Multi State Lotteries
Cash for Life is one of several multi-state lotteries that can be played in different parts of the U.S., along with games such as Powerball, Mega Millions and Lucky for Life. Find out more about them here and how they compare with Cash for Life.
As these lotteries are available to so many players – there are more than 100 million people across the 10 participating states in Cash for Life - strong ticket sales are virtually guaranteed. With so much money coming in, multi-state lotteries can afford to offer incredible prizes, whether that is a colossal jackpot or a lifetime’s annuity.
The following table outlines some of the key features of Cash for Life, Powerball, Mega Millions, Lotto America and Lucky for Life.
| Cash for Life | Powerball | Mega Millions | Lotto America | Lucky for Life | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Game Format | 5 from 60 and 1 from 4 | 5 from 69 and 1 from 26 | 5 from 70 and 1 from 25 | 5 from 52 and 1 from 10 | 5 from 48 and 1 from 18 |
| Number of Participating States | 10 | 45 states plus 3 other jurisdictions | 45 states plus 2 other jurisdictions | 15 | 22 states plus Washington D.C. |
| Odds of Winning Jackpot | 1 in 21,846,048 | 1 in 292,201,338 | 1 in 302,575,350 | 1 in 25,989,600 | 1 in 30,821,472 |
| Overall Odds of a Prize | 1 in 8 | 1 in 25 | 1 in 24 | 1 in 9.6 | 1 in 7.8 |
| Jackpot | $1,000 a day for life or $7 million | Limitless - has topped $2 billion | Limitless - record is $1.6 billion | Limitless - record is $40 million | $1,000 a day or $5.75 million |
| Number of Prize Levels | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 |
| Number of Prizes with Annuity Option | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Draw Days | Daily | Monday, Wednesday and Saturday | Tuesday and Friday | Monday, Wednesday and Saturday | Daily |
| Available Online in Ohio? | Unavailable | Play | Play | Unavailable | Play |
Good news! Other games specific to Ohio are available online. Visit the tickets page for more details.
Powerball and Mega Millions are probably the two biggest lotteries in the world, with jackpots that regularly go higher than $1 billion. The advertised top prize is the annuity figure, and this is paid out over 30 years.
The only two lotteries which keep on paying out prizes beyond 30 years are Cash for Life and Lucky for Life. The games are similar and also offer a second prize where you carry on winning for the rest of your lifetime. In the case of Lucky for Life, the payout is $25,000 every year, while in Cash for Life it is $52,000.
The odds of winning the Cash for Life jackpot are also more favorable than your chances of grabbing the top prize in any other multi-state lottery.
You can buy tickets from authorized retailers in any of the participating states, or even enjoy the games online in some locations. Check out the Tickets page.