SuperLotto Plus

How the Game Works

SuperLotto Plus requires you to pick five numbers between 1 and 47, plus one additional number between 1 and 27 called the Mega Number. The California Lottery draws five balls from the 1-47 range and one from the 1-27 range twice each week.

To win the jackpot, your ticket must match all five main numbers and the Mega Number. Matching fewer numbers wins a prize in lower tiers. The structure is straightforward: more matches mean bigger payouts. Tickets cost two dollars per play.

The Mega Number acts as a supplementary ball that multiplies prize opportunities. Even if your five main numbers do not match, a Mega Number match alone does not win cash. You need at least three matching main numbers to hit any prize.

Prize Tiers and Odds

SuperLotto Plus has nine prize divisions. The jackpot (tier 1) requires all five numbers plus the Mega Number. Each lower tier has progressively better odds but lower payouts.

The overall odds of winning any prize in SuperLotto Plus are approximately 1 in 41. This is the combined probability across all nine tiers. The odds of matching the Mega Number alone are roughly 1 in 27, but this does not result in a prize; you must also match at least three main numbers.

Prize payouts are pari-mutuel for tiers above the fixed minimum. This means the pool for each tier is divided among all winners at that level. Fixed prizes apply to the lowest tiers. The exact payout structure changes based on ticket sales and the number of winners per draw.

Draw Schedule and Results

Draws occur every Wednesday and Saturday at 7:57 PM Pacific Time. The California Lottery conducts all draws at its official facilities and broadcasts results publicly. Tickets must be purchased before 7:45 PM on draw days to be included in that evening's draw.

Results are posted on the California Lottery website and through authorised retailers within minutes of each draw. Winning tickets must be claimed within one year of the draw date in California. The state retains unclaimed prizes.

Odds, Expected Value, and Strategy Maths

The jackpot odds are 1 in 41,733,903. This comes from the combination formula: choosing 5 from 47 (1,533,939 ways) multiplied by 1 in 27, which gives the total number of possible outcomes.

Expected value (EV) for SuperLotto Plus is negative, like all state lotteries. On a two-dollar ticket, players return roughly 60 cents on average across all prize tiers. The other 1.40 dollars goes to state education funding, retailer commissions, and administration. No bet strategy changes this fundamental disadvantage.

Syndicate play does not improve odds but spreads cost and winnings. A ten-person pool buying one ticket per draw costs each member 20 dollars weekly instead of 100 dollars if they played alone. Winnings (if any) are divided ten ways. Syndicates shift scale and frequency, not mathematical probability.

History and Regulation

California Lottery introduced SuperLotto Plus in 1999, replacing an earlier game. The California Lottery Commission regulates all draws and enforces rules. The organisation is a state agency that reports to the State Controller and operates under California Government Code Section 8880.

All equipment used in draws is certified and tested. The lottery maintains draw machines and balls according to strict standards. Unauthorised persons cannot access draw equipment or results before public release. The state audits accounts annually and publishes financial reports.

Tax Treatment in California

Lottery winnings are subject to federal income tax and California state income tax. Federal withholding on prizes over 5,000 dollars is 24 percent, but total tax liability depends on your income bracket and can be higher. California state tax is 8.84 percent for most filers, up to 13.3 percent for high earners.

Winners must report lottery income on their tax return. The California Lottery issues a 1099 form for all prizes over 600 dollars. Jackpot winners often consult tax professionals because large payouts trigger significant liability. No lottery winnings are exempt from state or federal tax in California.