Buy Lotto Texas Tickets Online

Unlike its big cousin, the famous American Powerball lottery, Lotto Texas is a popular smaller lottery game based in the state of Texas.

While it might be smaller, it’s definitely still worth your consideration.

For starters, Lotto Texas has multi-million-dollar minimum jackpots and a cheap bonus option that significantly boosts your odds of winning.

In this guide, we'll cover everything you need to know about how to play and collect these massive prizes.

We'll also explain how to buy Lotto Texas tickets online-even if you’re playing online from out of state or internationally.

About Lotto Texas

Lotto Texas was the first in-house government-sanctioned drawing game offered by the state of Texas.

The game launched on November 28, 1992-and managed to sell more than $1 billion worth of tickets in its first year alone.

At first, all prizes were paid out in annuities (yearly payments), and players had to personally select their numbers.

In 1993, Lotto Texas introduced its “Quick Pick” option, allowing players to have their numbers selected by the lotto terminal.

The same year, the rules also changed to allow lump sum or “Cash Value” payouts.

In 2013, Lotto Texas introduced its Extra! play option, which ensures players better odds and much bigger non-jackpot payouts.

Lotto Texas Draws

Initially, the game had one weekly draw on Saturdays. Today, Lotto Texas draws occur twice a week, on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 10:12 pm CT.

In addition to local lotto retailers, you can buy lottery tickets for Lotto Texas from online lottery agents or through reputable lottery apps such as Jackpocket.

Draws are broadcast on local television and via live webcasts on the Texas Lottery’s official website.

Draw results are also available to find on the Texas Lottery App, at self-service ticket sales terminals and by calling 800-375-6886.

How to Play Lotto Texas

To play Lotto Texas, simply buy a lotto playslip from a retailer, select six numbers from 1 to 54.

You must also indicate whether you would prefer annuity payments or a cash payout for the jackpot.

Alternatively, you can ask for a Quick Pick ticket or mark “QP” on your slip. After you select annuity versus cash payout, you'll have your numbers chosen by the ticket terminal or lottery agent’s website.

Each game costs just $1 to play and the Extra! option costs another $1-but it can add up to $10,000 to your non-jackpot prizes.

Individuals must be at least 18 years old to play Lotto Texas.

Lotto Texas Prizes and Odds

Lotto Texas has a minimum guaranteed jackpot of $5 million, along with several smaller prizes.

The jackpot odds are 1 in 25,827,165, while the overall odds of winning are about 1 in 71.

Playing Extra! raises your odds of winning significantly to 1 in 7.9.

Extra! players who match just two numbers get a guaranteed $2 payout.

Lotto Texas has five prize tiers:

Claiming Lotto Texas Prizes

Lotto Texas winners must collect their prizes within 180 days of the draw.

Make sure to sign your ticket-or anyone can take your ticket and claim the prize.

If you win a prize of $599 or less, you can collect it at a licensed Texas Lottery retailer.

Prizes up to $2.5 million paid as lump sums can be claimed at any Texas Lottery Claim Center.

Lump sum prizes up to $5 million can be collected only at Texas Lottery Claim Centers in Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio.

To claim prizes worth up to $5 million by mail, winners can fill out a claim form and submit it on the Texas Lottery’s official website. This is especially convenient for online, international and out-of-state players.

The claim form must include a Social Security Number, so international winners may have to call a claim center for assistance.

Lotto Texas jackpots can only be claimed at Texas Lottery headquarters in Austin, Texas.

Note that US citizens must pay 24% in taxes on winnings of $5,000 or more.

Non-US citizens and residents must pay 30% in taxes on prizes worth $600 and up.

Notable Lotto Texas Winners

A notable Lotto Texas winner was Thomas “Hollywood” Henderson, a former linebacker on the Dallas Cowboys football team. He took home a jackpot worth more than $14 million in 2000.

Historically, the Lotto Texas jackpot easily surpasses $20 million at least once per year.

Recent major wins include a $23.75 million jackpot in 2019 won by a Baytown, Texas, resident, a $30.25 million jackpot claimed by a Houston local, and a $27.25 million prize won by a San Antonio resident in 2017.

The all-time biggest jackpot of $97 million was collected anonymously in 2010 as a lump sum payment of $64 million.

Lotto Texas-Should You Play?

With its guaranteed minimum jackpot of $5 million and numerous smaller prizes, Lotto Texas is definitely worth considering.

And since playing Extra! dramatically increases your odds of winning and the size of your payouts even if you don’t win the jackpot, we highly recommend it.