Texas currently offers a variety of lottery games for players to participate in. The Texas Lottery Commission oversees the operation of the lottery in the state and administers several different games. The most popular games include scratch-off tickets, Powerball, Mega Millions, Lotto Texas, Cash Five, Texas Two Step, Pick 3, Daily 4, All or Nothing, and secondary scratch-off games.
Scratch-Off Games
Scratch-off games are very popular in Texas, providing instant win opportunities ranging from $1 up to $10 million. The Texas Lottery releases new $1, $2, $3, $5, $10, and $20 scratch-off games on a regular basis, usually every 4-6 weeks. At any given time, there are typically 40-50 scratch-off games available for purchase. The overall odds of winning any prize range from 1 in 3.50 to 1 in 4.50, depending on the specific game. Top prizes in scratch-off games can quickly reach the millions.
Current Texas Scratch-Off Games
Here is a list of some of the scratch-off games currently available from the Texas Lottery:
| Game Name | Price Point | Overall Odds | Top Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50X The Cash | $5 | 1 in 3.97 | $250,000 |
| Cash Blowout | $2 | 1 in 4.55 | $20,000 |
| Super 7s | $10 | 1 in 3.20 | $750,000 |
| Bonus Break the Bank | $1 | 1 in 4.97 | $5,000 |
| Veterans Cash | $3 | 1 in 4.34 | $30,000 |
Secondary Scratch-Off Games
In addition to the regular scratch-off games, the Texas Lottery also offers special secondary scratch-off games at certain times of the year. These are sold alongside the regular games and offer more chances to win. Recent examples include games tied to the Houston Texans, Dallas Cowboys, holiday games, and more. These help add variety to the scratch-off lineup throughout the year.
Draw Games
In addition to scratch-off games, the Texas Lottery offers a variety of draw game options:
- Lotto Texas – This in-state jackpot game draws winning numbers twice a week, on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Tickets cost $1 per play. You pick six numbers from 1 to 54 or choose Quick Pick and let the computer randomly select them. Match all six numbers to win the jackpot, which starts at $5 million and grows until someone wins it. You can also win smaller prizes by matching as few as 3 numbers.
- Powerball – This is the big multi-state lottery game that produces massive jackpots. Powerball jackpots start at $20 million and grow until someone hits the jackpot. To play, choose five numbers from 1 to 69 plus one Powerball from 1 to 26. Tickets cost $2 per play. Match all six numbers to take home the jackpot prize.
- Mega Millions – Similar to Powerball, this is another huge multi-state lottery game. Players choose five numbers from 1 to 70 and one Mega Ball number from 1 to 25. Jackpots start at $20 million and can grow to hundreds of millions. Tickets are $2 per play. Match all six numbers to win the jackpot.
- Cash Five – This Texas-only lotto game offers a top prize of $25,000. Pick five numbers from 1 to 35 and match all five to win. Drawings are held daily. Tickets cost $1 per play.
- Texas Two Step – Another Texas-exclusive lotto game with prize levels up to $1 million. Choose four numbers from 1-35 for the first part and one Cash Ball number from 1-35 for the second part. Drawings are held on Mondays and Thursdays. Tickets cost $1 per play.
These lotto games provide the biggest jackpots available from the Texas Lottery, giving players the chance to win truly life-changing sums of money. The jackpots continue growing based on sales until someone finally matches all the numbers drawn and wins.
Daily Draw Games
For players looking for a quick, easy way to win daily prizes, the Texas Lottery offers these pick games:
- Pick 3 – Simply choose three numbers from 0 to 9, and match them in exact order to the three numbers drawn. This game has four drawings daily, along with a Fireball number that can multiply non-jackpot prizes. Tickets start at 50 cents per play.
- Daily 4 – Pick four numbers from 0 to 9 and match them in exact order to win. This game also has four drawings per day and a Fireball feature. Tickets start at 50 cents.
These simple games offer new chances to win smaller prizes every day. With their low price points, they appeal to players wanting more frequent winning opportunities.
All or Nothing Game
All or Nothing is a unique Texas Lottery game where players can win by matching either all or none of the numbers drawn. Twelve numbers from 1 to 24 are drawn, and you can win $250,000 for picking all 12 correctly or $500 for picking none correctly. There is one All or Nothing drawing daily. Tickets cost $2 per play.
Summary of Texas Lottery Games
In summary, here is an overview of the lottery games available in Texas:
| Game Name | Game Type | Draw Frequency | Ticket Price | Top Prize |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scratch-Off Games | Instant | N/A | $1-$20 | Up to $10 million |
| Lotto Texas | Lottery Drawing | 2x week | $1 | Jackpot starts at $5 million |
| Powerball | Lottery Drawing | 2x week | $2 | Jackpot starts at $20 million |
| Mega Millions | Lottery Drawing | 2x week | $2 | Jackpot starts at $20 million |
| Cash Five | Lottery Drawing | Daily | $1 | $25,000 |
| Texas Two Step | Lottery Drawing | 2x week | $1 | $1 million |
| Pick 3 | Lottery Drawing | 4x daily | 50 cents | Up to $5,000 |
| Daily 4 | Lottery Drawing | 4x daily | 50 cents | Up to $5,000 |
| All or Nothing | Lottery Drawing | Daily | $2 | $250,000 |
As shown, the Texas Lottery provides a wide range of games to suit different preferences and budgets. Games with huge jackpots, daily drawings, instant scratch-off wins, and unique betting options are available. In total, the Texas lottery currently offers over 50 different games for players to choose from.
Texas Lottery Sales and Revenue
Texas lottery ticket sales reached $6.2 billion in fiscal year 2022. This generated over $1.97 billion in revenue for public education, veterans’ services, and other state causes and programs. Since the Texas Lottery began in 1992, it has contributed $31 billion to the state. Scratch-off games tend to account for about 60% of overall lottery sales in Texas.
The Texas Lottery pays out an average of $1.47 billion in prizes annually. For fiscal year 2022, the overall payout percentage was 63.4%. The Texas Lottery operates with administrative costs of around 5% of total revenue, which is among the most efficient state lotteries in the country.
Texas Lottery Sales by Game
| Game | FY 2022 Sales | Percentage of Sales |
|---|---|---|
| Scratch-Off Games | $3.73 billion | 60% |
| Powerball | $699 million | 11% |
| Mega Millions | $521 million | 8% |
| Lotto Texas | $510 million | 8% |
| Daily Games | $420 million | 7% |
| Cash Five | $137 million | 2% |
| Texas Two Step | $93 million | 1% |
| Other | $62 million | 1% |
As shown, scratch-off tickets dominate sales in Texas, followed by the big jackpot games Powerball and Mega Millions. Lotto Texas and the daily games also attract steady player interest and sales. Overall, the wide range of game options offers something for every Texas lottery player.
Texas Lottery Winners
The Texas Lottery creates many big winners each year across its various games. Some record jackpots and notable winners include:
- A Mega Millions player in Leander won $227 million in September 2022, the largest lottery prize ever won in Texas.
- A Laredo resident claimed a $17.5 million Lotto Texas prize in August 2022.
- In February 2022, a Powerball ticket sold in Milford matched all six numbers for a $731.1 million jackpot.
- A Rio Grande Valley man won a $20.25 million Lotto Texas jackpot in July 2021.
- In May 2021, a resident of Driftwood claimed a $1 million prize after scratching a winning Instant Millionaire ticket.
Hundreds of Texas lottery players win lesser prizes ranging from $1 million to $5 million every year. Even more players win smaller amounts that add up through frequent play. With so many games and prizes available, Texas lottery players have ample chances to win big.
Texas Lottery Retailer Locations
Texas lottery tickets are sold at over 19,000 retailer locations statewide. By law, the Texas Lottery cannot operate more than 10,500 retailers itself. The additional locations are operated by licensed retailers under contract with the Texas Lottery Commission. Retailers earn a 5% commission on ticket sales and cashing bonuses on major prizes. Gas stations, grocery stores, and convenience stores make up over 80% of Texas lottery retailers.
Top Texas Lottery Retailers by Sales Volume
| Retailer | Headquarters | Store Type |
|---|---|---|
| 7-Eleven | Irving, TX | Convenience store |
| Kwik Chek | Texas City, TX | Convenience store |
| Fiesta Mart | Houston, TX | Supermarket |
| Valero | San Antonio, TX | Gas station |
| HEB | San Antonio, TX | Supermarket |
This table shows some of the major retailers selling Texas lottery tickets. Having tickets available at popular gas stations and grocery/convenience stores across the state ensures accessibility for players.
The Future of the Texas Lottery
The Texas Lottery will likely continue expanding its game offerings to give players more ways to play. Possible future changes include:
- Introducing more specialty and seasonal scratch-off games
- Launching a lottery app to conveniently purchase tickets online
- Adding a third weekly Lotto Texas drawing
- Joining other multi-state games if allowed by law
- Increasing jackpots and prize payouts
While the Texas Lottery faces some legislative restrictions regarding game types and locations, the Lottery Commission continually looks for ways to enhance the player experience. Any future changes would have to balance boosting excitement and sales while upholding responsible play practices.
Conclusion
In summary, the Texas Lottery offers an impressive range of lottery games to suit diverse tastes. Currently, there are over 50 total games available, including scratch-off tickets, lotto games, and daily drawings. Millions in prize money are awarded annually, benefiting both lucky winners and public programs in Texas. With lottery sales and profits continuing to rise, existing games will keep growing and new games may be added in the future. The Texas Lottery has firm roots and is positioned to continue providing entertaining games and big prizes to players across the state for years to come.
