Established in 1972, the Michigan Lottery has long been a cutting-edge gaming system that now offers plenty of different playing options to participants across the state. As one of the first states to participate in what has now grown to become the nationally played Mega Millions, it’s clear that Michiganders take their lottery seriously.

In this dedicated MI Lotto guide, we’ve covered all you need to know about what the state offers. By reading this, you can stay up-to-date with the games you know and love, and even discover games you’re yet to try. Locals and visitors win millions every year from the Michigan Lottery, so keep reading to learn how to best take part in the games now!

A woman holding a cash prize.

In this dedicated guide, we’ve started by providing you an overview of the different kinds of lottery games available. This is important to distinguish as different games tend to have different odds and playing types. Games are also drawn at different times, so we’ve created a schedule to ensure you’re always up-to-date.

We’ve continued by sharing some interesting background information about the lottery as well as providing some important information about the laws regulating Michigan’s lottery. If you still have any burning questions, keep reading as we’ve answered some of the most commonly asked questions about the MI Lotto.

The Various Michigan Lottery Games Available

Those looking to play in the Michigan Lottery are certainly spoiled for choice when it comes to selecting different game types. Not only are players able to access a huge selection of online lottery games, but the state also sells tickets to national lotteries, exclusive local lotteries, and instant ticket games.

Michigan is extremely fortunate in that it offers more options than most other states. In fact, even the country’s gambling capital Nevada doesn’t have a lottery system in place! The game types that are offered can be categorized into two different types: draw games and scratchers. Below, we’ll explore the differences in both, including their odds and jackpots.

Draw Games: MI Lottos with Huge Jackpots

If you’re chasing a huge jackpot, then draw games are the lottery games for you. For those that are unfamiliar, a draw game requires players select or take at random a certain amount of numbers. There will then be a random draw of different numbers, and if players selected numbers match these, they are entitled to a prize.

These kinds of games come in many different sizes and offer different jackpot prizes. Keep in mind that the larger the games, the smaller the odds of winning. As the table shows, while some are held every few minutes and only allow local contestants, others are played at the national level twice a week.

Michigan Lottery Number Drawing
Game Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday
10:59 PM 10:59 PM
11:00 PM 11:00 PM
7:29 PM 7:29 PM
10:35 PM 10:35 PM
7:29 PM 7:29 PM 7:29 PM 7:29 PM 7:29 PM 7:29 PM 7:29 PM
*Times Based on Eastern Time (GMT-5:00)

As the above schedule reveals, players can play the lottery every single day! Keep in mind that the above are only some of the most popular games that are available to Michigan players and that there are even more games for players to participate in to try to win the jackpot.

Below, we’ve gone into further detail about the best Michigan lottery games. Not only have we provided some background information into each, but we’ve also provided some details about their jackpot prizes and the odds of winning them. You may be surprised by what you discover!

Powerball: The King of Lotteries

The Powerball game is known globally as being the premiere draw game alongside the Mega Millions, and for good reason. With jackpot prizes regularly building to hundreds of millions of dollars, the Powerball is an extremely popular game that is played in 45 states across the country.

Tickets to the Powerball cost $2 each and games are played every Wednesday and Saturday evening. For players who want the chance to increase their potential lower-tier wins, they can place a side bet of an extra $1 to play a bonus Power Play multiplier round.

Matching Numbers Prize Amount (most recent) Odds
5 + Powerball $29,000,000 1:292,201,338
5 $61,095 1:11,688,054
4 + Powerball $47,374 1:913,129
4 $601 1:36,525
3 + Powerball $159 1:14,494
3 $8 1:580
2 + Powerball $10 1:701
1 + Powerball $5 1:92
Powerball only $4 1:38

Mega Millions: Created in Michigan

Many people might not know this, but the Mega Millions is actually the brainchild of the former commissioner of the Michigan State Lottery! It was first established as The Big Game in 1996 and could be played in six states including Michigan. It is now played in over 45 states and has awarded billions of dollars to lucky players!

A Mega Millions ticket costs $2 and is drawn twice a week on Tuesdays and Fridays. As the below table reveals, the game offers a number of different tiers of prizes that grow exponentially the more numbers that you match. This is the game that has created billionaires – but be warned that the odds of hitting the jackpot are tiny!

Matching Numbers Prize Amount (most recent) Odds
5 + Megaball $164,000,000 1:302,575,350
5 $1,654,256 1:12,607,306
4 + Megaball $15,209 1:931,001
4 $552 1:38,792
3 + Megaball $223 1:14,547
3 $11 1:606
2 + Megaball $10 1:693
1 + Megaball $4 1:89
Megaball only $2 1:37

Lucky for Life: Never Worry About Money Again

Imagine what you would do if you received $1,000 every day for the rest of your life? Well, this is exactly what the Lucky for Life jackpot promises to those fortunate enough to win it. Launched in 2009, this game is now played across 25 states in the country.

It costs $2 to play Lucky for Life, and there are a number of different tiers that awards prizes depending on how many numbers you match. As for the odds, we think that they’re pretty good considering they offer a lifetime supply of money!

Matching Numbers Prize Amount Odds
5 + Lucky Ball $1,000 a day for life 1:30,821,472
5 $25,000 a year for life 1:1,813,028
4 + Lucky Ball $5,000 1:143,356
4 $200 1:8,433
3 + Lucky Ball $150 1:3,413
3 $20 1:201
2 + Lucky Ball $25 1:250
2 $3 1:15
1 + Lucky Ball $6 1:50
Lucky Ball Only $4 1:32

Lotto 47

Unique to Michigan, Lotto 47 asks players to pick 6 numbers out of 47 for a chance to win a jackpot prize that starts at $1 million! There are four tiers of prizes that range from $5 to the jackpot. Games are played twice a week, meaning it doesn’t take too long for that progressive jackpot to build!

Unlike the other lotteries we mentioned, tickets for Lotto 47 only cost $1 a game. This is great, considering when you compare the odds of winning the Powerball and Mega Millions $1 million prize, the odds for the Lotto 47 jackpot are lower! Players can also potentially double their prizes by betting an extra $1 per play.

Matching Numbers Prize Amount Odds
6 out of 6 Jackpot 1 in 10,737,573
5 out of 6 $2,500 1 in 43,649
4 out of 6 $100 1 in 873
3 out of 6 $5 1 in 50

Fantasy 5

Fantasy 5 is another Michigan-only lottery game that is played daily. The jackpot starts at $100,000 and progresses based on a pari-mutuel system, meaning that the more players who bet, the more the jackpot increases. The largest Fantasy 5 Jackpot to be won in Michigan was roughly $900,000 – so you have to love the odds for that game!

Matching Numbers Prize Amount Odds
5 out of 5 Jackpot 1 in 575,757
4 out of 5 $100 1 in 3,387
3 out of 5 $10 1 in 103
2 out of 5 $1 1 in 10

As the name suggests, players must pick 5 numbers to match with the draw. Tickets only cost $1 per game, though players can also bet an additional $1 for a chance to enter the double play drawing and potentially double their lower-tier wins.

Poker Lotto

We love games that offer exciting playing features, and Poker Lotto does exactly this. To play, players must select five different cards. from a deck of cards. Five cards are then dealt, and prizes are won if players chosen cards match these. It costs $2 per ticket to play.

Matching Numbers Prize Amount Odds
Royal Flush $5,000 1 in 649,740
Straight Flush $500 1 in 72,194
4 of a Kind $150 1 in 4,165
Full House $175 1 in 695
Straight $75 1 in 695
Flush $50 1 in 509
3 of a Kind $5 1 in 48
2 Pair $3 1 in 22
Pair $2 1 in 8

This game isn’t like standard lottery games that only offer one tier ladder for wins – it also allows wins depending on what kind of hand is drawn for those who bet an extra $1. For example, all bonus-playing players can instantly win if the cards drawn onscreen create a Royal Flush; that is a 10, J, Q, K, A, all in the same suit.

The Best Michigan Scratchers: Games with Great Odds

We’ve seen that Michigan offers players some great options when it comes to draw games, but did you know there are also plenty of instant scratch games to be played too? Not only this, but players aren’t limited to buying scratch cards in physical locations – Michigan has over 100 online scratch games too!

These scratch cards are unique to Michigan and vary widely as far as jackpot prizes and odds go. Of course, each physical ticket varies in price, with prices starting as low as $1 per ticket and growing to $50 per ticket. Below, we’ve listed five of our favorite Michigan scratch games.

  1. $150 million Payout (Overall odds of winning: 1 out of 3.12)
  2. $2 million Bonus (Overall odds of winning: 1 in 3.39)
  3. $1 million Money Match (Overall odds of winning: 1 in 3.78)
  4. $ 1 million Cash (Overall odds of winning: 1 in 3.63)
  5. $1 million Emerald 10’s (Overall odds of winning: 1 in 3.78)

The first of these games, while appearing as though it was awarding a jackpot of $150 million, is actually offering that amount in total prizes, with the jackpot being $4 million. At the most expensive, this ticket costs $30 to play. Moving down the list, the tickets become cheaper as the jackpot lowers with the lower three costing $10 each.

With each ticket, there are 10 different prize tiers, with the lowest prize starting at the prize of the ticket and building to the jackpot. As the above displays, the odds of winning change depending on the price too, with lower jackpots offering better odds.

Unique Michigan Online Lottery Games

Did you know that only six states in the US have legalized online lottery ticket sales? Thankfully, Michigan counts itself as one of those six, and first legalized the sale of online tickets in 2014. At first, only Instant KENO and electronic scratch cards were allowed to be played online, but this has since expanded to include major lotteries such as the Powerball and Mega Millions.

One game that is particularly unique to Michigan’s online lottery is Bubble Bingo, an online bingo game that costs between 25c and $5 to play and operates like usual bingo. Caribbean Cashword, is another game that lists a number of letters. If these letters create three or more words on a player’s card, they are entitled to win.

For KENO fans, players have the choice of four different online KENO variations that cost between 10c and $25 to play. This is in addition to the two KENO games that can be played in physical locations. For those who want other in-store games to play, the Michigan Lottery also sells a number of pull-tab games.

Important Laws Regarding Michigan Lotteries

If you are new to the state of Michigan or are simply curious, it’s worth keeping in mind that every state has its own set of rules and regulations that govern the lottery. These determine everything from the minimum age that players need to be to how much tax must be paid on winnings.

As the table below shows, players must be a minimum of 18 years old to play the lottery. This is the standard in most US states, although some require that players be 19 years old. In addition to this, players who earn over $5,000 must pay 4.25% in taxes to the state in addition to the mandatory 24% of federal taxes.

Legal Age for Lottery Games: 18+
Tax on Winnings: 4.25%
Anonymity for Winners: Yes
Limit to Claim Win: 12 Months
Online Lottery: Yes

One good thing about the MI lotto is that winners can remain anonymous if they have scored large prizes. This is important as in the past there have been cases of winners being targeted by criminals because they were publicly revealed to be millionaires, so it’s good to give people the option.

Winners have one year from the date of a drawer to claim their prize. There have been a number of notable cases where people have won major jackpots only to find out their tickets have expired when checking their tickets, so always be mindful of the expiration date of your tickets!

Overview of the Michigan Lotto

The Michigan Lottery launched in 1972 with what was called the Green Ticket Game. Three months later, it awarded its first $1 million to a Tennessee factory worker. Two years later, the first instant scratch card games were sold, and since then the lottery has gone from strength to strength in the state.

The activity is regulated by the Michigan Bureau of State Lottery. This governing body determines the rules of the lotto games and oversees the issuing of gaming licenses to potential retailers. It has existed since the lottery began and reports to the state treasure.

Overview of the Michigan Lottery
Company: Michigan Bureau of State Lottery Founded: 1972
Headquarters: 101 E. Hillsdale Street (P.O. BOX 30023) Lansing, MI 48909 Social Media: Twitter
Website: www.michiganlottery.com Biggest Win: $337 million

Since its conception, the lottery has raised over $20 billion in vital revenues for the state’s School Aid fund, an initiative to support the state’s public school system. For this reason, the lottery is highly regarded in the state by residents and lawmakers.

Conclusion

Of all the American Lottery options, Michigan offers one of the best in the country. Not only does it offer the great national games that are played all over the USA, but it offers a number of its own Michigan-only competitions that can only be enjoyed by residents or visitors within state lines.

Remember, this MI lotto guide is not just a great resource for learning about the features of the state’s lottery. We also post up-to-date results on the Michigan lottery winning numbers as soon as they’re available, so be sure to visit us again for these updates.

Common Questions that People Also Ask

In order to ensure that you are as informed as possible before choosing a lottery game to play in Michigan, we’ve researched the most commonly asked questions about the MI lotto and provided you with answers. We’ve covered everything from how to claim your prize to the mobile options, so keep reading to discover more.

Is there a Michigan Lotto app?

Yes there is! Players can download the Michigan Lottery App through the Michigan Lottery website, the Apple App Store or the Google Play store. Here, you can play all of the online lotto games available on the website, as well as buy tickets and check results of all games open to Michigan players.

Who can play online?

There are a number of requirements to consider before you play online. First, you must be 18 years old, be a resident of Michigan or be physically located in Michigan at the time of deposit and purchase, or buy the ticket with unlawfully gained funds. If the Michigan Lottery suspects you of breaking these terms, it may suspend your account.

How much money from tickets is paid in prizes?

Roughly 60% of the funds generated through the ticket prices on both scratch card and draw lotteries are returned to players in the form of cash prizes. A large portion of this goes to funding the School Aid program, while some goes back to the 11,000 retailers that sell tickets. In the event jackpots are hit, the retailers who sold the winning tickets are also given commission.

How do I claim my prize?

This depends on how much you’ve won and where you bought your ticket. Prizes under $600 can either be collected from the retailer who sold your ticket or will be debited into your online account. If it is above this amount, players who bought their tickets at a physical retailer can claim their prize at the nearest Lottery Regional centre. If this purchase was made online, an online claim form must be submitted.

I’ve received a letter/email/telephone call saying I’ve won. What do I do?

The Michigan lottery will never send out any notice in the case that a jackpot has been won, unless it is a direct notification from within your MI Lottery online account or app. Messages like this tend to be common with online scammers, so do not respond to these messages but instead contact a verified official at the Michigan State Lottery organization.

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