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Massachusetts Lottery

In this MABetting.com exclusive, you will learn everything you need to know about the Massachusetts Lottery, including if you can play it online, the history of the Massachusetts Lottery, and much more.

Johnny Covers By: Johnny Covers
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With a history extending back more than 50 years, the Massachusetts Lottery has long been a vital part of the state’s economics. Contributing funds directly to local towns throughout the state, the Massachusetts lottery is known for its generous community funding, including education, public works, and much more.

Recently embracing online technology, the Massachusetts Lottery is now available to more Massachusetts residents than ever before, as the revenue generated has exploded in the process. Join MA Betting indiving into all things Massachusetts Lottery, teaching you everything you need to know about the organization as it exists today.

The Massachusetts Lottery explained

Officially established on September 27, 1971, the Massachusetts Lottery was formed following the legalization of gambling by Massachusetts lawmakers. Administered and regulated by the Massachusetts State Lottery Commission (MSLC), the lottery is a member of the national North American Association of State Provincial Lotteries and has been since 1972.

For players in the state, all drawings are broadcast live on WBZ-TV (Channel 4), the CBS affiliate in the Boston TV market. Run by the MSLC since 1971, the commission has five members which include the Treasurer and Receiver-General of Massachusetts (Chair of the MSLC), the Secretary of the Massachusetts Department of Public Safety, the Comptroller, and two other members (appointed by the MA Governor).

With your classic draw games, including both national and state-specific games, the Massachusetts Lottery also offers instant win scratch-off tickets to their customers. Thanks to their wide variety of games and the recent addition of online services, the Massachusetts Lottery brings in the state $1.176 billion in net profit (2023), on $6.1 billion in revenue. This eclipsed their 2022 record of $5.86 billion and is not expected to slow down anytime soon.

Can you play the Massachusetts Lottery online?

No, you can not currently play the Massachusetts Lottery online, although there is a mobile application and website for other lottery services. The Massachusetts Lottery online services offer players the ability to check for winning tickets, manage second-chance drawings, and offer educational resources to players across the state.

Players can also claim certain prizes from the Massachusetts Lottery instantly, simply by scanning the barcode on their physical ticket. For those interested in checking out everything the Massachusetts Lottery online services have to offer, their website and mobile app can be found at www.masslottery.com. 

History of the Massachusetts Lottery

Dating back 52 years, the Massachusetts Lottery has as storied a history as any lottery system in the country. Let’s take a brief look at the history of the Massachusetts Lottery and how we got to today.

  • 1971: Following the legalization of gambling across the state, the Massachusetts Lottery was established with the goal of generating revenue for the 350+ cities and towns throughout MA.
  • 1972: The first Massachusetts Lottery ticket was officially sold on March 22, 1972, with the first game being a simple raffle.
  • 1974: For the first time, the Massachusetts Lottery began offering instant win scratch-off tickets. A unique concept at the time, instant win scratchers would eventually become a staple across lottery systems nationwide.
  • 1987: The MA Lottery began to participate in multi-state, national draw games, with the first game being a game later known as the Powerball.
  • 1996: The extremely popular Cash WinFall game was introduced in Massachusetts, quickly becoming a player-favorite for its unique payout offerings.
  • 2002: Another multi-state national draw game was introduced, as Mega Millions began being offered by the Massachusetts Lottery for the first time.
  • 2011: The Massachusetts Lottery entered the 21st century with its offerings, giving its residents a mobile app to check winning numbers and manage their second-chance drawing opportunities.
  • 2021: Enhancing its online offerings, the Massachusetts Lottery began offering mobile ticket-cashing on its mobile app, giving players the ability to claim certain prizes directly from their smartphone.

Claiming Massachusetts Lottery winnings

If you are fortunate enough to be one of the lucky winners of the Massachusetts Lottery, there are a few different options available to claim your winnings. Let’s take a closer look at the process for claiming Massachusetts Lottery winnings.

  1. Prizes Less Than $600 and under: If you win less than $600, you can claim your winnings at any Massachusetts Lottery retailer or Massachusetts Lottery office.
  2. Prizes Between $601 and $50,000: If you win between $60 and $50,000, you can claim your prize by mail or the Massachusetts Lottery Claim Center. If you choose to claim by mail, you must complete a winner’s claim form, sign the back of your ticket, and include a copy of your Massachusetts driver’s license, and Social Security card. Finally, mail everything noted above to the Massachusetts State Lottery at P.O. Box 859036, Braintree, MA 02185-9036.
  3. Prizes More Than $50,000: If you win more than $50,000, you must claim your winnings in person at the Massachusetts Lottery headquarters in Dorchester, MA.

Can I claim MA Lottery winnings online?

Yes, you can claim MA Lottery winnings online using the Massachusetts Lottery mobile app. Available for free download on iOS and Android devices, ensure you have the latest version of the Mass Lottery mobile app.

Next, you must register or sign into your Mass Lottery Player Account, and find the ticket scanner feature from within the app. Once the ticket is scanned, if it is a winner, the winnings will automatically be applied to your account, and from there, can be transferred to your bank account.

Cross-state lottery draw games you can play in Massachusetts

In the state of Massachusetts, you can participate in many cross-state lottery draw games that are played nationally. Let’s take a closer look at a few of the national lottery games you can play via the Massachusetts Lottery.

  • Powerball: The most popular lottery game nationwide, the Powerball is known for its enormous jackpots which routinely cross over the $1 billion mark. With drawings three times per week, the Powerball remains one of the most popular cross-state draw games in the Massachusetts Lottery.
  • Mega Millions: Just like the Powerball, the Mega Millions cross-state game offers huge jackpots which are regularly above the $500 million mark. With drawings held twice per week, you can play directly via the Massachusetts Lottery.
  • Lucky for Life: With a grand prize of $1,000 per day for life, Lucky for Life is available in almost every state that offers a lottery. Drawings are held every day of the week.
  • Cash4Life: With a grand prize of $1,000 per day for life, drawings are held every night of the week.
  • Lotto America: While it is not played in as many states as Powerball and Mega Millions, Lotto America is available in multiple states and has drawings three times per week. The jackpot starts at $2 million and requires players to match five numbers in addition to one Star Ball
  • 2by2: With a top prize of $22,000, 2by2 is played every day of the week, with some days offering double the top prize.

Massachusetts-specific draw games you can play

Though the cross-state lottery games offer bigger payouts, there are still multiple Massachusetts-specific draw games you can play on a daily basis. Let’s take a closer look at a few of the Massachusetts-specific draw games you can play today.

  • Mass Cash: The most popular Massachusetts-specific draw game, Mass Cash is a daily draw game that requires players to pick five numbers from 1 to 35. Featuring a top prize jackpot of $100,000 Mass Cash remains a favorite among Massachusetts Lottery players.
  • Keno: With drawings held every four minutes, Keno is a fast-paced game where players have multiple chances per day to win prizes based on how many numbers they match.
  • Wheel of Luck: Similar to Keno, Wheel of Luck is a draw game that offers players many chances to win per day.
  • The Numbers Game: With drawings held twice per day, The Numbers Game allows players to choose how many numbers they want to match. With many styles of play and payouts varying, the Numbers game is a fast-paced way to get involved in the Massachusetts Lottery.
  • Megabucks Doubler: With drawings held every Wednesday and Saturday, Megabucks Doubler players must select six numbers from 1 to 49. Jackpots start at $500,000 and grow every time there are no jackpot winners.

Instant win lottery games in MA

As one of the first states to offer instant win lottery games in MA, scratch-off tickets are amongst the most popular Massachusetts Lottery games today. Let’s take a look at a few of the instant win lottery games in MA.

  • Lifetime Millions: Priced at $50 per ticket, this instant win lottery game in MA gives players a chance to win up to $1 million per year, amongst other prizes. In the game, players scratch off numbers in an attempt to match numbers and multiply their potential winnings.
  • Billion Dollar Extravaganza: As the name implies, this instant win MA lottery game is known for its massive prizes, with more than $1 billion in prizes available. Individual top prizes can range up to $7 million and more.
  • 777 2023: A classic instant win lottery game in MA, this scratch offers multiple ways to win that include matching the right combinations at different prize levels.

Where do I purchase lottery tickets in MA?

There is no shortage of places to buy Massachusetts Lottery tickets, both in the draw game and instant win categories. Let’s take a closer look at where you can purchase lottery tickets in MA.

  • Gas Stations: Most gas stations within Massachusetts sell lottery tickets, both scratch-offs and instant win games.
  • Supermarkets: While you can purchase Massachusetts Lottery tickets from the service center, you can also find a lottery terminal at most grocery stores in MA.
  • Convenience Stores: Massachusetts Lottery terminals can also be found in many convenience stores throughout Massachusetts.

Famous MA Jackpot winners

With a history going back more than 50 years, there have been many big winners of the Massachusetts Lottery. Let’s take a closer look at some of the famous MA jackpot winners since the lottery’s inception.

  • 2004: Choosing to stay anonymous, a player won the Mega Millions jackpot of $294 million. They purchased the ticket from Powers Wine Co. in Lowell, MA.
  • 2017: On August 23, 2017, Mavis Wanzyzk won the biggest jackpot in the history of the United States lottery. The ticket was sold in MA, a Powerball ticket, and Wanzyk won $758.7 million.
  • 2017: Another big winner came in 2017, as Miguel Negron Jr. of Springfield, MA won the $1 million prize on a scratch-off ticket. He elected to take the one-time payment of $455,000 after taxes.

Is there a Massachusetts Lottery mobile app?

Yes, there is a Massachusetts Lottery mobile app, available for free download on iOS and Android devices. While you can not purchase Massachusetts Lottery tickets through the app, you can still check winning numbers, find nearby MA Lottery retailers, and view the current jackpot amounts. You can also claim winning prizes of up to $600 by scanning the barcode of the winning ticket with the mobile app.


FAQ

How many people play the lottery in Massachusetts?

While the number of people who play the lottery in Massachusetts is unknown, with more than $6 billion in revenue, the number of people is quite high.

Do I pay taxes when I win the MA lottery?

Yes, you must pay taxes when you win the MA lottery, both state and federal taxes. At a state level, winnings of more than $600 are taxed at 5%, with Federal taxes varying based on multiple factors. With all tax situations, it’s best to check with a tax professional to understand your exact situation.

Can I play the Massachusetts Lottery if I’m 18?

Yes, you can play the Massachusetts Lottery if you are 18 years of age or older.

What is the annual revenue from the Massachusetts Lottery?

The annual revenue from the Massachusetts Lottery was just over $6 billion in 2023. Based on that revenue, the state generated a profit of $1.193 billion.

How often can you play the lottery?

You can play the lottery multiple times per week, and even multiple times per day. For instant win games, you can purchase tickets using a lottery terminal 24 hours per day.

Author Details

Johnny Covers

Johnny Covers

Johnny Covers, known for his expertise in sports betting, serves as an author and analyst at MA Betting. With nearly ten years of experience in the field, he is recognized for his adeptness in handicapping. Johnny's comprehensive analyses have been showcased across numerous leading sports and betting platforms.