About the Wisconsin Lottery

Since 1988, the Wisconsin Lottery has managed the Lottery fund with the following results*:


Over $10.8 Billion Prizes Paid

(57% of revenue)

At least 50% of total revenue must be dedicated to prize winnings.


Over $5.7 Billion Funding for Property Tax Credits

(30.3% of revenue)

This money has been returned to eligible Wisconsin taxpayers.


Over $1.2 Billion Retailer Compensation Paid

(6.4% of revenue)

This money goes to Wisconsin businesses.


Over $1.2 Billion Operational Expenses

(6.3% of revenue)

Includes expenses such as salaries, employee benefits, supplies and services. The Lottery has operated well below the mandated limit of 10%.


Since 1988, the Wisconsin Lottery has generated more than $19.1 Billion in total revenue. Over 93% of that revenue has gone back to winners, retailers, and Wisconsin homeowners.

 

*Figures are from inception through Fiscal Year (FY) 2023. Amounts from FY2023 are preliminary as of January 2024, and subject to change until completion of the audit. Percentages may not sum to 100% due to rounding.

DATE EVENT  
04/23/23 Fast Play, a new group of lotto games that combine instant wins with a growing Progressive Jackpot debuts. Fast Play
03/15/23 The Wisconsin Lottery mobile app is introduced allowing players to check their tickets, create digital playslips, use the store locator and much more. Mobile App
11/07/22 Powerball® reaches a world record jackpot of $2.04 Billion. A single winning ticket was sold in California. Red, black and white circles form the Powerball Logo
09/01/22 Wisconsin Lottery is approved for Responsible Gaming Level 2 Certification by the World Lottery Association (WLA). World Lottery Association
07/29/22 $1.337 Billion Mega Millions jackpot won by an anonymous partnership with a ticket purchased in Des Plaines, IL. colorful WI Lottery bullseye logo surrounded by yellow swirls and bold red and blue letters with white star in middle of o making up Mega Millions logo
01/05/22

A married couple from Oneida won a $316.3 Million Powerball® jackpot with a ticket sold by Jackson Pointe Citgo in Green Bay. The couple split the $632.6 Million jackpot with another winner who bought a ticket in California.

The jackpot was the seventh largest in Powerball history.

wife kissing husband on cheek after winning Powerball jackpot
08/23/21

Powerball® holds its first Monday drawing. With the change, Powerball® draws three days a week with drawings on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays.

dark purple starburst background surrounding red, black and white circles making up the Powerball logo announcing Monday Draws are coming soon from Wisconsin Lottery
09/15/20

Wisconsin wins its first Mega Millions jackpot since debuting the game on January 31, 2010.

The $119 Million jackpot-winning ticket was sold by Kwik Trip #134 in Mount Pleasant.

colorful WI Lottery bullseye logo surrounded by yellow swirls and bold red and blue letters with white star in middle of o making up Mega Millions logo
06/14/20

Twice Daily Draws debuts.

A second daily draw is added to three lotto games--Pick 3, Pick 4, and All or Nothing. The two draws are called MIDDAY and EVENING.

light blue circle with orange lotto tickets announcing twice daily draws are now available from Wisconsin Lottery
06/10/20 Friends Thomas C. and Joseph F. split a Powerball jackpot-winning ticket of $22 Million after making a handshake promise in 1992. The winning ticket was purchased at Synergy Coop Exit 45 in Menomonie.  smiling friends Tom and Joe wearing blue button up shirts that won $22 Million Powerball jackpot
06/05/19 Wisconsin Lottery launches its new website with an updated look and easier navigation. black mobile phone showing the homepage of wilottery.com on orange circle background
04/07/19

All or Nothing, a $2 Lotto game, launches in Wisconsin. Lotto game 5 Card Cash ends.

The Wisconsin Lottery's 10 Buck Luck combo is updated to include All or Nothing. For $10, players receive a $2 Powerball + $2 Mega Millions + $2 All or Nothing + $1 SuperCash! + $1 Badger 5 + $1 Megabucks + $.50 Daily Pick 3 (Box) + $.50 Daily Pick 4 (Box) tickets.

cleverly placed arrows pointing down for l in all and up in stem of h in nothing with blue, yellow and red lettering making All or Nothing logo
03/27/19 A $768 Million Powerball jackpot, the nation's third-largest Lottery jackpot ever at the time, is won with a ticket purchased at Speedway in New Berlin. Red, black and white circles form the Powerball Logo
03/15/19 Wisconsin Lottery launches its first $30 crossword ticket, $500,000 Crossword, with a $500,000 top prize. assorted shades of dark and light teal squares with purple crossword pattern on $500,000 Crossword scratch game
10/23/18

The largest Mega Millions jackpot, $1.537 Billion, was won on by one ticket, sold in South Carolina.

This prize, the largest for one set of numbers in world history, was the second-largest lottery payout at the time, behind Powerball's $1.586 Billion jackpot won on January 13, 2016, by multiple tickets.

colorful WI Lottery bullseye logo surrounded by yellow swirls and bold red and blue letters with white star in middle of o making up Mega Millions logo
09/14/18 Wisconsin Lottery celebrates 30 years of fun. light blue bold text on darker blue circle making up the 30 years logo for Wisconsin Lottery
10/28/17

Mega Millions increases its ticket price from $1 to $2. The starting jackpot increases to $40 million, creating bigger jackpots and better odds of winning $1 Million.

Wisconsin Lottery's 10 Buck Luck combo also launched on this day. For $10, players receive a $2 Powerball + $2 Mega Millions + $2 5 Card Cash + $1 SuperCash! + $1 Badger 5 + $1 Megabucks + $.50 Daily Pick 3 (Box) + $.50 Daily Pick 4 (Box) tickets.

colorful WI Lottery bullseye logo surrounded by yellow swirls and bold red and blue letters with white star in middle of o making up Mega Millions logo
05/14/17 Wisconsin Lottery upgrades its gaming system. The upgrade comes with new Lottery terminals. computer terminal system used at WI Lottery retailers
10/24/16 Wisconsin Lottery vending machines called Geminis, featuring lotto quick picks as well as instant scratch tickets, appear at retail locations. red vending machine with Wisconsin Lottery scratch and lotto games on bright green background
09/12/16

Lottoview screens are placed at retail locations. Lottoviews are small electronic screens that show information about new games, jackpot amounts, and public service announcements.

computer monitor showing WI Lottery graphics for the Powerball jackpot and Megabucks lotto game
01/13/16

Powerball® reaches a world record jackpot of $1.586 Billion. Winning tickets are sold in California, Florida, and Tennessee.

Red, black and white circles form the Powerball Logo
10/07/15

Powerball makes game changes. The matrix changes to 5 of 69 for the first 5 balls plus 1 of 26 for the Powerball. The match 4+1 prize increases from $10,000 to $50,000 cash and the Power Play includes a 10X multiplier when the advertised jackpot is less than or equal to the Major Jackpot Level. The Major Jackpot Level will never be less than $150 Million.

Red, black and white circles form the Powerball Logo
05/08/15 Wisconsin Lottery offers its first $20 oversized instant scratch ticket, Super 777. slot machine with multiple rows of colorful fruits and large metal handle on red background with dark red sunburst on Super 7s scratch game
08/01/14

Wisconsin Lottery adds support for Wisconsin Silver Alerts on retailer game terminals.

Information is posted on Lottery terminals for missing adults with Alzheimer's, dementia, or other permanent cognitive impairments. Silver Alerts go out through the Wisconsin Crime Alert Network.

blue icon of state of Wisconsin with grey sound wave lines making Silver Alert logo
06/13/14 Wisconsin Lottery joins Instagram (@wilottery). magenta circle with white camera line art making Instagram logo
04/06/14

5 Card Cash Lotto game debuts with two ways to win: Instantly at the time of purchase or in the daily drawing.

5 blue playing cards stacked with black icons of spade, heart, club and diamond with black and white lettering on 5 card cash logo
02/21/14 Wisconsin Lottery's first $30 ticket, Instant Million, debuts. The ticket had four instant prizes of $1 million. grey circles in assorted sizes and shades and white dollar symbol outlined in green with green and black text on Instant Million scratch game
01/22/14 Powerball® brings back the random Power Play multiplier. Red, black and white circles form the Powerball Logo
12/09/13 Wisconsin Lottery joins Facebook (@wilottery). blue circle with white f line art making Facebook logo
10/19/13 Mega Millions matrix changes with better overall odds and bigger jackpots. colorful WI Lottery bullseye logo surrounded by yellow swirls and bold red and blue letters with white star in middle of o making up Mega Millions logo
09/14/13 Wisconsin Lottery celebrates its 25th birthday. bright blue background with red scripted 25 scrolling around WI Lottery bullseye logo for our 25th birthday
07/31/13 Wisconsin Lottery joins Twitter (@wilottery). light blue circle with white bird line art making Twitter logo
01/18/12

Powerball® makes game changes. The price of a ticket increases from $1 to $2 and the starting jackpot increases to $40 million. The matrix changes for the Powerball number to 1 of 35 and the prize for matching 5 of 5 without the Powerball increases from $200,000 to $1 Million.
The Power Play feature is discontinued.

Red, black and white circles form the Powerball Logo
09/02/11 Wisconsin Lottery introduces the world's first $20 crossword ticket, Supreme Crossword. sporadically draped dark red fabric with gold scripted font and white starbursts for Supreme Crossword scratch game
04/03/11

Wisconsin's Megabucks Lotto game changes with the addition of EZ Match, a chance to win instantly.

block lettering in black and green with hidden deer standing in M in Megabucks logo from Wisconsin Lottery
01/31/10 Wisconsin Lottery joins the multi-state Lotto game Mega Millions. colorful WI Lottery bullseye logo surrounded by yellow swirls and bold red and blue letters with white star in middle of o making up Mega Millions logo
01/07/09

Powerball® makes game changes. The matrix changes to 5 of 59 for the first five balls and 1 to 39 for the Powerball number. Jackpots start at $20 million and the Power Play multiplier is selected using a RNG.

Red, black and white circles form the Powerball Logo
09/14/08 Wisconsin Lottery celebrates its 20th birthday. bright yellow background with blue number 2 and WI Lottery bullseye logo in place of the number 0 for our 20th birthday
03/04/07

Million Dollar Draw Lotto game debuts. The Lotto game played like a raffle. The drawing date was May 1, 2007, with a top prize of $1 million.

 
02/05/07 Wisconsin Lottery introduces its first combo ticket, Cash Bonus Double Play, with scratch and pull-tab.  purple bags of money on green background with yellow sunburst and purple lettering on scratch game
10/23/05

SuperCash! changes.

• Matrix changes to 1 of 39
• Doubler feature added to every drawing
• Top prize increases to $350,000

bold red letters outlined with yellow, blue and black making up the SuperCash! logo
09/26/05 Wisconsin Lottery's first $20 scratch ticket, Big Money Extravaganza, launches. shimmery silver background with bold green and red lettering and dark green stacks of cash on Wisconsin Lottery scratch game
08/31/05

Powerball® makes game changes. The matrix changes to 5 of 55 for the first five balls and jackpots start at $15 million.

Red, black and white circles form the Powerball Logo
12/08/04  The Wisconsin Lottery's first-ever vending machines begin selling scratch tickets in Appleton and Oshkosh. Lotto   tickets (e.g. Powerball, Badger 5, etc.) would not be offered until the next generation of vending machines in 2014.  
10/04/04 Wisconsin Lottery adds support for Wisconsin Amber Alerts on retailer game terminals. Information is posted on Lottery terminals for child abductions. The Amber Alerts go out through the Wisconsin Crime Alert Network. bold block lettering in yellow, orange and red on teal background spelling out Amber Alert
09/25/04  Players are able to check their own tickets using the first self-service ticket checkers at Wisconsin Lottery retailers.  
08/30/04 Wisconsin Lottery goes from using ball machines for the drawings to using a Random Number Generator (RNG). bullseye made up of blue, green, orange and yellow rings with bold red L for Wisconsin Lottery logo
02/01/04 Wisconsin Lottery offers the Player's Club email. Subscribers can learn about new games, limited-time offers, special events, winning numbers, and other Lottery news. bright green circle with white envelope line art making eMail logo
02/17/03

Wisconsin Lottery introduces the daily Lotto game Badger 5. The Wisconsin-only game has jackpots starting at $10,000.

bold block lettering with large number 5 in bright red outlined in black and white making up Badger 5 logo from Wisconsin Lottery
02/15/03 City Picks Lotto game ends. The game had sixteen winners of $50,000.  
10/09/02

Powerball makes game changes. The matrix changes to 5 of 53 for the first five balls and the 1X multiplier for Power Play is eliminated.
The annuity option changes to 30 payments made over 29 years and a new Powerball® Bonus prize is added. When the jackpot reaches a new record amount, the jackpot will be limited to increase no more than $25 million for each drawing. The money collected in excess of the estimated jackpot amount will be placed in the bonus prize pool and will accumulate until there is a jackpot winner. It is then divided equally among all Match 5 winning plays, if there are none then the bonus prize pool will roll down to the match 4+1 prize level.

Red, black and white circles form the Powerball Logo
07/19/02 The Super Money Game TV Show is first broadcast. white letters in all caps with bright red outline with icon of TV in place of letter "O" on colorful bullseye WI Lottery logo making up the Super Money Game Show icon
03/26/02 City Picks Lotto game launches.  
03/25/02 Money Roll Lotto game ends. The game had four winners of $500,000.  
03/07/01

The Power Play multiplier feature is added to Powerball®. For an extra $1 per play per drawing, players can multiply their winnings.

Red, black and white circles form the Powerball Logo
09/08/00 Money Roll Lotto game debuts.  
09/07/00 Cash 4 Life Lotto game ends. The game had four winners.  
05/03/99 Wisconsin Lottery's top-selling instant scratch ticket, $2 Crossword goes on sale. black and white crossword puzzle on light green checkerboard background with Wisconsin Lottery scratch game
05/20/98 Wisconsin receives national and international attention for selling the winning ticket in a $195 Million Powerball® drawing. Frank and Shirley C. of Streamwood, Illinois purchased the ticket from Lakeside Country Store in Pell Lake. Red, black and white circles form the Powerball Logo
03/30/98

Cash 4 Life Lotto game debuts. Players have the chance to win $1,000 a week for life.

 
03/29/98 Daily Millions Lotto game ends with no top prize winners.  
11/05/97

Powerball® makes game changes. The matrix changes to 5 of 49 for the first five balls and 1 of 42 for the Powerball number. Jackpots start at $10 million.

Red, black and white circles form the Powerball Logo
09/15/97 Wisconsin Lottery introduces the Daily Pick 4 Lotto game. bold letters in deep blueish purple and burnt orange 4 in purple circle making up pick 4 logo
09/16/96 Daily Millions Lotto game launches.  
08/03/96 Money Game 4 Lotto game ends.  
02/14/94

At $5, Instant Scratch Bingo goes on sale and is the first Wisconsin Lottery game with a price point above $1.

dark blue dots on light blue box with multiple bingo cards with red lettering on bright yellow background
09/18/93 The Lotto game Money Game 4 debuts.  
07/07/93

Fond du Lac school teacher Les R. wins the largest Powerball® jackpot to date: $111 million. The winning ticket was purchased at Sentry Foods in Fond Du Lac and begins the reputation of Fond du Lac's Miracle Mile.

Red, black and white circles form the Powerball Logo
09/21/92 Wisconsin Lottery introduces the Daily Pick 3 Lotto game. bright green bold letters and number 3 in yellow circle making up Pick 3 logo
06/18/92

Wisconsin's Very Own Megabucks debuts. This Lotto game is drawn on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

red cursive script with red outline of state of wisconsin making up Wisconsin's very own Megabucks lotto game logo
04/19/92

Powerball®, a new multi-state Lotto game, comes to Wisconsin. This replaces Megabucks Lotto *America game. Jackpots start at $2 Million and the matrix is 5 of 45 for the first five balls plus 1 of 45 for the Powerball number.

Red, black and white circles form the Powerball Logo
02/04/91

SuperCash!, a daily Lotto game, debuts.

bold red letters outlined with yellow, blue and black making up the SuperCash! logo
08/10/89

Wisconsin Lottery introduces its first Lotto game, Megabucks Lotto *America, a multi-state game.

green cursive script with outlined star making up Megabucks Lotto America logo
02/25/89 The Money Game TV show is first broadcast.  
09/14/88

The first Wisconsin Lottery games go on sale. The games are an instant game, Match 3, and a pull-tab, Wisconsin Red.

icons of state of Wisconsin and black lettering and yellow 3 on background with red and white lines on WI Lottery first scratch game

 

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