The Maryland Lottery life game is a popular jackpot-style lottery game exclusive to the state of Maryland. It offers players the chance to win prizes ranging from $2 up to a multi-million dollar jackpot. Here are some quick facts about the Maryland Lottery life game:
How to Play
To play Maryland Lottery life, players choose 5 numbers from 1 to 48. Drawings are held twice per week, on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Players can purchase $1 tickets for a single drawing or buy tickets in advance for multiple drawings.
To win the jackpot, a player must match all 5 numbers drawn. Smaller prizes are awarded for matching just some of the numbers. The game also features a lifetime prize that pays out $1,000 per week for life.
Odds and Prizes
The overall odds of winning any prize in the Maryland Lottery life game are about 1 in 7. The jackpot starts at $500,000 and continues to increase until someone wins it. Here is a breakdown of the prize levels:
| Match | Odds | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| 5 numbers | 1 in 5,245,786 | Jackpot |
| 4 numbers | 1 in 7,384 | $2,500 |
| 3 numbers | 1 in 82 | $25 |
| 2 numbers | 1 in 9 | $2 |
The lifetime prize is awarded at random to one $1 ticket in the drawing. The odds of winning it are about 1 in 1,727,080.
When and Where Drawings Occur
Maryland Lottery life drawings are held every Wednesday and Saturday at 10:59 p.m. ET. They take place at the Maryland Lottery studios located in Baltimore.
Drawings are streamed live online at mdlottery.com. Players can also watch on local TV stations in Maryland. Winning numbers are posted soon after each drawing at Maryland Lottery retailers and online.
Buying Tickets
Maryland Lottery life tickets can be purchased at over 4,500 licensed retailer locations in the state of Maryland. This includes grocery stores, gas stations, convenience stores, liquor stores, and more. Tickets can also be bought online at mdlottery.com if you are located within the state.
Tickets must be purchased by 9:45 p.m. ET on the night of a drawing to be eligible. All tickets are $1 per play. Multi-draw tickets are available to purchase entries for up to 26 consecutive drawings.
Claiming Prizes
For prizes under $600, winning Maryland Lottery life tickets can be cashed at any authorized retailer in the state. For larger prizes, tickets must be claimed at a Maryland Lottery customer resource center or by mail.
Jackpot and lifetime prizes must be claimed at the Maryland Lottery headquarters in Baltimore. All prizes over $5,000 are subject to state and federal tax withholding at the time of payout.
The History of the Game
The Maryland Lottery life game launched in October 2012. It was designed to have better overall odds compared to similar jackpot games like Powerball. life also has a signature prize structure offering both large jackpots and guaranteed lower-tier prizes.
Since its debut, the game has awarded over $675 million in total prizes to Maryland players. It consistently ranks as one of the top performing lottery games for the Maryland Lottery.
Important Tips for Players
Here are some tips to keep in mind when playing Maryland Lottery life:
- Sign the back of your ticket immediately after purchase and store it in a safe place.
- Always check your numbers carefully against the official results.
- Remember that lottery games are based on random number draws and have no strategy for picking lucky numbers.
- Never play with money you cannot afford to lose.
- Know the claiming deadlines – jackpots expire 182 days after the draw date.
- Retailer bonus prizes for selling a jackpot winner are capped at $100,000.
Is Maryland Lottery life Available in Other States?
No, Maryland Lottery life is exclusive to the state of Maryland. Other states offer similar jackpot-style games, but they each have different names, formats, and prize structures.
For example, Florida offers a game called Florida Lotto. Michigan has a game called Lotto 47. Neighboring state Virginia has Cash4Life and Mega Millions instead of Maryland Lottery life.
Can You Buy Tickets from Other States?
Maryland Lottery life tickets can only legally be purchased within the state of Maryland. It is against the law to buy or sell lottery tickets across state lines. Players must be physically located within Maryland at the time of ticket purchase.
There are also additional eligibility restrictions – lottery players must be at least 18 years old. Tickets cannot be purchased on behalf of a minor. Non-US citizens must have valid identification to claim prizes.
Why Does Maryland Have Its Own Lotto Game?
Maryland has its own exclusive lotto game because each state in the US operates its own separate lottery system. State lotteries first emerged in the 1960s as a way to generate revenue without imposing new taxes.
Today, most states use lottery profits to fund public education, senior citizens programs, and other government initiatives. Having its own lotto game allows Maryland to retain all the revenue from ticket sales and prizes within the state.
Maryland Lottery life offers a locally-branded product that resonates with residents. It contributes significantly to the Maryland Lottery’s annual contributions to the state, which total over $600 million per year.
Can You Remain Anonymous After Winning?
Maryland does allow lottery winners to remain anonymous if they so choose. Most other states also offer anonymity, with a few exceptions.
After winning a major Maryland Lottery life prize, winners can opt to have their identity protected. The Maryland Lottery will not share a winner’s name, photo, or other personal details publicly unless permission is given.
However, anonymity does have some limitations. For tax and legal purposes, the lottery must still verify winners’ identities privately. And for jackpots exceeding $10 million, the winner’s hometown may still be released.
Do Lottery Retailers Get a Bonus for Selling Big Winners?
Yes, Maryland Lottery retailers can earn bonuses for selling top-prize winning tickets. For the Maryland Lottery life game, the retailer bonus is set at 1% of the jackpot prize, up to a maximum of $100,000.
So if they sell a ticket that wins a $5 million Maryland Lottery life jackpot, the retailer would receive a $50,000 bonus. If the jackpot is $200 million, they still only get $100,000. Other smaller fixed bonuses are paid for tickets winning lifetime prizes.
These retailer bonuses motivate and reward the merchants who sell the winning tickets. Over 5,000 retailers across Maryland participate in selling lottery games.
What is the Largest life Jackpot Won So Far?
The record jackpot in the Maryland Lottery life game so far is $31.5 million. It was won by a single ticket on September 10, 2022. The winning numbers were 19, 20, 26, 39, and 48.
That surpassed the previous record jackpot of $21.4 million that was hit earlier in 2022. Since its launch in 2012, the Maryland Lottery life game has minted over 50 jackpot winners.
The average Maryland Lottery life jackpot is around $2.5 million before it rolls over and increases for the next drawing. The odds of winning the jackpot are roughly 1 in 5.25 million.
Has Anyone Ever Won the Lifetime Prize?
Yes, as of October 2022, there have been over 15 winners of the Maryland Lottery life lifetime prize since the game debuted. This unique prize pays out $1,000 per week for the rest of the winner’s life.
The most recent lifetime prize winner was a 58-year-old man from Carroll County, who claimed the prize in July 2022. He purchased the lucky quick pick ticket at Food Lion in Sykesville.
Due to the lifetime prize, Maryland Lottery life tickets continue to be sold and drawings held even after the main jackpot is hit. Winners of the lifetime prize remain anonymous unless they choose to come forward publicly.
What is the Biggest life Prize Claimed So Far?
The largest Maryland Lottery life prize awarded so far was a $31.5 million jackpot hit on September 10, 2022. As mentioned above, this set a new record for the game since it launched in 2012.
The second biggest prize was a $21.4 million jackpot from March 2022. No one has yet claimed the game’s advertised maximum jackpot amount of $50 million, but it may only be a matter of time.
Other notable big prizes include two lifetime prize winners in 2015 who chose to take the cash option lump sum, receiving over $3 million each. Most lifetime prize winners opt for the annuity payments.
Which Numbers Are Most Common in life Drawings?
According to statistics through October 2022, the most frequently occurring numbers in Maryland Lottery life drawings so far are:
- 48
- 36
- 31
- 27
- 17
The least common numbers are 23, 44, 41, 15, and 7. Of course, all numbers have an equal 1 in 48 chance of being selected in each drawing. These are just the historical averages.
Which Numbers Are Most Overdue in life?
Based on the data, here are the top 5 numbers most overdue for a Maryland Lottery life drawing as of October 2022:
- 44
- 15
- 41
- 7
- 40
The numbers 44 and 15 in particular have been drawn much less frequently than the rest of the pool. But again, each number has an equal probability for any given drawing.
Is There a life Mobile App?
Yes, the Maryland Lottery offers a free mobile app for iOS and Android called MD Lottery Rewards. Players can use the app to purchase Maryland Lottery life tickets digitally.
The app also lets you scan and check tickets for winners, view current jackpots and drawing results, find retailers, and more. Members get access to exclusive promotions and loyalty rewards.
Some key features of the MD Lottery Rewards app include:
- Buy life and other Maryland Lottery tickets on your phone
- Cash in wins up to $600 right from the app
- Receive notifications of your ticket outcomes
- Second chance promotions and contests
- Daily free play rewards
- Earn points for drawing entries and prizes
The Maryland Lottery life mobile app provides convenience for players on the go. It is available for download from the iOS App Store and Google Play Store.
Can You Play life Online?
Maryland Lottery life tickets can be purchased online, but only within the state of Maryland. The lottery offers online ticket sales and subscription plans at mdlottery.com.
To play online, you must be physically located within Maryland state lines at the time of ticket purchase. Your location is verified through geolocation services and/or wifi/ISP connections.
The Maryland Lottery website also lets you check winning numbers, view current jackpots, see retailer locations, and more. Players located out of state can see results but cannot actually buy tickets online.
Does Maryland Allow life Syndicates?
Yes, Maryland does allow lottery syndicates for games like life. A lottery syndicate is essentially a group that purchases tickets together and agrees to share any prizes won.
The Maryland Lottery leaves syndicate formation to the players but does impose some rules. For any prize claims over $600, the signature of every syndicate member is required on the claim form.
Some key things to note with Maryland Lottery life syndicates:
- Must have a written agreement on how to claim and share prizes
- Syndicate organizers cannot take a cut of members’ winnings
- All members must meet eligibility requirements to play
- No more than 10 people can be in a syndicate
Forming a lottery syndicate can increase your chances of winning and is a fun way to play with friends or coworkers. But proper documentation and planning is critical.
Are Lottery Winnings Taxed in Maryland?
Yes, lottery prizes over $5,000 won in Maryland are subject to both state and federal taxes. The Maryland Lottery is required to withhold applicable taxes when you claim a prize.
For Maryland state taxes, the Lottery withholds 7.75% for prizes over $5,000. On top of that, 24% is withheld for federal taxes on prizes above $5,000.
So for a $1 million Maryland Lottery life prize, a total of $247,500 in taxes is withheld upfront. Consult a tax professional to determine if you have any additional tax liability.
What is the Minimum Age to Play Maryland Lottery life?
You must be at least 18 years old to purchase Maryland Lottery life tickets or claim a prize. This is the minimum age requirement set by state law.
When you win a prize over $600, you must provide valid ID proving your age. Underage gambling is illegal, and retailers can lose their Maryland Lottery license for selling to minors.
Can You Play life if You Live in Another State?
Unfortunately, you must be a Maryland resident to legally play Maryland Lottery life. State lottery products may only be sold within each respective jurisdiction.
It is a violation of federal and state law for anyone located outside of Maryland to purchase Maryland Lottery tickets. For online sales, geolocation and identity verification measures are in place.
When claiming a major prize, proof of Maryland residency must also be provided. Non-US residents are ineligible even if they are visiting Maryland.
Conclusion
In summary, Maryland Lottery life is an exclusive jackpot-style lotto game only available in the state of Maryland. Twice-weekly drawings give players a chance to win prizes from $2 up to multimillion dollar jackpots.
To play, pick 5 numbers from 1 to 48 and match them to the randomly drawn winning numbers. Tickets can be purchased online or at authorized retailers. Proceeds from the game support Maryland education programs and services.
Check mdlottery.com for the latest jackpot amounts, drawing results, and more information on how to play and win.
