How much can you win with Lotto America? Is the jackpot worth it? Of course, the Lotto America jackpot is one of the most sought-after prizes in the lottery world—and for good reason! It starts at $2 million and keeps growing with every drawing that doesn’t have a winner.
Sure, it may not sound as impressive as the massive jackpots of Mega Millions or Powerball, but the odds of winning the Lotto America jackpot are much better. Plus, $2 million is a large amount of money. Just think of all the things you could do with it! And that’s just for starters.
If you want to learn more about the Lotto America jackpot, how it works, and, most importantly, how to win it, stick with us. We’ll break down everything you need to know to play like a pro.
What Makes Lotto America Different?
Lotto America has a rich history dating back to 1988. It was one of the first multi-state lotteries in the U.S. and quickly became a massive hit with lottery fans. Lotto America was created with one clear goal: to offer some of the best jackpots, reaching tens of millions of dollars.
Despite its success, in 1992, the Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL) decided to replace Lotto America with Powerball. This game offered even bigger prizes and quickly became a favorite among players.
Fast-forward 25 years to 2017, and Lotto America made a comeback. The 14 states that were part of Hot Lotto, a declining lottery, decided to revive Lotto America. This modern game version has since expanded to 15 lottery jurisdictions in the U.S.
Today, you can buy Lotto America tickets in Delaware, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, and West Virginia.
The Lotto America Jackpot is the grand prize, and of course, it’s the most coveted. This jackpot starts at a guaranteed minimum of $2 million and increases with each drawing that does not have a winner.
The growth of the jackpot is directly related to ticket sales. The more people play Lotto America, the bigger the jackpot gets. During periods of high participation, the prize can grow to impressive amounts quickly.
To win the jackpot, all six numbers on your ticket must match the winning numbers in the drawing. But don’t worry, we’ll get into the details later. Your chances of hitting the jackpot are 1 in 25,989,600.
The Biggest Lotto America Jackpots Ever Won
Since its relaunch in 2017, Lotto America has significantly impacted the world of lottery. The largest jackpot in its history reached a staggering $40.03 million. This jackpot was won in April 2023 by a lucky player from Iowa who matched all of Lotto America’s numbers and claimed the $40 million prize with a cash option of $21.28 million. This was the first Lotto America jackpot win in two years.
Back in July 2021, a player from Oklahoma hit a remarkable jackpot of $8.04 million. After that win, Lotto America went two years without a jackpot winner, allowing the prize to grow to record levels before being claimed in 2023.
Of course, these aren’t the only impressive jackpots that Lotto America has produced. Many significant prizes have been won over the years. Here are the top five Lotto America jackpots in history:
- April 1, 2023: $40.03M – Iowa
- March 14, 2018: $22.82M – Minnesota
- July 10, 2019: $21.6M – Minnesota
- July 14, 2021: $8.04M – Oklahoma
- April 1, 2020: $9.01M – Tennessee
- May 5, 2018: $4.38M – Iowa
How to Play Lotto America
We’ve talked a lot about the Lotto America jackpot and how incredible it can be. But how do you win one of these life-changing prizes?
It’s simple! You must pick five numbers from 1 to 52 and one additional number, called a Star Ball, from 1 to 10.
You can pick your own numbers or choose the Quick Pick option and let the computer do it for you.
If you match all five main numbers and the Star Ball, you win the Lotto America jackpot!
Tickets cost just $1, but you can add the All-Star Bonus for an extra dollar. All-Star is an additional option that multiplies your non-jackpot prizes by 2x, 3x, 4x, and 5x, adding even more excitement to the game.
What Is the Current Lotto America Jackpot?
The current Lotto America jackpot is $16.42 million and keeps growing because no one has matched the winning numbers since April 27, 2024. In the most recent drawing, held on Wednesday, December 4, 2024, the winning numbers were 10-13-32-42-44, with a Star Ball of 9 and a multiplier of 4x
Although there was no jackpot winner, the grand prize is still up for grabs and will continue to roll over, waiting for a lucky player to claim it in upcoming draws.
Learn more: Past Lotto America Winning Numbers.
Lotto America drawings take place every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday nights at 10:15 p.m ET. However, the best way to stay updated on Lotto America results is to download the Lottonia app.
With Lottonia, you can register your bets, track your numbers and winnings, and receive instant notifications after each drawing. So, if your numbers match the winning numbers, you’ll be the first to know.
Lotto America Secondary Prizes: What Else Can You Win?
But the jackpot isn’t the only prize that Lotto America offers. There are eight secondary prizes, ranging from $2 to $20,000. Just matching the Star Ball alone guarantees you a prize!
To make things clearer, here’s a breakdown of the Lotto America prizes, the number of matches needed to win, and your odds of hitting each one.
| Match | Prize | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| 5 numers + Start Ball | Jackpot | 1 in 25,989,600.00 |
| 5 numbers | $20,000 | 1 in 2,887,733.33 |
| 4 numbers + Start Ball | 1,000 | 1 in 110,594.04 |
| 4 numbers | 100 | 1 in 12,288.23 |
| 3 numbers + Start Ball | $20 | 1 in 2,404.22 |
| 3 numbers | $5 | 1 in 267.14 |
| 2 numbers +Start Ball | %5 | 1 in 160.28 |
| one number + Start Ball | $2 | 1 in 29.14 |
| Start Ball | $2 | 1 in 16.94 |
| Overall odds of winning a prize are 1 in 9.63 | ||
Summing up…
Now that you know what the Lotto America jackpot is and how to play to win it, what’s your excuse for not trying?
If you’re feeling lucky, leave a comment and share your method or formula for picking your winning numbers.
See you next time. Good luck!