Connecticut has had its very own lottery since 1972. In the decades since, this lottery has blossomed into a successful and diverse set of games enjoyed by many. The lottery generates invaluable revenue, which has contributed billions of dollars to local services. We’ve put this guide together to show you how to make the most of the Connecticut Lottery. You can learn about the most popular jackpots, how the lotto started and whether Connecticut has ambitions to take the lotto online.

Legal Online Lotteries Available in Connecticut

At the time of writing, Connecticut does not have an online lottery. There are currently no bills under discussion to indicate that this will change soon, and neither does the state offer any other forms of online gambling. This does not mean that Connecticut will not offer an online lottery in the future. Most states have been slow to pick it up, compared to sports betting. Where it has been rolled out it has been met with success. It could be an invaluable way for the industry to expand the lottery to include a younger generation of players.

Legal Online Lotteries Available in USA

As of yet, there is no online Connecticut lottery. There are hopeful discussions underway, but time will tell how long it takes to reach a consensus. In the mean time there are many other established lotteries for Connecticuters. There are multi-state and local lotto draws, daily draws and Scratchers. Here we’ve complied the most popular lotteries you can play in Connecticut.

Keno – Like Bingo, But Better

CT Lottery first introduced Keno to players on April 25th 2016. There are over 300 drawings every day, every 4 minutes. Keno is different in how it is played to other lottery games. It can be offered in casinos and lotteries. To play, pick from 1 to 10 spots on a playslip and wager between $1 and $20. Players may also choose how many games in a row they want to play and have the option of a bonus multiplier. Mark Roy is Connecticut’s biggest Keno winner, winning $300,000 over two wins – with the same numbers!

Lotto! – Connecticut’s Game of Choice

Lotto! started life in 1983 as Connecticut Lotto, and has gone through many different forms to become the game it is today. For this reason it has remained a key feature of the Connecticut Lottery and a regular fixture for most players. The jackpot begins at $1 million and rolls over, getting bigger and bigger until it is won. To play, a playslip needs to be filled out by picking 6 different numbers between 1 and 44. Tickets only cost $1 and Lotto! is drawn at 10:38 PM every Tuesday and Friday evening.

Mega Millions – Big Jackpots at Low Prices

Avid lottery players all know about Mega Millions – the multi-state lotto with astronomical jackpots. It’s no surprise that Mega Millions is also a hit in Connecticut then! The state has seen a number of big winners. This lotto is easy to play and tickets start at $2. All you have to do is pick 5 numbers for the white balls and 1 for the gold MegaBall, then cross your fingers! Many players like to add a Megaplier for $1 more. If you’re into big draws like Mega Millions, you’ll also enjoy the other famous draw – Powerball.

Cash5 – A Chance to Win Every Night

Cash5 has been around since 1992, only under a different name – Cash Lotto. There are drawings every night, which makes it the perfect choice for frequent players. To win, players just have to pick 5 numbers correctly from a field of 35. Tickets are only $1, but for 50 cents more you can add the Kicker option. The Kicker activates an extra number on the ticket, giving you more chances to win. Winning the top prize in Cash5 can be worth up to $100,000.

Lottery Regulator in Connecticut

The lottery is regulated by the Connecticut Lottery Corporation. This is a specifically created public state agency. The Department of Consumer Protection Gaming Division, in turn, oversees their actions. Their purpose is to make sure that the lottery is conducted fairly and legally. The Connecticut Lottery Corporation also makes sure that lottery revenue is directed to just causes. In 2018 the lottery put $345 million of revenue back into vital services and programs such as education and health.

Other Lotto Draws You Could Pick

There’s more to the Connecticut Lottery than draw games. There is also a wide variety of Scratchers to pick from too. These games are updated frequently, so you don’t have to get bored of playing the same ones. There are scratch cards in different price ranges, from $1 to $30 – so there really is a little something for everyone. Winners can receive cash, prizes or amazing experiences. Some of the most popular Scratchers available to play in Connecticut at the moment are Sunny Money, Find The 5s and Money Bag Multiplier.

History of Connecticut Lottery

Connecticut Lottery is actually one of the longest running lotteries in the US. Its history shows its ability to move with the times, implementing new technologies such as TV draws and instant vending machines. The lotto definitely had its golden days in the 70s and 80s. While it’s still at the heart of Connecticut life, introducing online technology could push it in a more modern age.

Connecticut’s Most Famous Winners

On January 1st 2002, Mary Stange won $28.5 million as a Classic Lotto jackpot. At the time this was the biggest single ticket win in the jackpot’s history. Mary Stange, 61, seemed pretty down to earth about her life-changing win. She apparently planned to redecorate her home and get some new tires for her car. She could get a garage full of new cars for that money, but she says her ’97 Mercury is too dependable! Mary Stange isn’t the only winner to land a big jackpot in Connecticut. In 2011 the Putnam Avenue Family Trust made history, winning a Powerball jackpot of $254.2 million. This is the largest lottery prize ever won in Connecticut. The prize was shared between three men – Brandon Lacoff, Tim Davidson and Greg Skidmore. Together they run an asset management firm. There is some speculation that they are actually the public front for an anonymous winner.

Lottery Legal Age in Connecticut

In Connecticut the lottery is only legal to play for those aged 18 and upwards. Other forms of gambling in Connecticut carry age limits too. This age applies to pari-mutuel wagering and bingo too. Other forms of gambling in the Constitution State carry a higher legal age of 21, such as Native American casino gambling. Underage gambling is a criminal offence, which can be met with fines, probation and even prison. Fines can go up to $1,000 and probation is often around 12 months.

• Lottery Age
  The legal lotto age in Connecticut is 18 years old.
• Alcohol Age
  In Connecticut the legal drinking age is 21 years old.
• Weed Age
  Cannabis is illegal in the state of Connecticut, although medical use is allowed.

Is Online Lotto Legal When You Are Out of the State?

Online lottery is not yet legal in Connecticut, but that’s not the case for other US states. There are currently ten US states which can offer players legal online lottery games. These states are Delaware, New York, New Hampshire, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Illinois, Virginia, Maine, and Kentucky. Online lotteries might be limited, but there are plenty of popular and well played US lotteries. Online lotteries are certainly popular around the rest of the world, especially in Europe, Australia and Canada. Some continents have their own massive jackpot draws, while most countries have a lottery too. The biggest European jackpots are Eurojackpot and Euromillions. Arguably the most famous online lottery game in the world comes from Spain – El Gordo, the Spanish Christmas Lottery. Australians play Oz Lotto, while Canadians play Lotto 6/49.

The Best Lottery Mobile App

Even though there’s no online Connecticut Lottery just yet, there is a useful mobile app. The CT Lottery app is compatible on Apple and Android devices, making playing the lottery easier than ever before. Players can check the latest winning numbers, view jackpots and scan tickets to find out if they’ve won. The app also lets players scan for a 2nd chance at winning. As online lotto is not legal, tickets can only be purchased at licensed retailers with real-life premises in the state. The app features maps and makes it easy to find the closest retailer to you.

Online Lottery Promotions to Take Advantage Of

We know that there’s no online lotto just yet in Connecticut. Unfortunately this means that lotto players won’t be able to find much in the way of beneficial online promotions to take advantage of. The CT Lottery app is a good place to discover some promotions though. For instance, the 2nd Chance Promotions serve as a nice way of improving your odds and getting a little bit more for your ticket. If online lotto comes to Connecticut soon you could see plenty more promotions popping up, such as reward point systems, match bonuses and free ticket offers.

Taxes on Lotto Winnings in Connecticut

As is the case in any US state, all lottery winnings are subject to tax. How much your lotto win will be taxed does depend on where you are based, so it is important to read the right information for where you are. 24% will be withheld by CT Lottery as Federal tax on all winnings over $5,000. You will also have to pay 6.7% in income tax to the IRS. You are legally required to declare your winnings. To find more up to date and relevant information on Connecticut tax, head to Connecticut State Department of Revenue Services.

Upcoming Regulation Changes for Online Lottery

For now, Connecticut residents will have to make do without an online lottery. There is no current indication that any legislative bills will be passed this year. Online lotteries can be met with suspicion for a variety of reasons, which is why it can take a while for bills to be passed. In particular, states in which Indian casinos are run can view online lotteries as over-competitive. For this reason, legislation has to be inclusive and cannot be rushed through. According to Chelsea Turner, interim CEO of Connecticut Lottery, CT Lottery ‘want to utilize the best that modern technology has to offer, including modernizing our distribution channels through the internet’. This attitude is the most hopeful news that regulation will be updated soon. Until this happens though, we invite you to read more on the gambling situation throughout the state and see if there is another branch you might express interest in by reading our Connecticut gambling review page.

Lottery Guides for Nearby States

• New York
• Massachusetts
• Rhode Island
• New Jersey