Lottery Odds Calculator
Understand the mathematical probabilities behind US lottery games.
Powerball Odds
Jackpot Odds
1 in 292,201,338
Main numbers: Choose 5 from 69 = 11,238,513 combinations
Powerball: Choose 1 from 26 = 26 options
Total combinations: 11,238,513 x 26 = 292,201,338
To put this in perspective:
- You're about 146x more likely to be struck by lightning
- If you bought 1 ticket per draw, on average it would take 1,873,086 years
Mega Millions Odds
Jackpot Odds
1 in 290,472,336
Main numbers: Choose 5 from 70 = 12,103,014 combinations
Mega Ball: Choose 1 from 24 = 24 options
Total combinations: 12,103,014 x 24 = 290,472,336
To put this in perspective:
- You're about 145x more likely to be struck by lightning
- If you bought 1 ticket per draw, on average it would take 1,862,002 years
Cash4Life Odds
Jackpot Odds
1 in 21,846,048
Main numbers: Choose 5 from 60 = 5,461,512 combinations
Cash Ball: Choose 1 from 4 = 4 options
Total combinations: 5,461,512 x 4 = 21,846,048
To put this in perspective:
- You're about 11x more likely to be struck by lightning
- If you bought 1 ticket per draw, on average it would take 140,039 years
Millionaire for Life Odds
Jackpot Odds
1 in 22,910,580
Main numbers: Choose 5 from 58 = 4,582,116 combinations
Millionaire Ball: Choose 1 from 5 = 5 options
Total combinations: 4,582,116 x 5 = 22,910,580
To put this in perspective:
- You're about 11x more likely to be struck by lightning
- If you bought 1 ticket per draw, on average it would take 146,863 years
NY Lotto Odds
Jackpot Odds
1 in 45,057,474
Main numbers: Choose 6 from 59 = 45,057,474 combinations
Bonus: Choose 1 from 59 = 59 options
Total combinations: 45,057,474 x 59 = 2,658,390,966
To put this in perspective:
- You're about 1329x more likely to be struck by lightning
- If you bought 1 ticket per draw, on average it would take 17,040,968 years
Take 5 Odds
Jackpot Odds
1 in 575,757
Main numbers: Choose 5 from 39 = 575,757 combinations
Total combinations: 575,757
To put this in perspective:
- You're about 0x more likely to be struck by lightning
- If you bought 1 ticket per draw, on average it would take 3,691 years
Frequently Asked Questions
How are lottery odds calculated?
Lottery odds are calculated using combinatorics. For example, Powerball odds are the number of ways to choose 5 from 69 (C(69,5) = 11,238,513) multiplied by the bonus ball pool (26), giving 1 in 292,201,338. The formula is C(n,r) = n! / (r! × (n-r)!).
Which US lottery has the best odds of winning the jackpot?
Among the games we cover, Take 5 has the best jackpot odds at 1 in 575,757. Cash4Life has odds of 1 in 21,846,048. NY Lotto is about 1 in 45 million. Powerball (1 in 292 million) and Mega Millions (1 in 290 million) have the longest odds but the largest jackpots.
Does buying more tickets improve my odds?
Yes, linearly. Two tickets doubles your odds, ten tickets gives 10x the odds. However, even 100 Powerball tickets only gives you a 1 in 2.9 million chance — still extremely unlikely. The expected value of a lottery ticket is almost always negative.
What are the odds of winning any prize?
Overall odds of winning any prize are much better than jackpot odds. Powerball has about 1 in 24.87 overall odds, meaning roughly 1 in 25 tickets wins something (though most prizes are small, like $4). Mega Millions overall odds are approximately 1 in 24.
For entertainment purposes only. Lottery outcomes are random and past results do not influence future drawings. This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by any state lottery commission. In the event of a discrepancy, official winning numbers shall control. Results sourced from NY Open Data (data.ny.gov). Always verify with your official state lottery.