currently, the rate is four percent.

When a player chooses the Cash Option, the Lottery pays the money that would have been invested over 30 years directly to the player in one payment.

Both payment options are subject to income taxes. A player automatically receives the annuity option unless the player chooses the Cash Option within 60 days of claiming the jackpot prize.

If a winning player passes away during the annuity payment period of a prize that is paid on an annuitized basis, the Multi-State Lottery Association's game group, in its discretion, may accelerate the payment of all of the remaining proceeds to the player's estate.

Lucky for Life is played in 22 states and Washington D.C. To learn more about the participating jurisdictions, go to: https://www.luckyforlife.us/

Lucky for Life is THE GAME OF A LIFETIME. A Top Prize winner will receive $1,000 a day FOR LIFE! That is $7,000 a week or $365,000 a year…FOR LIFE!

There is also a second FOR LIFE prize available. Match 5 white balls and receive $25,000 a year FOR LIFE!

Top prize winners ($1,000 a day for life) can choose an annuity option or cash option. The annuity option is once a year payment at $365,000 a year for life* before taxes. The cash option is a one-time payment of $5.75 million before taxes.

Second prize winners ($25,000 a year for life) can also choose an annuity option or cash option. The annuity option is once a year payment at $25,000 a year for life* before taxes. The cash option is a one-time payment of $390,000 before taxes.

*Winners will receive “life prize” for their lifetime or 20 years, whichever is greater.

The cost for a single play is $2.

Drawings are held every night of the week at approximately 9:38 p.m. CT. To be eligible on the nights of the drawing, you must purchase your Lucky for Life tickets before 8:30 p.m. CT.

The odds of winning any prize on a $2 play are 1 in 7.77. More detailed information on odds and prizes is available at: Lucky for Life Game Information

There are 10 different ways to win (including the jackpot)! Lucky for Life Game Information

A player may pay in advance and play multiple draws by playing the same set of numbers for either 2, 3, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35 or 42 draws. This is a "multiple draw ticket.” A player may also choose a Pick & Click online play for Lucky for Life. A Pick & Click online play is good for one (1) draw up to a full year!

In the event a Top Prize or second prize Winner passes away during the annuity payment period, the North Dakota Lottery, with the approval of the New England Lotteries, upon petition of the estate of that Winner (the “Estate”) to the North Dakota Lottery, and subject to the North Dakota Lottery’s jurisdictional laws, may accelerate the payment of all the remaining lottery proceeds to the Estate.

• If the annuitant passes away during the annuity payment period but before the guaranteed prize amount has been paid, the Estate shall receive the remaining payments equal to the minimum guaranteed prize amount.
• If the annuitant passes away during the annuity payment period but after the minimum guaranteed prize amount has been paid, all payments shall stop.

Mega Millions is played in 45 states plus Washington D.C. and the US Virgin Islands. To learn more about the participating jurisdictions, visit: https://www.megamillions.com/Where-to-Play.aspx.

The cost for a single play is $2. If a player chooses the Megaplier® option, there is an additional $1 charge per play.

For an extra $1 per play, add Megaplier to increase your non-jackpot prizes by 2, 3, 4 or 5 times! To add Megaplier, simply mark the Megaplier option on your play slip or ask your retailer to add it to your Mega Millions play.

If you MATCH 5 (five white balls) with Megaplier, you can win up to $5 million!

Drawings are held each Tuesday and Friday night at 10:00 p.m. CT. To be eligible on the nights of the drawing, you must purchase your Mega Millions tickets before 8:58 p.m. CT.

The odds of winning any prize on a $2 play are 1 in 24.00. More detailed information on odds and prizes is available at: www.megamillions.com.

There are nine different ways to win (including the jackpot)! Mega Millions Information

Yes. A player may buy a Mega Millions ticket for up to nine consecutive draws (current draw plus the next eight draws). This is a "multiple draw ticket." A player may also choose to purchase a Pick & Click online playfor Mega Millions. A Pick & Click online play is good for one (1) draw up to a full year!

A jackpot prize winner may choose to receive the prize money in annual payments over a period of 29 years (30 payments over 29 years), or as a single lump sum cash payment.

When a player chooses the Cash Option, the Lottery pays the money that would have been invested over 29 years directly to the player in one payment.

Both payment options are subject to income taxes. A player automatically receives the annuity option unless the player chooses the Cash Option within 60 days of claiming the jackpot prize.

If a winning player passes away during the annuity payment period of a prize that is paid on an annuitized basis, the Multi-State Lottery Association's game group, in its discretion, may accelerate the payment of all of the remaining proceeds to the player's estate.

Lotto America is played in 15 states. To learn more about the Lotto America participating jurisdictions, visit https://www.powerball.com/lotto-america.

The cost for a single play is $1. If a player chooses the All Star Bonus® option, there is an additional $1 charge per play.

For an extra $1 per play, add All Star Bonus to multiply your non-jackpot prizes by 2, 3, 4, or 5 times! To add All Star Bonus, simply mark the All Star Bonus option on your play slip or ask your retailer to add it to your Lotto America play.

Drawings are held each Monday, Wednesday and Saturday night at approximately 9:15 p.m. CT. To be eligible on the nights of the drawing, you must purchase your Lotto America tickets before 8:58 p.m. CT.

The odds of winning any prize on a $1 play are 1 in 9.63. More detailed information on odds and prizes is available at: Lotto America Game Information

There are 9 different ways to win (including the jackpot)! Lotto America Game Information

Yes. A player may buy a Lotto America ticket for up to fifteen (15) consecutive draws (current draw plus the next fourteen draws). This is a "multiple draw ticket." A player may also choose to purchase a Pick & Click online play for Lotto America. A Pick & Click online play is good from one (1) draw up to a full year!

A jackpot prize winner may choose to receive the prize money in annual payments over a period of 29 years (30 payments over 29 years), or as a single lump sum cash payment.

When a player chooses the Cash Option, the Lottery pays the money that would have been invested over 29 years directly to the player in one payment.

Both payment options are subject to income taxes. A player automatically receives the annuity option unless the player chooses the Cash Option within 60 days of claiming the jackpot prize.

Four states (ND, KS, NE, and WY) participate in 2by2. To learn more about the 2by2 participating jurisdictions, visit: https://www.powerball.com/2by2.

The cost for a single play is $1.

When you purchase a multi-draw 2by2 ticket for each day of the week, your ticket qualifies for the 2by2 Tuesday Double Prize Feature in which all prizes won on Tuesday double in value! Your multi-draw ticket can have one or more plays but must be for 7 or more draws (7, 14, 21, 28, 35 or 42) to qualify. If you purchase a 7 draw ticket and you win the $22,000 jackpot on the Tuesday draw, your jackpot prize increases to $44,000!

Drawings are each day of the week, Sunday through Saturday, at approximately 9:30 p.m. CST. To be eligible on the nights of the drawing, you must purchase your 2by2 tickets before 8:58 p.m. CST.

The odds of winning a prize on a $1 play are 1 in 3.59. More detailed information on odds and prizes is available at: 2by2 information.

There are 7 different ways to win (including the jackpot)! 2by2 information.

Yes. A Player may pay in advance and play multiple draws by playing the same set of numbers for either 2, 3, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35 or 42 draws. If you want a chance to DOUBLE your prizes with the 2by2 Tuesday Double Prize feature, multiple draws must be selected in increments of seven draws: 7, 14, 21, 28, 35 or 42. This is a "multiple draw ticket". A player may also choose a Pick & Click online play for 2by2. A Pick & Click online play is good for one (1) draw up to a full year! All 2by2 Pick & Click online play purchases of 7 draws, or more, qualify for the 2by2 Tuesday Double Prize feature.