List of six-number lottery games

A six-number lottery game, often having Pick-6 or Lotto as part of its name, is a form of lottery in which six numbers are drawn from a larger pool (for example, six out of 44). Winning the top prize, usually a jackpot, requires a player to match all six regular numbers drawn; the order in which they are drawn is irrelevant. Functionally, these games are similar to five-number games, except, because of the sixth number that needs to be matched, the top-prize odds are longer. Therefore, six-number games generally offer a higher top prize. Six-number games (using one drum) were the most popular kind of US lottery game, before two-drum games such as Hot Lotto and Mega Millions were created. (These two games also draw six numbers; however, five are from one set, while a sixth is drawn from a second pool. These "5+1" games also require all six numbers to be matched for the top prize.)

Suppose a player in Houston picks the numbers 10, 15, 20, 30, 40, and 45, not only for a Mega Millions drawing, but also for the following night's Lotto Texas drawing. For Lotto Texas, all six numbers are from one set (of 54 numbers); however, for Mega Millions (5/56 and 1/46), the player chose 45 as their "Mega Ball". Both games then happen to draw the player's numbers, in this order: 10, 20, 30, 40, 45, and 15. The player would win (or share) the Lotto Texas jackpot; however, for Mega Millions, the player would win "only" $150 (assuming the Megaplier option was not chosen) for matching four of the five white ball numbers, as 15 is the Mega Ball number, rather than 45, which would elevate their winnings to $10,000.

A game called Lotto 6/49 continues as one of the two national lottery games in Canada (the other being the seven-number "Lotto Max").

Historically, US six-number games cost $1 per play; however, some of these games now have a $2 price point. Several games offer 50¢ plays; however, tickets for these games must be purchased in $1 increments. Most six-number games are drawn twice weekly, often Wednesdays and Saturdays.

One variant of the six-number game (usually $2 per play) generates three sets of six numbers for each play. (An example of this type of game is Pennsylvania's Match 6.) A player wins in the usual manner by matching enough numbers (in any of the three games) against those drawn, and/or matching enough numbers across all three sets of six (such as 5 of 18.) The jackpot-level prize is won in the "classic" way, by matching all six numbers in one set, rather than the total matched against the 18. (Note that these games allow players to pick only one set of six numbers; the other two sets automatically are generated by the lottery computer system.)

Some six-number games have a top prize (jackpot or otherwise) that always is paid in cash, whereas other six-number games have an annuity top prize; almost all US six-number games with an annuitized top prize have a cash option.

Some "six-number" games draw seven numbers; the first six for the jackpot top prize, and a seventh, "bonus" number, for some lower-tier prize levels. Viking Lotto draws two bonus numbers in this manner, for a total of eight numbers. The 6/49 game operated by the International Lottery in Liechtenstein Foundation (ILLF) draws the first six numbers for the jackpot; if the seventh ball (bonus ball) is drawn, the jackpot prize also is won. This bonus ball also is used for a "5 plus bonus ball" category. These "bonus" numbers are drawn from the remaining numbers in the same drum, rather than from a second set of numbers.

List

Most lotteries offer a six-number game (using one drum.) Some are listed below, with number fields and drawing frequency:

United States

Multi-jurisdictional:

• Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Virginia: Decades of Dollars (47 numbers; Mondays & Thursdays)

One-jurisdiction:

• Arizona: The Pick (44; Wednesdays & Saturdays)
• Colorado: Lotto (42; Wednesdays & Saturdays); MatchPlay (38 numbers; ending June 29, 2012)
• Connecticut: Classic Lotto (44; Tuesdays & Fridays)
• Delaware: Multi-Win Lotto (35; Mondays, Wednesdays, & Fridays)
• Florida: Florida Lotto (53; Wednesdays & Saturdays)
• Illinois: Lotto (52; Mondays, Wednesdays, & Saturdays)
• Indiana: Hoosier Lotto (48; Wednesdays & Saturdays)
• Louisiana: Lotto (40; Wednesdays & Saturdays)
• Maryland: Multi-Match (43; Mondays & Thursdays)
• Massachusetts: Megabucks Doubler (49; Wednesdays & Saturdays)
• Michigan: Classic Lotto 47 (47; Wednesdays & Saturdays)
• Missouri: Lotto (44; Wednesdays & Saturdays)
• New Jersey: Pick-6 Lotto (49; Mondays & Thursdays)
• New York: Sweet Million (40; Mondays & Thursdays), Lotto (59; Wednesdays & Saturdays)
• Ohio: Classic Lotto 6/49 (49; Mondays, Wednesdays, & Saturdays. An add-on, The Kicker, became available on April 29, 2012)
• Oregon Megabucks (48 numbers; Mondays, Wednesdays, & Saturdays)
• Pennsylvania: Match 6 (49; Mondays & Thursdays)
• Texas: Lotto Texas (54; Wednesdays & Saturdays)
• Virginia: Win for Life (42, Wednesdays & Saturdays)
• Washington: Lotto (49; Mondays, Wednesdays, & Saturdays)
• West Virginia: Cash 25 (25; Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, & Friday)
• Wisconsin: SuperCash! (39; daily), Megabucks (49; Wednesdays & Saturdays)

Canada

National

• Canada (national): Lotto 649 (49; Wednesdays & Saturdays)

Single jurisdiction

• Atlantic Lottery Corporation: Atlantic 49 (49; Wednesdays & Saturdays)
• British Columbia: 'BC 49 (49; Wednesdays & Saturdays)
• Ontario: Lottario (45; Saturdays), Ontario 49 (49; Wednesdays & Saturdays)
• Quebec Quebec 49 (49; Wednesdays & Saturdays)
• Western Canada Lottery Corporation Western 649 (49; Wednesdays & Saturdays)

Australasia

Australia

• National: Saturday Lotto (45)
• Queensland: Wednesday Gold Lotto (45)

New Zealand

• New Zealand: Lotto (40; Saturdays)

Europe

• Scandinavia: Viking Lotto (48; Wednesdays)

• Switzerland and Liechtenstein: International Lottery in Liechtenstein Foundation (49; Wednesdays)

See also

• List of five-number lottery games