Drawing Fact Sheet  

Drawing Fact Sheet

Illinois Lottery Pick 3, Pick 4, Little Lotto and Lotto drawings are conducted at the studios of WGN-TV, Chicago, and broadcast on WGN-TV. Mega Millions drawings are conducted by the Georgia Lottery and simulcast on WGN-TV. Powerball drawings are held in Orlando, Florida. All drawing machines and ball sets are stored in a secured area, under numbered seal, and remain under constant surveillance during the entire drawing process. Ball sets are subjected to periodic laboratory testing to ensure they remain within the manufacturer's tolerances for weight and dimensions.

Pick 3 and Pick 4 drawings are conducted midday (12:40 p.m. Central Time), and evening (9:22 p.m. Central Time) Monday through Sunday.

A maximum of 12 drawing machines and 20 ball sets are available for use in the Pick 3 and Pick 4 drawings. The particular machines and ball sets to be used for a given drawing are determined by random selection from among the available machines and ball sets. A special ball set and drawing machine are used for this random selection.

For each Pick 3/Pick 4 drawing, a total of 8 machines and ball sets are randomly selected, with the order of random selection determining how they will be used for that drawing. The 1st machine and ball set selected will be used as the alternate (backup) for both the Pick 3/Pick 4 drawings. The 2nd machine and ball set will be used to select the first Pick 3 winning digit, the 3rd machine and ball set will be used to select the second Pick 3 winning digit, etc.

Prior to each drawing, the Lottery's auditors conduct a total of 6 test draws on each machine, plus a rehearsal drawing. The balls are then re-racked in numerical order (with the 9 ball in the lowest position) and the machines re-sealed until the official drawing is conducted. After the official drawing, 3 more test draws are conducted to ensure the validity of the official drawing results.

Little Lotto

Little Lotto drawings are conducted Sunday through Sunday (7 days a week) evenings (9:22 p.m. Central Time).

One drawing machine and a maximum of 3 ball sets are available for use in each Little Lotto drawing. The particular ball set to be used for a given drawing is determined by random selection from among the available ball sets. A special ball set and drawing machine are used for this random selection.

If the Little Lotto drawing machine is not available due to a malfunction, and it is not a Lotto drawing night, the Lotto machine is reprogrammed for the Little Lotto drawing. If the Little Lotto drawing machine is not available on a Monday, Wednesday or Saturday night, the Lotto drawing is conducted first, then the Lotto drawing machine is reprogrammed for the Little Lotto drawing, which is conducted off-air by the auditors.

Prior to each Little Lotto drawing, the Lottery's auditors conduct a rehearsal drawing. The balls are then re-racked in random order and the machine re-sealed until the official drawing is conducted. After the official drawing, one more test draw is conducted to ensure the validity of the official drawing results.

Lotto

Lotto drawings are conducted Monday, Wednesday and Saturday evenings (9:22 p.m. Central Time).

One drawing machine and a maximum of 3 ball sets are available for use in each Lotto drawing. The particular ball set to be used for a given drawing is determined by random selection from among the available ball sets. A special ball set and drawing machine are used for this random selection.

If the Lotto drawing machine is not available due to a malfunction, the Little Lotto machine is reprogrammed for the Lotto drawing. (If this occurs on a Monday, Wednesday or Saturday night, the Lotto drawing is conducted first using the Little Lotto machine, then the Little Lotto drawing machine is reprogrammed again for the Little Lotto drawing, which is conducted off-air by the auditors.)

Prior to each Lotto drawing, the Lottery's auditors conduct a rehearsal drawing. The balls are then re-racked in random order and the machine re-sealed until the official drawing is conducted. After the official drawing, one more test draw is conducted to ensure the validity of the official drawing results.

Mega Millions

Mega Millions drawings are conducted Tuesday and Friday evenings (10:00 p.m. Central Time) by the Georgia Lottery.

One drawing machine is available for the 5/56 portion of Mega Millions drawing and one machine is available for the 1/46 portion of Mega Millions drawing. If either machine is out of service, the Georgia Lottery's Lotto drawing machine is reprogrammed for Mega Millions drawing. The particular ball set to be used for each component of a given Mega Millions drawing is determined by random selection from among the available ball sets.

Prior to each Mega Millions drawing, the Georgia Lottery's Drawing Specialist conducts 3 test drawings with each machine. The balls are then re-racked in random order and the machine resealed until the official drawing is conducted. After the official drawing, 2 more test draws are conducted with each machine to ensure the validity of the official drawing results.

Megaplier® is a special feature that allows a winner to multiply the original prize amount. Mega Millions players can multiply their Mega Millions prizes by 2, 3 or 4 times (does not include the jackpot). The Match 5 white balls prize with Megaplier® option will always be multiplied 4X’s for $1 million cash. A player must choose the Megaplier option when they buy their Mega Millions ticket.

Powerball

Powerball is a multi-state game that gives players nine ways to win cash prizes with the jackpot starting at $40 million. In addition to the jackpot, the game offers second-level prizes of $1,000,000, third-level prizes of $10,000 and better-than-ever payouts by using Power Play! The game is operated by the Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL) in Des Moines, Iowa. The advertised jackpot prize is paid as an annuity over 29 years or players may elect to receive the present value, paid in cash.

Powerball drawings are held every Wednesday and Saturday evenings (9:59 p.m. Central Time) in Orlando, Florida. Occasionally, the multi-state lottery games go on the road and are drawn during special events around the nation, but most of the time the numbers are drawn at Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida. Powerball currently uses a 5/59 (white balls) + 1/35 (the Powerball) matrix to select its winning numbers. Draw sales cut off at least 59 minutes before the draw.

All profits from the games are kept by the state that sells the ticket. The association conducts drawings, performs central game administration (including game development and research), and manages central accounting and the purchase of government securities to fund annuitized prizes.

Power Play® is a special feature that allows a winner to increase the original prize amount. Powerball players winning any prize other than the jackpot will win a larger cash prize. The Match 5+0 prize with Power Play option is now worth $2,000,000. Note that any set prizes or Power Play prizes, including the Match 5+0 prize, may be reduced if wins exceed the available prize fund. The Power Play option costs $1 and must be selected when you buy your Powerball ticket.