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About the Maryland Lottery

Marylanders voted in favor of a constitutional amendment to legalize a government-operated lottery in 1972. The first tickets were sold the following year, and the lottery has been going strong ever since then.

The Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency (MLGCA) is the regulatory body in the state. They preside over a culture of truthfulness and transparency, and the MLGCA is committed to timely, responsive, and proactive efforts to properly serve all stakeholders.

After winners are paid and operational expenses are covered, the net proceeds are used to fund a multitude of initiatives that enhance the lives of residents. These would include environmental actions, public safety projects, education, and public health endeavors.

In all, over $18 billion in revenue has been contributed to the state by the Maryland Lottery, and that figure grows each and every day.

How can you play the Maryland Lottery online?

To play the Maryland Lottery online, you can buy subscriptions online for Mega Millions, Powerball, Multi-Match, and Cash4Life. You can play all available lottery games online in some states, but this is not the case in Maryland.

To become eligible to purchase a subscription, you visit the My Lottery Rewards page on the Maryland Lottery website and register your account. If you want to, you can download the My Lottery Rewards app to follow the drawings and keep track of your winnings.

In addition to the subscriptions for the big-money games, there is another way that you can enjoy the action at home or when you are on the go.

The Maryland Lottery has a Keno drawing every 20 minutes around the clock, seven days a week. You can buy Packaged Keno To Go bundles at retail lottery outlets. Subsequently, you can follow the drawings as they take place every 20 minutes from anywhere as long as you have an internet connection.

How do you claim Maryland Lottery winnings?

Collecting your winnings is the best part of the activity, and the process is very simple and straightforward.

  1. If you win $600 or less, you can collect in person from any Maryland Lottery retailer
  2. There are designated Expanded Cashing Authority Program locations for payouts up to $5,000.
  3. You can go to a licensed Maryland casino to collect on a ticket that pays up to $25,000.
  4. Winnings of any amount can be redeemed at the Maryland Lottery office, which is located at 1800 Washington Boulevard in Baltimore.

Multi-state lottery draw games you can play in Maryland

The games that generate pools that are contributed into by people in multiple states pay life-changing amounts, and these are the multi-state games that are available in Maryland:

  • MegaMillions
  • Powerball
  • Cash4Life

Maryland draw games you can play

Draw games give you a chance to pick your own numbers, or you can go with randomly generated quick picks. Here are the draw games in Maryland aside from the multi-state jackpots:

  • Pick 3
  • Pick 4
  • Pick 5
  • Bonus Match 5
  • Multi Match

Instant win lottery games in Maryland

If you want to win money instantly, you can take advantage of the Maryland Lottery games that provide immediate gratification.

  • Scratch-offs
  • Fast-Play

Where can you buy lottery tickets?

There are over 4,400 lottery retailers in Maryland, so it would be impossible to list them here. However, there is a tool on the MD Lottery website you can use to search for locations near you.

Generally speaking, lottery outlets can be found in some convenience stores, liquor stores, pharmacies, and grocery stores. Plus, some bars and restaurants sell Keno and Racetrax tickets. Racetrax is a lottery game that simulates a horse race.

Top MD jackpot winners

It is truly amazing to consider life as an ordinary person one day and a new reality as a multimillionaire the next, but it happens. These are the top three lottery wins in Maryland:

  • A $731.1 million Powerball jackpot was claimed in January 2021 by a winner who chose to remain anonymous.
  • A $218.6 Mega Million payout was collected in Maryland in March 2012.
  • In 2013, an Anne Arundel County man celebrated a $189 million Mega Millions win with his family.

This link between the Maryland Lottery and sports betting in MD is twofold, and it starts with the simple fact that these are two different ways that you can gamble legally in the state of Maryland. Secondly, as we have stated, the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency regulates the lottery, but their authority does not stop there.

The MLGCA is also the regulatory body that oversees legal sports betting in the state of Maryland. In 2021, the first retail sports bet placed in the state was made by then-Governor Larry Hogan, and in November 2022, online sports betting was launched.

Is there a Maryland Lottery mobile app?

There is a Maryland Lottery mobile app. However, you cannot directly purchase tickets live through the app. You can buy subscriptions for certain games as we have explained, and you can follow lottery results in real-time.

History of the Maryland Lottery

As we have touched upon, the Maryland Lottery was launched in 1973 and is headquartered in Baltimore. The first game, Twin Win, became available on May 15, 1973, and scratch-offs were first introduced in February 1976. In short order, they became the most popular games.

The Big Game was the precursor to Mega Millions, and Maryland was in on The Big Game from its inception in 1996. Fast forward to 2007, the legislature approved a measure that allowed for thousands of video lottery terminals in five locations. This opened the door to retail casinos in Maryland.


FAQ

What are scratch-offs?

Scratch-offs are tickets that you purchase from retailers, and you scratch off sections to open windows that reveal the results.

What is the minimum age requirement to play the Maryland Lottery?

You have to be 18 years of age or older to play the Maryland Lottery.

How much tax revenue does the Maryland Lottery generate?

The Maryland Lottery generated approximately $714 million for the state during the most recent fiscal year.

Can you play the MD lottery every day?

Absolutely, you can play the Maryland Lottery every day, if you choose to do so.