The Lucky Day Lotto is a lottery game exclusive to the state of Illinois. It offers players the chance to win prizes up to $250,000 by matching numbers drawn twice daily, midday and evening. Many Illinois residents are curious about what time these Lucky Day Lotto drawings take place.
Overview of the Lucky Day Lotto Game
The Lucky Day Lotto is a pick-4 style lottery game where players choose 4 numbers from 1 to 45. To play, you can buy a Quick Pick ticket and let the computer randomly generate 4 numbers for you. Or, you can select your own numbers. Tickets cost $1 per play.
There are two Lucky Day Lotto drawings every day – a midday drawing and an evening drawing. At each drawing, 4 winning numbers are selected along with a Lucky Day Lotto ball. If you match all 4 numbers in exact order, you win the jackpot prize which starts at $100,000 and grows until someone wins it. Smaller prizes are also available for matching just some of the numbers.
When Are the Lucky Day Lotto Drawings?
The midday Lucky Day Lotto drawing happens at 12:40 PM CT every day. The evening drawing takes place at 9:22 PM CT every day. These drawings occur 7 days a week, including weekends and holidays.
So if you want a chance to win on a given day, you must purchase your Lucky Day Lotto ticket by 12:40 PM for the midday drawing. For the evening drawing, ticket sales cut off at 9:22 PM. Any tickets bought after the posted cut-off times will be entered into the next day’s drawings.
What Time is the Midday Drawing?
12:40 PM Central Time
The midday Lucky Day Lotto drawing is held at 12:40 PM Central Time (CT) every single day. This drawing time applies across the entire state of Illinois since the whole state observes Central Time.
To recap, the key facts about the Lucky Day Lotto midday drawing time are:
– Drawing time: 12:40 PM CT
– Drawing occurs 7 days a week
– Ticket sales cut off at 12:40 PM for that day’s drawing
So if you want a chance to win the midday jackpot, you must buy your Lucky Day Lotto ticket by 12:40 PM CT. If you miss the deadline, your ticket will be entered into the next day’s midday drawing instead.
Central Time in Illinois
The reason the midday drawing happens at 12:40 PM CT is because the entire state of Illinois falls within the Central Time Zone. Illinois has observed Central Time since 1883 when railroad companies standardized time zones across the United States.
Some key facts about Central Time in Illinois:
– Observed statewide since 1883
– UTC offset is -6 hours (UTC-06:00)
– No daylight saving time observation
– When it’s 12:40 PM in Illinois, it’s 11:40 AM in the Mountain Time Zone
So no matter where you are in Illinois, 12:40 PM CT is the uniform time for the midday Lucky Day Lotto drawing every day.
Purchasing Tickets by the Deadline
To participate in a particular midday Lucky Day Lotto drawing, you must buy your ticket by 12:40 PM CT on the day of that drawing. Ticket sales cutoff occurs exactly at the drawing time.
If you buy a ticket at 12:41 PM or later, your ticket will not be valid for that day’s midday drawing. Instead, it will be entered into the following day’s drawing.
The midday drawing time of 12:40 PM CT is strictly enforced across all lottery retailers in Illinois. Online ticket sales also stop precisely at 12:40 PM for the midday drawing. So be sure to get your ticket early!
What Time is the Evening Drawing?
9:22 PM Central Time
The evening Lucky Day Lotto drawing takes place every night at 9:22 PM Central Time. This drawing time is uniform across Illinois since the state follows Central Time.
To summarize, key details about the Lucky Day Lotto evening drawing time are:
– Drawing time: 9:22 PM CT
– Occurs every day, 7 days a week
– Ticket sales cutoff is 9:22 PM CT for that night’s drawing
If you want a chance to win the evening jackpot, you must purchase your Lucky Day Lotto ticket by 9:22 PM CT. Missing the deadline means your ticket will go towards the next day’s evening drawing instead.
Meeting the 9:22 PM CT Deadline
To take part in a particular night’s Lucky Day Lotto evening drawing, you need to buy tickets by the 9:22 PM CT cutoff.
Retailers stop selling tickets for that night’s drawing at exactly 9:22 PM. If you buy at 9:23 PM or later, your ticket will be valid for the next evening drawing only.
The 9:22 PM deadline is strictly followed across all retail lottery outlets and online ticket sales in Illinois. Buy your ticket early to ensure you don’t miss the cutoff!
How to Check Winning Numbers
Once the midday and evening drawings take place, where can you view the winning Lucky Day Lotto numbers?
There are a few ways to check if you have winning numbers:
- Watch the drawings on TV – Drawings are broadcast on Illinois Lottery TV
- Check online at IllinoisLottery.com
- Use the Illinois Lottery mobile app
- Call the Winning Numbers hotline: 1-800-555-1515
- Look on your lottery retailer terminal
- See local newspaper listings
Be sure to check against your ticket soon after the midday and evening drawings to see if you have any matches! Prizes must be claimed within one year from the draw date.
History of the Lucky Day Lotto
The Lucky Day Lotto has been played in Illinois for over 30 years. Here is an overview of the game’s history:
Introduced in 1988
The Illinois State Legislature launched the Lucky Day Lotto in 1988 as the state’s first in-house lottery game. Previously, Illinois had only participated in multi-state games.
The lottery was seen as a critical source of revenue for the state. The Lucky Day Lotto gave Illinois full control over prizes, drawing times, game design and marketing.
Originally Called Little Lotto
When the Lucky Day Lotto first began in 1988, it was known as Little Lotto. The original game featured player-selected numbers from 1 to 39.
In 1992, the game was renamed to the current Lucky Day Lotto moniker. This coincided with an increase in the number pool to 1-45 and a starting minimum jackpot of $100,000.
Long-Running State Lottery Game
The Lucky Day Lotto has continued for over 30 years now, making it one of Illinois’ longest-running lottery games. Its pioneering role helped set the foundation for additional in-state games over the coming decades.
While the core game mechanics remain the same, prize payouts and promotion tactics have evolved significantly over the game’s history to attract players. But Lucky Day Lotto’s twice daily drawings at 12:40 PM and 9:22 PM have remained constant over the years.
Winning the Lucky Day Lotto Jackpot
The top prize in the Lucky Day Lotto is the jackpot, starting at $100,000. Here are some key facts about winning the jackpot:
Odds of Winning
The odds of winning the Lucky Day Lotto jackpot are 1 in 1,221,759. This means you have a 1 in over 1.2 million chance of matching all 4 numbers in exact order.
The long odds are because you must correctly match 4 numbers from a pool of 45 numbers. Still, someone eventually wins when the jackpot grows large enough.
Rollover Jackpots
If no one wins the jackpot in a particular drawing, the top prize rolls over and increases for the next drawing. This means jackpots can grow quite large over time if there are multiple rollovers.
In the past, Lucky Day Lotto jackpots have rolled to $2 million, $5 million, and even a record $11.5 million before someone finally won the big prize.
Average Jackpot
While rollover jackpots can reach the millions, the average Lucky Day Lotto jackpot landed at around $156,000 over the past 5 years.
So while multi-million jackpots are possible, a more likely Lucky Day Lotto jackpot prize is in the low hundreds of thousands. Still a nice chunk of change!
Splitting the Prize
If multiple players match all 4 winning numbers in exact order on the same drawing, they split the jackpot evenly. So instead of one big winner, there are multiple smaller winners.
This is more common with smaller jackpots. But even massive jackpots can get split on occasion.
Claiming Procedure
Winners have 12 months from the draw date to claim their Lucky Day Lotto jackpot prize. If you win, sign the back of your ticket and consult Illinois Lottery officials about next steps to redeem your prize. You may select cash or annuity.
Don’t miss out on your jackpot riches – be sure to check your ticket numbers in a timely manner after each drawing!
Other Lucky Day Lotto Prizes
In addition to the jackpot, there are several secondary prizes available in the Lucky Day Lotto game:
Match 3 Numbers
If you match 3 of the 4 winning numbers in exact order, you win a prize of $200. This allows you to win some money even if you don’t get all 4 jackpot numbers correct.
Match 2 Numbers
Matching just 2 of the 4 winning numbers in exact order means you win a Lucky Day Lotto prize of $5.
While not a big payout, it’s still nice to win something for matching only half the numbers.
Lucky Ball Only
If the only winning match you have is the Lucky Day Lotto ball (which ranges from 1 to 7), you win $1. This gives players 19 additional ways to win something.
Overall Odds
The overall odds of winning any Lucky Day Lotto prize stand at 1 in 7.85. This includes the jackpot, lower tier cash prizes, and matching just the Lucky ball.
So while the jackpot odds are long, your chances improve substantially when factoring in the other prize levels.
How to Play the Lucky Day Lotto
Interested in playing the Lucky Day Lotto in Illinois? Here is a step-by-step guide:
1. Pick Your Numbers
First, select 4 numbers between 1 and 45. You can use a Quick Pick and let the computer randomly assign numbers, or choose your own favorite digits.
2. Purchase Ticket
Bring your number selections to an Illinois Lottery retailer or purchase online. Each $1 Lucky Day Lotto play counts as one drawing entry. Buy tickets by the midday or evening cutoff times.
3. Watch the Drawings
Tune into the midday and evening Lucky Day Lotto drawings at 12:40 PM and 9:22 PM CT to see if your numbers are picked. Or check results shortly after.
4. Match Numbers to Win
Match all 4 numbers in exact order to win prizes starting at $100,000. You can also win smaller amounts for getting 2 or 3 numbers correct.
5. Redeem Winnings
Claim any Lucky Day Lotto winnings at a lottery office within 12 months of the relevant drawing. You’ll need to complete paperwork and show ID.
Get started playing the twice daily Lucky Day Lotto for your shot at a big Illinois jackpot!
FAQ
Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about the Lucky Day Lotto in Illinois:
How much does it cost to play?
Each $1 Lucky Day Lotto ticket grants you one chance in the next eligible midday or evening drawing. You can buy multiple tickets to increase your odds.
What are the biggest jackpots won?
The largest Lucky Day Lotto jackpot was $11.5 million, won on July 29, 2000 off a single $1 ticket. More recently, a $9.58 million jackpot was hit on March 29, 2022.
Where does the money go?
Lucky Day Lotto sales provide funding for a variety of Illinois causes like K-12 education, assistance for veterans, and police departments. About 23-25 cents of every dollar spent goes towards these public beneficiaries.
Can I play online?
Yes, you can conveniently purchase Lucky Day Lotto tickets online through the Illinois Lottery website or mobile app. You must be physically located in Illinois. Online ticket sales stop at the daily deadlines.
Are prizes taxable?
Winnings over $600 are considered taxable income in Illinois. If you claim a jackpot, taxes will automatically be withheld at the highest federal rate. You are responsible for any additional tax liability.
Conclusion
The Lucky Day Lotto gives Illinois players two chances to win prizes every day with its midday and evening drawings. To participate, be sure to buy tickets by 12:40 PM or 9:22 PM depending on which drawing you want to play.
With Lucky Day Lotto jackpots starting at $100,000 and frequently climbing into the millions, a life-changing fortune could be yours with just a $1 investment! Try your luck and see if you’ll become Illinois’ next big lottery winner.