Get the lowdown on how to play the Ohio lottery, discover the top prizes, best games, latest scratch-offs, and more from the experts here at Ohio Bet.
How to Legally Play the Ohio Lottery Online
Ohioans love to play the lottery. It’s an exciting state-run lottery system that offers players a choice of games with fantastic win potential. From local daily draws and multi-state jackpots like the Powerball and Mega Millions to fun scratch-offs with instant win results.
Many of us have picked up lottery tickets from licensed retailers like convenience stores countless times before, but did you know you can also legally buy Ohio lottery tickets online?
State legislation surrounding online gambling activities can be confusing, so we’ve put this article together to clarify the situation.
We cover everything you need to know about how to play the Ohio lottery, online, in person, the games available, and what you can hope to win in our easy-to-digest Ohio lottery breakdown. Get all the details from the experts you can trust at Ohio Bet.
What is the Ohio Lottery?
Gambling legislation in Ohio has undergone many changes over the past few years as technology has paved the way for a boom in the online gaming industry. Legislation, as ever, takes a while to catch up, and during this time, there’s one thing we’ve all been able to rely upon, and that’s the Ohio state lottery.
The Ohio Lottery was established in 1973. It followed a voter-approved constitutional amendment that allowed the state to provide gambling entertainment to residents while raising additional funding for public education.
The Ohio Lottery operates within state gambling laws and is overseen by the Ohio Lottery Commission, ensuring it operates fairly, offers player protection, and complies with state laws.
You can play different lottery games through the Ohio Lottery, from instant-win scratch-offs to massive multi-state draws like Mega Millions and popular daily draws like the Pick 3, Pick 4, and Pick 5 series, which offer fantastic prizes exclusively for Ohio state players.
Ohio Lottery: What Games Are Available?
The Ohio Lottery offers several game categories, catering to different players’ needs. These include games with different odds and prize structures.
Some offer higher risk with more impressive win potential, such as mega multi-state draws with life-changing jackpots up for grabs. Others, such as instant-win scratch-offs and daily draws, are more low-key for the more budget-conscious player.
We’ve summarized the most popular games in the Ohio Lottery below:
- Multi-State Draw Games: These are traditional lottery games where you choose numbers and wait for scheduled draws on various schedules. Popular games in Ohio include Powerball, Mega Millions, and Lucky for Life.
- State Ring-Fenced Draw Games: These draws operate exclusively within the state, some nightly, some with flexible betting options, and others like Classic Lotto, the state’s own jackpot game. Popular games unique to Ohio include Pick 3, Pick 4, Pick 5, Rolling Cash 5, and Kicker, which is played alongside Classic Lotto.
- Instant Win Scratch-offs: Physical scratch-off tickets with predetermined prizes. These range in price from $1 to $50 per ticket, and they have charming themes, regular updates, and top prizes reaching millions of dollars.
- EZPLAY Games: A type of instant-win game where tickets are printed at specialist lottery terminals, offering quick results without scratching.
- Keno: A fast-paced game available at select retailers, where you can buy tickets for draws every few minutes.
- Cash Explosion: A unique scratch-off game where you are in with the chance to appear on the iconic Cash Explosion TV show with thrilling prize potential.
Where to Buy Ohio Lottery Tickets
For the most part, Ohio Lottery tickets are bought in person from licensed retailers, such as supermarkets, gas stations, and dedicated lottery kiosks. There are over 9,000 authorized retailers throughout the state, so you have no shortage of options when you’re out and about.
In compliance with state laws, you must be at least 18 to play any games offered by the Ohio Lottery, so you will likely need to provide your ID at the point of sale.
Your alternative is to buy tickets online, which in Ohio isn’t as straightforward as it sounds due to the state not offering an online service.
How to Buy Ohio Lottery Tickets Online
It’s common in many states for state lottery operators to provide an online platform where residents can play lottery games and buy tickets, but this is not currently the case in Ohio due to concerns from retailers that rely on in-person ticket sales. It’s an ongoing battle that is yet to be resolved.
In the interim, while there is no state-run online lottery platform where you can buy tickets directly from the Ohio Lottery Commission, several third-party courier services have stepped up to the plate, allowing Ohio Lottery players to buy legitimate tickets through their online platforms.
These third parties buy physical tickets on your behalf, store them securely, and automatically notify you of any winnings. It’s not the full service available to players in states that offer iLottery platforms, but it’s a suitable alternative until the Commission can move forward with its plans to introduce its own platform.
These third parties include the likes of Jackpocket and Jackpot.com, which offer such services to Ohio Lottery players through their online apps.
Jackpocket
Jackpocket is a lottery courier service where Ohio residents can buy official state lottery tickets online. You can download a native Jackpocket app for both Apple and Android devices, create an account, and select your numbers for popular games like Powerball and Mega Millions.
The app then buys the physical ticket from a licensed retailer and provides you with a digital scan for verification. To sign up, you will need to provide ID verification. Then, you are free to play the offered lottery games. Winnings under $600 are credited directly to the Jackpocket app, while larger prizes require you to claim your winnings in person with the physical tickets.
Jackpot.com
Jackpot.com is another such platform that operates in a similar fashion. It buys tickets on your behalf, which can be stored, managed, and verified via their online platform. You can use a selection of payment methods, including your debit card and e-wallets like PayPal, but ID verification will be required before any transactions can be completed.
The platform charges a 15% deposit fee, but winnings are fully credited without additional deductions. If you win $599 or less, the funds are deposited into your account via the app, with larger prizes, again, requiring physical ticket delivery for redemption at an authorized location.
Notable Ohio Lottery Wins: Can You Win the Ohio Lottery?
Winning the lottery jackpot is a national dream, a chance to better secure your future by removing financial stresses. And there’s nothing like hearing heartwarming stories of success to spur on your faith that yes, one day it really could be you.
To date, the largest lottery win in Ohio was a Mega Millions jackpot of some $375 million in December 2019, a jaw-dropping gift for the holiday. The winner, who elected to remain anonymous, claimed their winnings through a trust set up to protect their identity. They took home an impressive cash prize of $182.5 million after taxes. This remains the biggest jackpot ever recorded in the state.
Other significant wins include a $267 million Mega Millions jackpot in February 2006, a $265 million Mega Millions jackpot in April 2006, and a $260 million Powerball jackpot in June 2010.
It’s not just the mega draws that have paid out impressive jackpots. Scratch-off games have paid out some impressive prizes in recent years, including $500,000 on the popular Cashword game and a $150,000 Monopoly Bonus Spectacular prize.
How to Play Ohio Lottery Online & Other Expert Tips from Ohio Bet
While the Ohio Lottery allows players to dream big with its massive multi-state draws offering life-changing jackpots, it’s important always to approach gambling responsibly.
The fact that the Ohio Lottery feeds back into the local community instead of commercial operations is an added bonus when picking up your tickets. If you take a chance, why not do it in a way that also supports your neighbors?
If you’re keen to explore more about gambling in Ohio, including casino gaming, sports betting, and responsible play guidelines, check out the rest of our website for expert insights from passionate players.