Texas

They like things big in Texas - not least their lotteries! The Lone Star state plays host to one of the biggest and best lottery scenes in the USA and beyond. Thousands of players use the wide range of jackpot games on offer, including the Texas PowerBall, the Mega Millions, and the All Or Nothing games.

The team at comparethelotto.com/us examines the start of the Texas Lottery, its record winners, and other need-to-know facts!

The Beginnings

The issue of legalizing lotto sales in Texas went to a referendum in 1991 - voters overwhelmingly approved the idea, and an amendment to the Texas Constitution ushered in a new era for lotteries across the state.

Appropriately, the Lone Star Millions scratch card was the lottery's first-ever scratch card game. More than 20 million tickets were sold on the first day of its existence - setting a world record at the time!

Despite its 28-year history, the Texas lotto has not been without its drama. In 2013, the Texas House sought to bring an end to the Texas Lottery Commission - it had the potential to exterminate the existence of lotto fun. However, lawmakers cast votes on a new bill later that day to effectively reverse their position.

In 28 years, thousands of players have won billions of dollars. According to the 2021 fiscal year, lottery sales were over $8 billion - contributing a total net donation of $1.9 billion to Texas schools and other charitable organizations.

Game Overview

There are eight draw games and hundreds of scratch cards to choose from - the most notable of which include the PowerBall, the Power Play, and the Texas Two Step.

The Power Ball jackpots are often worth hundreds of millions of dollars - the full cost of a Power Ball ticket is just $3.

There are drawings every day, and winning players can receive their prizes in annual payments or a lump sum - depending on the game and the amount.

All players can check their tickets via the Texas Lottery website or the Jackpocket app.

Is There A Texas Lotto Mobile App?

There is a Lotto Texas App available to download from Google Play and App stores.

Benefits include:

• The ability to scan barcodes on physical tickets to check the status.
• Players can select lucky numbers and save them for future reference.
• Players can locate the nearest retailers

Texas Lottery Taxes

Texas doesn't impose any additional taxes on lottery winnings. You will just need to pay Federal taxes and then personal income taxes. If you'd like to calculate how much tax you would pay on winnings you can use our Texas Lottery Tax Calculator.

FAQs

How Old Must You Be To Play The Texas Lottery?
Players must be 18 to legally play the Texas lotto.

How Safe Is The Texas Lottery?
Extremely - the Texas Lottery Commission takes the safety of its players extremely seriously. The government-regulated authority is required, by law, to ensure blanket security for all its consumers.

Is it better to claim a Jackpot win all in one or in instalments?
A complex question - in general, a lump-sum may help winners avoid longer-term tax issues. However, those that select annuity payments are more likely to win the advertised jackpot amount after tax.