Texas Lottery

Most forms of gambling in Texas are still prohibited under state law, but one of the few legal types is the state lottery. Texas lottery players are permitted to choose from a variety of lottery contests approved by the Texas Lottery Commission (including interstate draws).

In this piece, we’ll take a look at how the Texas Lottery works, what games are available, and how you can claim your winnings. We’ll also highlight some of the key moments in the history of the lottery.

The Texas Lottery explained

The Texas Lottery is a government-run organization that facilitates lottery operations in the state. Players can choose from a wide range of lottery games, including scratch games, in-house drawings, and multi-state lottery draws.

Lottery games are used to cover a range of programs across Texas: 65% of lottery revenues are distributed as prizes, 25 percent goes to the Foundation School Fund to support education initiatives across the state, and 2% is sent to the state legislature. One larger group that benefits from legislature allocation is the Texas Fund for Veterans Assistance; one of Texas’ scratch ticket games, Veterans Cash, directly contributes to these funds.

You must be at least 18 years of age to play Texas Lottery games. Winning tickets that go unclaimed for 180 days are forfeited with the prizes instead sent to the state legislature.

Can you play the Texas Lottery online?

Yes, you can play the Texas Lottery online. In 2019, the state legislature approved a bill allowing for lottery tickets to be sold online.

Several websites now sell Texas lottery tickets, and all of them were required to obtain a license from the Texas Lottery Commission to do so. If you do not see the Texas Lottery Commission mentioned by name anywhere on the page, that’s a good indicator you may be dealing with an illegitimate operator and should stay away.

History of the Texas Lottery

In November 1991, Texas voters approved a constitutional amendment to allow lottery ticket sales in the state, passing by a nearly 2:1 ratio. This also led to the creation of the Texas Lottery Commission in 1993 to oversee lottery operations and ensure games were conducted in a legitimate manner (a task that was previously carried out by the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts).

It didn’t take long for things to get up and running; on May 29, 1992, Texas Gov. Ann Richards purchased the state’s first lottery ticket for the Lone Star Millions scratch game. Texans set a then-world record with 23.2 million tickets sold on the first day and 102 million tickets over the first week.

Two years after voting to approve a state lottery, Texas surpassed $1 billion in lottery ticket sales. This number has skyrocketed annually, with the state seeing $8.297 billion in ticket sales in FY2022.

Claiming Texas Lottery winnings

Claiming your Texas Lottery winnings is usually rather straightforward, though the process varies depending on the amount of money you won.

For prizes of $599 or less, take your winning ticket to:

For prizes ranging from $600 to $2.5 million that aren’t paid in annuities:

For prizes ranging from $2.5 million to $5 million that aren’t paid in annuities:

For prizes greater than $5 million, or Mega Millions, Powerball, or Texas Lotto jackpots:

Can I claim TX Lottery winnings online?

No, you cannot claim TX Lottery winnings online. However, you are able to download a claim form on the Texas Lottery website to complete before submitting it via U.S. mail or taking it to a claim center.

Cross-state lottery draw games you can play in Texas

Many of the cross-state lottery draw games you can play in Texas carry larger prizes, though this also carries a decreased chance of winning. The two available in Texas are Powerball and Mega Millions.

Texas first allowed lottery players to try their luck at Mega Millions in 2003. In addition to the usual six-number draws, Texans are eligible for the Megaplier, which multiples non-jackpot winnings by a factor of 2, 3, 4, or 5.

The Powerball joined the list of Texas lottery games in 2010 following a unanimous 3-0 vote from the Texas Lottery Commission. Each game costs $2 to play, and the minimum jackpot is $40 million.

Texas-specific draw games you can play

While the cross-states draws can be entertaining, the Texas-specific draw games you can play are certainly enjoyable as well. Here is a list of the lottery draw games in Texas.

Instant win lottery games in TX

Sometimes called “scratch-offs,” some instant win lottery games in TX may not actually require you to scratch a ticket at all. Here is a full list of active titles.

Where do I purchase lottery tickets in TX?

Whether you want to purchase lottery tickets in TX online or in person, we’ve got you covered with a list of places where you can do so. For a more detailed list based on your location, check the Texas Lottery website.

Famous TX Jackpot winners

Texas allows lottery winners who win more than $1 million to remain anonymous, so there aren’t a ton of details available for many of the winners. However, there are still a few who are certainly worth mentioning.

Is there a Texas Lottery mobile app?

Yes, there is a Texas Lottery mobile app. The app is available for free in both the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store for iPhone and Android users, respectively.

Players can use the app to purchase tickets (which are uploaded digitally), check ticket status, view winning jackpot amounts, enter second-chance promotional contests, and find lottery retailers in your area.