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Playing the Maine State lottery and Powerball can be fun and exciting, but some people become addicted to gambling, so remember to play responsibly!

What Is Tri-State Megabucks?

The Tri-State Megabucks game is a multi-state lottery game offered in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont. Tickets cost $1. Maine Jackpots are a minimum of $200,000 and can go much higher.

When Are the Megabucks Drawings?

The winning Megabucks numbers are drawn every Wednesday and Saturday evening at approximately 7:51 pm. The results are broadcast on television at approximately 11:15 pm. If no one picks the winning combination of numbers, the jackpot keeps growing until someone does.

Where Can I Buy Megabucks and Other Lottery Tickets?

Megabucks and other lottery tickets can be purchased at many grocery and convenience stores. A list of lottery agents can be found on the Maine State Lottery Web Site (see the linkbox in the top right corner of this page).

How Do I Play the Maine State Lottery?

There are several games you can play. Megabucks is the big Jackpot with a minimum prize of $200,000. The prize is often higher, depending on how many tickets are purchased and whether there was a winner in the last drawing. To play Maine Megabucks, you select a set of six numbers from a field of 42 numbers. Every Wednesday and Saturday six numbers are randomly drawn. If the six numbers on your Megabucks ticket match the numbers drawn, you've won the Jackpot. If you match some of the numbers, but not all six, you could win other prizes.

Match 5 numbers, win $1,000
Match 4 numbers, win $40
Match 3 numbers, win $1
Match 5 numbers plus the bonus number. win $10,000
Match 4 numbers plus the bonus number, win $50
Match 3 numbers plus the bonus number, win $5
Match 2 numbers plus the bonus number, win $2

To increase your chances of winning other prizes besides the big Jackpot, a bonus number is also drawn from the 36 numbers remaining after the six Megabucks numbers are drawn.

Cash Lotto Jackpot is always $200,000. Tickets cost $1. Drawings are on Tuesday and Fridays. To play, you make selections from two sets of numbers. First you pick four numbers from a field of 1 to 33, then you pick a Wild Number from a second field of 1 to 33. The overall odds of winning are 1:11.

The prize levels for Cash Lotto are as follows:

Match all 4 of the first set of numbers plus the Wild Number: Win $200,000
Match 4 of the first set but not the Wild Number: Win $2,000
Match 3 of the first set plus the Wild Number: Win $200
Match 3 of the first set but not the Wild Number: Win $50
Match 2 of the first set plus the Wild Number: Win $20
Match 2 of the first set but not the Wild Number: Win $1
Match 1 of the first set plus the Wild Number: Win $2
Match none from the first set but you match the Wild Number: Win $2
Match 1 from the first set but not the Wild Number: Win no prize
Match none from the first set and do not match the Wild Number: Win no prize

Pick 3

Bet between 50 cents and $5 on your lucky number (three digits, such as 1-2-3) any day of the week. You can place your bet for an entire week by using a multi-draw bet.

Pick 4

Bet between 50 cents and $5 on your lucky number (four digits, such as 1-2-3-4) any day of the week. You can place your bet for an entire week by using a multi-draw bet.

Instant Tickets

If you like instant gratification or can't wait to find out if you've won, try the Instant Scratch Games and win prizes from $1 to $100,000 or merchandise such as snowmobiles, computers, or even cars and trucks. There are a variety of different scratch games and the instructions for each game are right on the ticket.

If I Win the Megabucks, How Will I Be Paid?

If you win the Megabucks, you have the option of selecting an annuity paid out over 25 years, or a one-time cash payment.

How Do I Claim My Lottery Prize?

Some small prizes are paid by the agent you bought your winning ticket from. Others require you to go to the lottery office in Augusta.

How Do I Play the Powerball?

Powerball tickets can be purchased daily at participating locations. The cutoff time for ticket sales is 9:50 pm on the day of the draw. Drawings are held every Wednesday and Saturday at 10:59 pm.

Mark five numbers from 1 to 53 on the upper portion of the Powerball play slip, and mark one number from 1 to 42 in the lower yellow portion of the play slip. You may play up to five (5) panels on a single play slip. Each Powerball play is $1.

If you don't want to chooose your own numbers, you can let the computer randomly pick them by marking the Easy Pick(EP) box on each play for any or all of the five numbers in the upper panel and/or the one number in the lower panel.

For an extra $1 per play, you can multiply your Powerball prize by 2, 3, 4, or 5 times the orginal prize amount (except the jackpot) by marking the POWER PLAY box on your play slip or asking the clerk to add the POWER PLAY option.

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