Arkansas Lottery
The Arkansas lottery has provided amazing winning opportunities for more than 12 years under the name Arkansas Scholarship Lottery since being legalized in late 2008. It has also been a member of the Multi-State Lottery Association since July 2009.
Although the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery took off relatively recently compared to other state lotteries in the country, it has already raised more than a billion dollars for scholarships and paid out more than $3.5 billion in prizes.
This page will introduce you to all you need to know about the Arkansas lottery, including the range of lottery games you can play, options for buying lottery tickets and other topics.
Purchase Lottery Tickets Online in Arkansas
- 50% Up to $100 on Deposit
- 20 Free Games on Sign Up
- Use Code: USABONUS
Arkansas online lottery
Lottery players in Arkansas are currently unable to buy game tickets from the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery’s official website. However, the website contains a lot of information on how to play the games and the latest winning numbers.
You can also check your ticket status and become a member of the special players’ club. Membership offers second-chance promotions, points that you can later exchange for prizes and other club benefits.
You can buy lottery tickets online via certain third-party apps, one of which is the Jackpocket lottery app.
How does the Jackpocket lottery app work?
Jackpocket is a third-party, licensed lottery app that enables its users to buy lottery tickets online securely and safely. It acts as a middle man between players and licensed retailers, providing a fast and reliable online lottery games service. The service is available in multiple states that still restrict purchasing tickets from their official state lottery websites, such as Arkansas.
Besides security, one of the biggest advantages of the app is the ease of use. To buy lottery tickets, just follow these simple steps:
- You can either download the Jackpocket app from the app store or have the link sent to your phone via the Jackpocket website.
- Sign up for an account.
- Log in and choose the draw game you want to play.
- Pick a combination of numbers by yourself or have the quick pick feature choose for you.
- You’re all set.
After you’ve placed your order, Jackpocket uses the details to purchase a ticket on your behalf. It then scans and uploads the physical ticket to the app’s servers so you can view it on your phone. In addition to the paper ticket scan, Jackpocket will also send you an email with the purchase receipt.
Once the purchase is complete, the ticket’s serial number is tied to your unique personal details and your Jackpocket account, confirming you as its sole owner.
Jackpocket stores all paper tickets in secure vaults, only sending them to their owners if the combination of numbers proves to be a winning one. Jackpocket utilizes highly secure ways of transporting your ticket; the specific method of delivery depends on your location, the winning amount and your preferences, among other factors.
If you are a regular lottery player, you can enable the autoplay subscription feature, which purchases tickets for you automatically and enters them in weekly drawings. You can set multiple autoplays for different games and choose between picking your own numbers and the quick pick option.
If you win up to $499, the amount will become available in your Jackpocket account balance, and you can withdraw it to your bank account or use it to buy additional lottery tickets.
On the other hand, you must cash out winnings of $500 or more in person. Once you receive your physical ticket, you can use it, along with your ID, to collect your winnings from the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery.
We should also mention that Jackpocket charges small fees on your transactions to cover the cost of its services, but any winnings you may obtain are 100% yours, commission-free.
What lottery games can I play in Arkansas?
The Arkansas lottery features six draw games, three of which are Arkansas-exclusive, with the other three being multi-state games. Besides these, players can also try seven fast-play games and around 70 scratch cards with prices ranging from $1 to $20.
Arkansas lottery multi-state draw games
As we already mentioned, the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery has been a part of the Multi-State Lottery Association since July 2009. As such, it offers some of the multi-state lottery games also available in other states. Therefore, Arkansans can currently choose from among three such games — Powerball, Mega Millions and Lucky for Life.
Arkansas Powerball
Powerball is one of the most popular multi-state draw games in the US. It is available in 45 states and launched in 1992. Game drawings are held in Florida. Each Powerball ticket costs $2 per play, and you must buy it from licensed lottery vendors at least one hour before the drawing.
When you buy the ticket, you’ll choose five numbers from 1 to 69 and one Powerball number between 1 and 26. The ticket gives you the option to check the quick pick box if you want the numbers randomly selected at the terminal. To multiply your non-jackpot prizes, add the Power Play option to your ticket for just $1.
To enter your ticket in subsequent drawings, choose between two and 20 multi draws directly on the payslip or through the vendor. If you’re using a third-party app to purchase your ticket, look for the subscription options.
Powerball has a total of nine ways to win with a 1 in 24.9 overall chance of winning a prize. Although the chances of winning the grand prize, that is — the jackpot — are much slimmer, the total prize amount can get staggeringly high. To win the jackpot, you must match all five numbers and the Powerball number.
The largest single-ticket Powerball jackpot ever won in Arkansas was $25 million. An anonymous player scooped the prize in January 2010.
Arkansas Powerball key points
- Ticket cost: $2 (+$1 for a Power Play feature).
- Nine ways to win.
- Record Arkansas Powerball jackpot: $25 million.
Arkansas Mega Millions
Right up there with Powerball in popularity is Mega Millions. This lottery draw game launched in 1996 under the name The Big Game and was renamed Mega Millions in 2002. The game has been available in Arkansas since January 2010, and the drawings are held in Atlanta.
To participate, you need to buy a $2 ticket. Mark five numbers from 1 to 70, and one number from 1 to 25 for the Mega Ball, or choose the quick pick option. As is the case with Powerball, Mega Millions tickets also offer a multiplier option for an additional dollar per play, called the Megaplier. You can purchase the tickets 15 minutes before the draw, at the latest.
Ardent lottery players can choose the multi-draw option that lets them enter their ticket in up to 20 subsequent drawings. You can achieve the same through subscription services if you’re using a lottery app to purchase your tickets.
Mega Millions offers nine ways to win. Anyone who matches all six chosen numbers can win the jackpot prize.
The record-high Mega Millions jackpot payout in Arkansas is $177 million. It was won by a Texas man on a ticket bought in Stuttgart, Arkansas, in March 2017.
Arkansas Mega Millions key points
- Ticket cost: $2 (+$1 for the Megaplier feature).
- Nine ways to win.
- Record Arkansas Mega Millions jackpot: $177 million.
Arkansas Lucky for Life
Unlike Powerball and Mega Millions, which have been present in the market for decades, Lucky for Life has only been around a couple of years. It appeared in 2009 with the Connecticut lottery, and it has been available as a multi-state draw game since 2012. Nevertheless, it has become quite a popular game in 25 states. Arkansas began offering the game in 2015.
Like the other two multi-state lottery games we talked about above, the Lucky for Life ticket costs $2. Players need to pick five numbers between 1 and 48 and one Lucky Ball number from 1 to 18. Or you can have the quick pick option choose your number for you.
You can choose up to 20 multi-draw options on a single ticket, and sales are suspended at 8:30 p.m. Central Time on the days of the draw.
There are 10 ways to win this game. If all of your numbers match the ones drawn, you walk away with the grand prize — $1,000 a day for life. Should you match only five numbers, you’ll receive $25,000 a year for life.
No players from Arkansas have been lucky enough to win the top prize yet, but seven Arkansans have managed to grab the second-best prize — $25,000 a year for life.
Arkansas Lucky for Life key points
- Ticket cost: $2.
- Ten ways to win.
- Highest prize won in Arkansas: $25,000 a year for life.
Arkansas multi-state draw times
- Powerball — Drawings take place at 9:59 p.m. every Wednesday and Saturday, so you would need to buy your ticket before 8:59 p.m. on the day of the draw.
- Mega Millions — Watch the drawings at 10 p.m. every Tuesday and Friday. Buy any tickets at 9:45 p.m. at the latest.
- Lucky for Life — Drawings are each Monday and Thursday at 9:38 p.m. You can purchase the tickets until 8:30 p.m. on the day of the draw.
Arkansas Lottery draw games
In addition to multi-state draw games, the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery also features some exclusive draw games. Here are the other games that are currently available:
- Natural State Jackpot — Choose five numbers from 1 to 39 for $1 per play. You can choose up to five plays per ticket and up to 20 multi draws. The jackpot starts at $50,000, with $5,000 added every draw until the prize pool reaches $150,000. Then, $10,000 is added to the amount every draw until someone wins. Drawings take place Monday to Saturday at 8 p.m. You can buy tickets up to one minute before the draw.
- Cash 3 or Cash 4 — Pick one three-digit number between 000 and 999 or one four-digit number between 0000 and 9999 and choose one of two play amounts — $0.50 or $1. Select the straight bet to win higher prizes if the drawn numbers match your numbers in the same order. Alternatively, select the box bet for more ways to win if the numbers drawn match your chosen numbers in any order. Mark up to five plays per ticket and up to 14 multi-draws for both midday and evening drawings. Drawings happen twice daily from Monday to Saturday at 6:59 p.m. and 12:59 p.m., and on Sundays at 6:59 p.m.
Arkansas scratch tickets
The Arkansas Scholarship Lottery offer doesn’t end with draw games. The official lottery website also features around 70 scratch tickets in five prize points: $1, $2, $3, $5, $10 and $20. Some of the most interesting titles are Jumbo Bucks Supreme, Gold Rush, Extra! Extra! Crossword and Neon 7s.
The offer extends with seven fast-play games, all priced at $1 or $2. Players can choose between 7s, AR Progressive Jackpot, Beat the Dealer, Cash Count Up, Tic Tac Toe, Lucky Clover and $2 Hot Dice.
Other gambling options in Arkansas
While Arkansas used to be a gambling hotspot back in the day, more recent legislation has forbidden many gambling activities. However, with Arkansas sports betting legalized in 2018, more and more sportsbooks have been appearing throughout the state. On the other hand, state laws prohibit online sports betting, as well as online casinos in Arkansas. In the meantime, you can try the online sweepstakes casinos and online social casinos available in the state. These include such options as Chumba, Wow Vegas, and Ding Ding Ding.
Horseracing and dog racing have been particularly popular in Arkansas. The state has one dog track racino and one horse track racino.
Arkansas scholarship lottery history
After the 2008 ballot, when most Arkansans voted in favor of the lottery, the Arkansas Lottery Commission was established to oversee lottery activities. Not long after, on July 1, 2009, the state also joined the Multi-State Lottery Association.
Scratch-off tickets became available in September 2009, and Powerball launched in October of the same year. Players had to wait a few more months until Mega Millions joined the scene in January 2010.
An interesting fact about the Arkansas lottery is that it was probably the first state to start with computerized drawings, with all its exclusive games using a random number generator instead of balls and drawing machines.
Just like many other state lotteries, the Arkansas lottery strives to aid the community as much as possible. Since 2009, the agency has raised over a billion dollars for scholarships, provided more than $304 million in retailer commission and more than $142 million in tax revenue. On top of that, it has also paid out a whopping $3.5 billion in prizes.
