The Arkansas Scholarship Lottery started in 2009 and is one of the newer state lotteries. Only Wyoming (2013) and Mississippi (2019) are younger than the Arkansas Lottery.
In that time, the state has raised more than $1.5 billion in proceeds for Arkansas college students, including over 750,000 Arkansas Academic Challenge scholarships. Over 92% of lottery ticket proceeds go towards prizes, scholarships, retailers commissions, and other expenses, so the Arkansas Lottery gives back in a big way.
The Department of Finance and Administration Office of the Arkansas Lottery oversee all of the games and the OAL does not use state taxpayer dollars to operate.
Lottery players must be 18 years or older in Arkansas.
Arkansas Lottery Games
Despite its relative infancy, the Arkansas Lottery offers a whole lot of games for players. Arkansas is part of the multi-state Powerball and Mega Millions draws, along with their own classic LOTTO and the Natural State Jackpot lotto.
Like most states, a Pick 3/Pick 4 variant is available, with Arkansas using Cash 3 and Cash 4 for the names. Arkansas also participates in the multi-state Lucky For Life Jackpot game and offers Fast Play, Instant Win, and scratch-offs.
Lottery tickets can only be purchased from licensed retailers, except for a partnership between the Arkansas Lottery and the Jackpocket App that allows Jackpocket users to buy tickets online.
Arkansas Lottery Draw Games
Powerball
Arkansas is one of 45 states to participate in the Powerball drawing. Drawings are held every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday at 10:59 p.m. ET.
Individual states declare when to stop ticket sales for that night’s drawing and Arkansas cuts off sales at 8:59 p.m. CT, so an hour before the drawing.
For Powerball, each wager consists of five numbers from 1 to 69 and the red ball denoting the Powerball, which is from 1 to 26. The minimum ticket cost is $2 and each ticket includes a Power Play add-on for $1 based on every $2 wagered.
Arkansas joined the Powerball drawing on January 31, 2010, along with 22 other states plus Washington D.C.
Mega Millions
Arkansas is also one of 42 states to participate in the Mega Millions drawing. Drawings are held every Tuesday and Friday night at 11 p.m. ET, so 10 p.m. Arkansas time.
Sales are cut off at 9:45 p.m. CT, giving players just a little bit longer to get their wagers in.
For Mega Millions, each wager consists of five numbers from 1 to 70 and the Mega Ball is from 1 to 25.
Just like Powerball, each ticket is a minimum $2 and includes a $1 bonus add-on called the Megaplier, which could multiply your winnings.
Arkansas joined the Mega Millions in 2009.
LOTTO
The LOTTO (yes, all caps) is a state-specific lottery drawing held Wednesday and Saturday at 9 p.m. CT. Ticket sales cut off at 8:59 p.m.
This Jackpot game actually has six numbers plus a Bonus ball, with the numbers ranging from 1 to 40. The Bonus ball is also drawn from the same group of 40 numbers. Each play costs $2.
The Bonus number is not an extra pick and is not required to win the Jackpot. It is an additional number picked and if it matches the player’s ticket along with two or more numbers, it pays out accordingly.
The LOTTO Jackpot starts at $250,000 and keeps growing until somebody wins. The Jackpot is won by matching all six numbers. Matching five numbers plus the Bonus ball wins $25,000.
Matching five numbers is $1,500, four numbers plus the Bonus ball is $500, matching four numbers is $25, three plus the Bonus ball is $10, three without the Bonus ball is $2, and two with the Bonus ball is $3.
Natural State Jackpot
Arkansas is known as “The Natural State”, which is the namesake of this state-specific draw game. This is essentially a Pick 5 in other states, as it is a five-number lotto game ranging from 1 to 39.
Each ticket only costs $1 and there are no bonuses or add-ons. Like all Arkansas draw games, players can select their own numbers or use the Quick Pick option and let the computer do the work.
Matching all five numbers wins the Jackpot, which starts at $50,000 and grows if nobody wins.
This is a nightly drawing at 8 p.m. CT.
Prizes range from $1 for matching two numbers to the Jackpot, with three numbers for $7 and $300 for four numbers in between.
Lucky For Life
Arkansas also participates in the multi-state Lucky For Life. This game is available in 22 states and the drawing is held seven days a week around 9:35 p.m. CT. Sales are cut off at 8:30 in Arkansas.
This traditional lotto drawing features five numbers from 1 to 48 and a Lucky Ball ranging from 1 to 18. Matching all five numbers and the Lucky Ball means $1,000 a day for life.
Each wager costs $2 and you are eligible to win a $25,000 annual prize for matching the five main numbers, but not the Lucky Ball.
Cash 3
Cash 3 is the Arkansas variation of a Pick 3 lotto drawing, with Midday draws at 12:59 p.m. CT Monday-Saturday and 6:59 p.m. CT drawing Monday-Sunday.
Players can select their own numbers or have the computer Quick Pick them with a three-digit number that can be played Straight, Boxed, a 50-cent Straight and 50-cent Boxed, or a Combo to match the three numbers any way.
Each game costs $1 and the payouts are based on the way that you play your numbers with a max prize of $500.
Cash 4
Cash 4 is like Cash 3, but with an extra number. Numbers are drawn at the same times as they are for the Cash 3, so 12:59 p.m. CT Monday-Saturday and 6:59 p.m. CT Monday-Sunday.
Numbers can be played Straight, Boxed, a Straight/Box, and a Combo. Each game costs $1 to play and can be picked by the player or the computer.
The top prize in this game is $5,000.
Arkansas Lottery Quick Draw Games
Fast Play Games
The Arkansas lotto is one of many states with Fast Play instant-win games. The computer picks everything for the players, with these games as of 2024.
- Fast Play AR Progressive Jackpot
- Jumbo Bucks
- Quick Cards
- $2 Bingo
- In Between
- Tic Tac Rock
- 3 Times Lucky
AR Progressive Jackpot
The computer picks five rows of symbols for players in the AR Progressive Jackpot Fast Play Game. Matching three like symbols in a row awards a prize.
Tickets are $1, $2, or $5.
Jumbo Bucks
This is a lot like an instant scratch-off with four numbers and corresponding prize amounts randomly selected by the computer along with one winning number.
It costs $1 to play and prizes range from $2 to $250.
Quick Cards
Quick Cards is a randomly drawn five-card poker hand. Players need at least a pair to win something, ranging from one pair to a Royal Flush.
It costs $1 per play and prizes range from $2 to $200.
$2 Bingo
With this Fast Play game, a Bingo card is randomly drawn along with 18 numbers. Prizes are awarded for getting a Bingo, four corners, an X, Z, or A pattern, or matching the entire outer frame.
This costs $2 per play and prizes range from $2 to $4,000.
In Between
With this game, the computer randomly draws two numbers. The goal is to get as many numbers in between that range as possible.
Ten numbers are drawn to potentially fit in between your numbers. At least three numbers must fit in between to win a prize, with prizes ranging from $1 to $1,000.
Each play costs $1.
Tic Tac Rock
Tic Tac Rock is the draw of nine symbols and players want a row of diamonds to win a prize. Prize amounts are selected around the board and three diamonds wins the corresponding prize horizontally, vertically, or diagonally.
Each play costs $1 and prizes range from $1 to $100.
3 Times Lucky
3 Times Lucky is Tic Tac Rock, but instead of looking for a row of diamonds, players are looking for a row of Number 3s.
Each play costs $1 and prizes range from $2 to $300.
Arkansas Lottery Scratch-Offs
The Arkansas Lottery offers dozens of instant-win scratch-offs, ranging from $1 to $20. Some games are always available, but there are special seasonal and holiday scratchers offered at those times of the year as well.
The Arkansas Lottery website lists the total prize amounts still in circulation for every different ticket and many retailers will display the remaining top prizes as well.
How to Claim Arkansas Lottery Prizes
Winnings of less than $1 million can be redeemed by mail. They require a claim form and a copy of photo ID sent to the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery Claim Center at P.O. Box 3838 in Little Rock, AR, 72203.
Prizes of $500 or lower can be redeemed with any approved Arkansas Scholarship Lottery retailer. Anything over $500 must be claimed in-person at the Claim Center at 124 W. Capitol Ave., Little Rock, AR, 72201. They are open Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Prizes of $600 or more require a W2-G form. Prizes of more than $5,000 have a 3.9% state tax withholding and the IRS requires a withholding of 24% tax or more on prizes of that size.
Arkansas Lottery Frequently Asked Questions
The Arkansas Lottery only sells tickets at approved retailers. However, apps like Jackpocket have an agreement with the state to sell lottery tickets online. You can also buy tickets online with Jackpot.com or LOTTO.com.
The Club is the Arkansas Lottery Rewards Program. Players can accumulate points to be redeemed for prizes, cash, or second-chance promotions. Only non-winning tickets can be used to earn points.
There are hundreds of approved Arkansas Lottery retailers at gas stations and convenience stores across the Natural State. There are also lottery ticket vending machines that offer Draw Games, Quick Draw Games, and scratch-offs.