The Rhode Island Lottery, lovingly referred to as “The Lot”, is a big operation for a small state. The RI Lottery celebrated its 50th anniversary in 1974 and has pushed over $9 billion worth of proceeds to the State’s General Fund. It is the largest voluntary source of income for the state and open to players 18 years of age and up.
The constitutional amendment that passed in 1973 led to the first sales in 1974, as the first 50-cent tickets featured a weekly top prize of $50,000. Since then, The Lot has grown by leaps and bounds, including all sorts of online and mobile games and casino gaming.
Rhode Island Lottery Games
Three multi-state Jackpot games – Powerball, Mega Millions, and Lucky For Life – are the anchors of the Rhode Island Lottery, but hardly all that they have to offer. Plenty of instant games, both the traditional scratch-offs and eInstant games, Pull Tabs, and connections with Video Lottery and Table Games create a whole lot of ways to win.
Rhode Island also has four state-specific draw games for players, including Bingo.
Third-party sellers like Jackpocket and Jackpot.com have not been approved retailers. The only online and mobile lottery gaming allowed in Rhode Island are eInstants, Keno, and sports betting through Sportsbook Rhode Island.
Rhode Island Lottery Draw Games
Powerball
Rhode Island was one of the founding members of the MUSL, the Multi-State Lottery Association. Powerball actually started in 1987 as Lotto America, but was rebranded in 1992. Rhode Island was among the first 15 lotteries to participate in the game, which were Delaware, Iowa, Idaho, Hoosier (Indiana), Kansas, Kentucky, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Washington DC, Wisconsin and West Virginia.
Powerball drawings are held at 10:59 p.m. ET on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday. Ticket sales stop at 9:50 p.m. ET on drawing nights. Each play costs $2 and there is an optional $1 add-on for the Power Play multiplier, which benefits non-Jackpot prizes.
Five numbers from 1 to 69 and a Powerball from 1 to 26 are drawn with this game. Matching all six wins the Jackpot, which starts at $20 million and grows with each draw that does not have a winner.
Mega Millions
Mega Millions was also known by a different name at the start, as it was “The Big Game” when it began in 1996. Rhode Island was not among the original states, as the RI Lottery adopted the game in 2010.
Five numbers from 1 to 70 are drawn and so is a Mega Ball from 1 to 25. Each play costs $2, with an optional $1 add-on for the Megaplier, a multiplier of non-Jackpot prizes.
This game is drawn on Tuesday and Friday at 11 p.m. ET, with ticket sales cut off at 9:50. The Jackpot with this game also starts at $20 million and grows from there.
Lucky For Life
Lucky For Life is a nightly, multi-state drawing with a grand prize of $1,000 a day for life. The second prize is $25,000 a year for life. Players draw numbers from 1 to 48 and then a Lucky Ball from 1 to 18. Matching all six wins the grand prize.
This game costs $2 per play and there are no add-ons or multipliers. The drawing is held every night at 10:30 p.m. ET, with ticket sales cut off an hour prior to the drawing.
This game is played in Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Iowa, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maine, Michigan, Montana, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, New Hampshire, Ohio, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont and Wyoming.
Wild Money
Wild Money, which replaced Money Roll in 2002, is the Rhode Island-exclusive version of a Jackpot lotto drawing. The Jackpot starts at $20,000 and increases until there is a winner. Drawings are held every night at 7:29 p.m. ET and each play costs $1.
Five numbers are selected from 1 to 38. There is an Extra Ball drawn from the 33 remaining numbers. That number is not picked by players or the computer; it is simply used for secondary prizes.
Ticket sales stop at 6:50 p.m. ET for Wild Money.
The Numbers
The Numbers is the Rhode Island Lottery version of a Pick 4. Drawings are held twice a day, with a Midday draw at 1:30 p.m. ET and an Evening draw at 7:29 p.m. ET. Ticket sales are cut off 10 minutes before the daytime draw and 39 minutes before the nighttime draw.
Players can win up to $25,000 with each drawing. Each play costs 50 cents, $1, $2, or $5 and increases based on the number of bet types. They are 4 Digit Straight, 3 Digit Straight, Back 3 Straight, 2 Digit Straight, 4 Digit Box, 3 Digit Box, Back 3 Box, 4 Digit Combo, 3 Digit Combo, Back 3 Combo.
For an extra $1 per wager, players can opt-in to the Instant Match random prize drawing. The terminal automatically selects another set of four numbers with values that have random prize amounts attached. If those numbers come in the drawing, you win the accompanying prize amount.
Bingo
The RI Lottery has Bingo drawings every eight minutes from 5 a.m. to 12:42 a.m. Monday through Saturday and 7 a.m. to 12:42 a.m. on Sunday. Bingo boards cost $1, $2, $5, or $10 and players can play 1, 2, or 3 games.
The lottery terminal generates a random Bingo board and 30 numbers are then drawn by the computer. Players need to match them up and create the winning combinations, which are Diamond, 4+ Lines, X, 3 Lines, Y, 2 Lines, 4 Corners, 1 Line and they will win the accompanying prize.
The highest prize amount wins based on the numbers drawn, so players can only win one prize, but it can be a big one!
Keno
The other number draw game in Rhode Island is Keno. Keno Overtime and Keno Plus are two optional add-ons to the base Keno game. Both double the base wager of a ticket, which is either $1, $2, $5, or $10 per game.
Players can pick from 1 to 10 spots and the computer will randomly select 20 numbers with each draw game. Prizes are won based on matching as many of your numbers with the numbers of the draw.
The max prize for matching all 10 spots in regular Keno is $100,000 but it would be $500,000 with the Keno Overtime feature, which actually pays that much for matching 8, 9, or 10 spots. Keno Plus is an additional multiplier that could be as high as 10x.
Keno draws are held every four minutes from 5 a.m. to 12:44 a.m. Monday-Saturday and 7 a.m. to 12:44 a.m. ET on Sunday.
Keno can also be played on the RI Lottery website.
Rhode Island Lottery eInstants
The iLottery is alive and well in Rhode Island through eInstants. These are online, scratchless games that are like a combination of a scratch-off and a slot machine. Each play is 50 cents, $1, $2, $3, $5, $10, or $20 and there are dozens of games available.
Each game features a different top prize based on the denomination and players can try games out before they use their Real Money balance to purchase plays.
Players can play these games on the RI Lottery website.
Rhode Island Lottery Instant Games
Scratch-off tickets are referred to as Instant Games with the Rhode Island Lottery. Tickets range from $1 to $50 in cost and have prizes that represent the denomination being played. Lots of holiday and seasonal games are available, as well as year-round fixtures.
Upwards of 50+ games are available at any given time in the state with $1, $2, $3, $5, $10, $20, $25, $30, and $50 games at any given time.
Rhode Island Lottery Pull Tab Games
Pull Tabs are something offered by the Rhode Island Lottery for charitable, not-for-profit organizations. They apply for use of the games after being approved by the Secretary of State’s Office. These are only used for fundraising.
Rhode Island Video Lottery, Table Games, and Sports Betting
Casino gaming in Rhode Island is governed by the lottery, which includes the Bally’s Casinos at Twin River Lincoln and Tiverton. VLTs (Video Lottery Terminals) are a fancy name for slot machines. The table games and stadium gaming are also overseen by the lottery.
Both casinos also have sportsbooks with Sportsbook Rhode Island, which is the only approved sports betting interface in the state.
Unlike most states, all players 18 years of age and older are welcomed into the casino and can use the sports betting app.
Rhode Island Lottery App
With a free VIP+ account, players can play eInstants and Keno through the Rhode Island Lottery Mobile App. They can also check tickets to see if they’ve won, see recent drawing results, and find a retailer nearest them.
Only Keno and eInstants can be purchased on the app. None of them draw games can be played, nor can scratch-off games be purchased. The most up-to-date information on jackpot drawings, promotions, and how to play rules and regulations can be found.
The Rhode Island Lottery app also integrates with the VIP Club, which is the official loyalty rewards program of the RI Lottery.
How To Claim Rhode Island Lottery Prizes
Prizes less than $600 can be claimed at any Rhode Island Lottery retailer or by mail.
Prizes of $600 and above must be claimed at the Lottery Headquarters at 1425 Pontiac Ave, Cranston, RI, 02920 or by mail. That is also the mailing address for sending.
Certified mail is suggested and the proper claim forms are required.
Rhode Island Lottery prizes in excess of $5,000 are subject to a 5.99% state withholding tax along with the 24% federal tax.
Rhode Island Lottery Frequently Asked Questions
Can Rhode Island Lottery Tickets Be Purchased Online?
Yes. eInstants and Keno are available to purchase online.
However, draw games are not eligible for online purchase. Rhode Island does not have a relationship with third-party sellers like Jackpocket or Jackpot.com.
How Many Rhode Island Lottery Retailers Are There?
There are more than 300 approved lottery retailers in the state of Rhode Island.
How Old Do I Have To Be To Play The Rhode Island Lottery?
Players must be 18 years of age or older, which includes playing in the casinos and wagering on sports,