The Maryland Lottery holds two lottery drawings per day – one for multi-state games like Powerball and Mega Millions, and another for its in-state games like Pick 3, Pick 4, Bonus Match 5, and Multi-Match. The drawings are held every day of the week, 365 days a year. So when exactly are these Maryland lottery drawings held? What time should you tune in if you want to watch the drawings live? This article provides a quick overview of the drawing schedule for all of the major Maryland Lottery games.
What Time is the Powerball Drawing in Maryland?
Powerball is one of the biggest multi-state lottery games in the United States. Powerball drawings are held three times a week, on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday evenings at 10:59 p.m. Eastern Time.
Since Maryland is located in the Eastern Time Zone, the Powerball drawing occurs at 10:59 p.m. ET in Maryland. Players in the state who want to watch the Powerball drawing live can tune in to the Maryland Lottery’s official YouTube channel or one of several national TV stations that air the drawing.
The Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday Powerball drawings offer millions in jackpot prizes. As of November 2022, the Powerball jackpot starts at $20 million and continues growing until there is a winner. Powerball jackpots frequently climb into the hundreds of millions of dollars.
What Time is the Mega Millions Drawing in Maryland?
Much like Powerball, Mega Millions is a hugely popular multi-state lottery game. Mega Millions drawings are held two times per week, on Tuesdays and Fridays at 11:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
For Maryland lottery players, the Mega Millions drawing also takes place at 11:00 p.m. ET since Maryland falls within the Eastern Time Zone. Maryland residents can watch the Tuesday and Friday Mega Millions drawings live on the Maryland Lottery website, YouTube channel, or cable TV stations that air the drawings.
Mega Millions often produces massive jackpots in the $100 million to $1 billion range. Players in Maryland and across the country flock to purchase Mega Millions tickets when the jackpot grows especially large.
What Time is the Maryland Pick 3 and Pick 4 Drawing?
The Maryland Lottery offers its own suite of in-state draw games, led by the Pick 3 and Pick 4 games. Pick 3 and Pick 4 drawings are held twice daily – once in the afternoon and again in the evening.
The afternoon Pick 3 and Pick 4 drawings take place at 1:59 p.m. ET. The evening drawings occur at 11:45 p.m. ET.
Maryland players can tune into the Maryland Lottery website or official YouTube channel to watch the Pick 3 and Pick 4 drawings live every day. Some local TV stations may also broadcast the drawings.
Pick 3 and Pick 4 are popular games in Maryland because of their simplicity and frequent drawings. Players can win instant cash prizes ranging from $25 to $5,000, depending on the type of play and wager amount.
What Time is the Multi-Match Drawing in Maryland?
Multi-Match is another Maryland Lottery draw game that offers state residents two chances to play and win every day. Multi-Match drawings are also held twice a day, in the early afternoon and late evening.
The afternoon Multi-Match drawing is at 2:15 p.m. ET. The evening drawing takes place at 11:15 p.m. ET.
To watch the Multi-Match drawings live, players can visit the Maryland Lottery’s website or YouTube channel. Select local TV outlets may also broadcast the drawings.
Multi-Match prizes start at $2 and can quickly grow into the thousands for tickets that match the most numbers drawn. There are also periodic Multi-Match jackpots in the hundreds of thousands of dollars range.
What Time is the Bonus Match 5 Drawing in Maryland?
Bonus Match 5 is Maryland’s own in-state jackpot game. One Bonus Match 5 drawing is held each evening at 11:35 p.m. Eastern Time.
For Maryland residents, simply tune in to the 11:35 p.m. ET drawing to watch Bonus Match 5 results come in live. Check the Maryland Lottery’s website or YouTube channel for the broadcast.
Bonus Match 5 regularly produces jackpots from $50,000 up to around $500,000. There are also smaller prizes ranging from $2 to $2,000 for matching some of the numbers. When no player wins the jackpot, the top prize rolls over to increase the payout for the next drawing.
Watching the Maryland Lottery Drawings Live
Catching the drawings live is part of the fun and excitement of playing the lottery for many game enthusiasts. Here are some tips for watching the Maryland lottery drawings as they happen:
- Visit mdlottery.com and click the “Watch Drawings” link at the top of the homepage. This provides a live broadcast of each lottery drawing as it occurs.
- Subscribe to the Maryland Lottery’s official YouTube channel. The lottery posts drawing videos for replay shortly after they take place.
- Follow the Maryland Lottery on Facebook or Twitter for drawing alerts and reminders.
- Check your local TV listings. Some regional Maryland stations air live lottery drawings, especially for multi-state games.
- Consider signing up for lottery drawing notifications through the Maryland Lottery app or website.
With two drawings available almost every day, Maryland lottery players have plenty of chances to try their luck. Tune in and see if you can match the numbers!
Past Winning Numbers Lookup
Can’t watch the Maryland lottery drawings as they happen? Don’t worry – you can still look up the latest winning numbers after the fact.
The Maryland Lottery website has a section dedicated to past winning numbers lookup. Simply go to mdlottery.com and select the “Winning Numbers” link near the top of the page.
On the Winning Numbers page, you’ll see a full list and results history for all Maryland Lottery draw games. These include:
- Powerball
- Mega Millions
- Pick 3
- Pick 4
- Multi-Match
- Bonus Match 5
- Cash4Life
Click on any lottery game name to pull up a calendar of past results. You can browse winning numbers by date or enter a specific draw date in the search bar.
Results for the latest draws are typically posted to the website within an hour or two of the drawings. Players can check to see if their tickets were winners.
The Winning Numbers page even lets you download the lottery data for analysis and see if there are any hot or cold numbers.
How to Claim Maryland Lottery Prizes
Matching the winning numbers in a Maryland Lottery drawing is just the first step. You’ll also need to claim your prize. Here’s what to do next:
Prizes Up to $600
For winning tickets up to and including $600, you can cash in your prize at any authorized Maryland Lottery retailer. Prizes up to $50 can even be claimed right at the lottery ticket machine.
Just head to a convenience store, grocery store, gas station or other licensed retailer. They can validate your winning ticket and pay out your winnings in cash.
Prizes Over $600
Larger prizes over $600 must be claimed in person at Maryland Lottery claim centers in Baltimore or Annapolis. The specific address to file your claim will be printed on the back of your winning ticket.
You’ll need to complete a lottery claim form and show a valid ID. For jackpots over $5,000, your Social Security number is also required. The Maryland Lottery will verify your win is legitimate and process payment.
For the biggest jackpots, you may need to work with a financial advisor to handle taxes and investment of your prize money.
Prize Expiration
Don’t forget, Maryland Lottery prizes expire one year after the draw date. Check your old tickets and claim your winnings before time runs out.
Powerball, Mega Millions, and other multi-state games may have different expiration periods in other participating states. But in Maryland, you have 12 months from the draw to claim.
Unclaimed Lottery Prizes in Maryland
With hundreds of thousands of lottery tickets sold every week in Maryland, it’s inevitable that some will go unclaimed. According to Maryland Lottery records, several million dollars in prize money goes unclaimed in a typical year.
Where does the money go when people don’t cash in their winning tickets in time?
Per Maryland law, unclaimed lottery prizes are forfeited after one year. The state comptroller then transfers the funds to the Maryland General Fund.
The table below shows the total value of unclaimed prizes by fiscal year and how much went to support state programs and services:
| Fiscal Year | Unclaimed Prizes |
|---|---|
| 2020 | $7.2 million |
| 2019 | $5.6 million |
| 2018 | $6.1 million |
| 2017 | $5.8 million |
| 2016 | $6.7 million |
Based on the data, Maryland receives around $6 million in unclaimed lottery prizes on average each year.
The state’s general fund supports education, healthcare, transportation, public safety, and environmental programs. So while unfortunate for the winners, a portion of forfeited prize money goes to benefit worthy causes.
Buying Lottery Tickets in Maryland
Playing the lottery begins with buying your tickets. Here are some tips for Maryland residents looking to get in the action:
- Find a licensed Maryland Lottery retailer near you. There are over 4,400 locations across the state.
- Look for the Maryland Lottery logo sign outside of convenience stores, gas stations, liquor stores, supermarkets, and other retailers.
- You must be 18 years or older to buy lottery tickets in Maryland.
- Decide which games you want to play and ask for your tickets at the checkout counter or lottery machine.
- Buy tickets early to avoid lines on major drawing days. Announcements of big jackpots increase sales.
- You can pay with cash, debit cards, credit cards, Apple Pay/Google Pay, or other mobile payment apps.
- Remember to hang onto your tickets – they are bearer instruments and belong to whoever holds them.
- Sign your tickets once purchased for additional security.
Buying Maryland Lottery tickets is quick and easy at authorized retailers across the state. With Powerball, Mega Millions, and Maryland-only games to choose from, the fun and chances to win are endless.
Responsible Gambling Tips
The Maryland Lottery aims to provide responsible gambling resources to help players enjoy games safely. Remember these tips:
- Think of the lottery as entertainment and spend only what you can afford to lose.
- Set a budget and stick to it. Don’t chase losses.
- Balance lottery play with other hobbies and leisure activities.
- Don’t play on credit. Use cash you have on hand.
- Avoid playing when depressed, stressed or coping with difficult times.
- Lottery games are based on random chance. No strategy can guarantee wins.
- Don’t drink alcohol when playing. It can impair judgement.
- Understand the odds of winning are extremely low for jackpots.
- Have other savings goals besides gambling on the lottery.
- Keep lottery activities a social experience and avoid isolation.
If you ever feel you have an unhealthy dependency on lottery games, call the Maryland Center of Excellence for Problem Gambling for support and resources.
The Bottom Line on Maryland Lottery Drawings
The Maryland Lottery gives players plenty of chances to win through its daily game drawings. Players can tune in to monitor results and see if lady luck strikes.
Powerball and Mega Millions offer massive jackpots in the tens or hundreds of millions. Maryland-only games like Pick 3, Pick 4, Multi-Match, and Bonus Match 5 provide state residents exciting options to play close to home.
Just remember the key drawing times – 10:59 p.m. ET for Powerball, 11:00 p.m. ET for Mega Millions, early afternoon and late evening for Pick 3, Pick 4, Multi-Match, and Bonus Match 5.
Check the Maryland Lottery website, YouTube channel, social media, or select TV outlets to watch the drawings live as they happen. And be sure to claim any winning tickets during the one-year redemption period.
With chances at huge prizes twice per day, the Maryland Lottery is an exciting diversion. Play responsibly and may some of those frequent drawings produce big winners!
