Drawing Procedures

The Massachusetts State Lottery offers Six games that require manual drawings:
The Daily Numbers Game, Megabucks, Cash Winfall, Mass Cash, Mega Millions, and Powerball. With the exception of Mega Millions and Powerball, all drawings are conducted in a secure studio at WCVB Channel 5 in Boston.


The Mega Millions drawing is done in Atlanta, Georgia, one of the eleven states that are members of the Mega Miillions consortium.

The Powerball drawing is held at Universal Studios in Orlando Florida at 10:59 p.m. Eastern Time (9:59 Central; 8:59 p.m. Mountain; 7:59 p.m. Pacific.)

Daily Numbers Drawing Procedure

The Numbers Game is drawn twice a day, seven days a week. The Mid-Day Drawing occurrs Sunday through Saturday at approximately 12:57 p.m. The Evening drawing occurs Monday through Saturday at approximately 7:57 p.m., Sundays at 6:57 p.m. Bets can be placed for the Evening drawing up until the pools close at 7:45 p.m., Monday through Saturday, 6:45 p.m. on Sunday. Bets can be placed for the Mid-Day drawing up until the pools close at 12:45 p.m., Sunday through Saturday.

There are 15 Daily Numbers Drawing Wheels used for the Mid-Day and Evening drawings. Every night, a Lottery computer randomly selects four wheels to be used for the Mid-Day drawing and four wheels to be used for the Evening drawing. A fifth, alternate wheel is also selected for each drawing. In the event one of the four wheels selected is broken or malfunctioning, the fifth wheel will be used. Solely Lottery employees operate all drawing equipment. A witness to each drawing (a non-Lottery employee) signs the drawing certificate to validate the winning number.

The wheels are attached to the number selection device. The wheels are turned by blasts of air pressure fed into the wheels by air compressors. Prior to the official drawing, a minimum of four test drawings are performed to insure the wheels are in proper working order. All tests are completed before the pools close.

During the Lottery Live drawing, the winning numbers will be announced after the wheels roll to a stop. Human hands never touch the wheels during the live drawing.

Mass Cash, Cash Winfall, and Megabucks Drawing Procedure

Cash Winfall is drawn every Monday and Thursday. Beginning January 18, 2009 Mass Cash will be drawn every Sunday, Tuesday and Friday. Megabucks is drawn every Wednesday and Saturday. A Lotto machine is used to draw the numbers in all three games. There is a spare Lotto machine at Lottery headquarters to be used in the event the Drawing Supervisor or Technician deems the first machine inoperable.

There are three sets of Lotto balls regularly used for Cash Winfall, Mass Cash, and Megabucks. One set of balls is selected by the Lottery computer room each night. In addition to the ball set selection, the computer will also select a random loading position. The balls are weighed, verified, and cross-referenced each night. The balls are positioned sequentially with the #1 ball loaded in either the upper right, lower right, lower left, or upper left position.

Three test drawings are done prior to the live drawing. All tests must be completed before the drawing. The results of the Lotto drawings can be viewed on Channel 5 WCVB at approximately 11:20 each night.

Mega Millions Drawing Procedure

Mega Millions drawing is done in Atlanta, Georgia, one of the eleven states that are members of the Mega Millions consortium.

Click here for more Mega Millions information.

Powerball Drawing Procedure

The Powerball drawing is held at Universal Studios in Orlando Florida at 10:59 p.m. Eastern Time (9:59 Central; 8:59 p.m. Mountain; 7:59 p.m. Pacific.) The numbers are drawn in the presence of multi-state lottery draw officials, an independent auditor and a security official. The draw equipment is kept in a double-locked alarmed vault. The balls sets are also sealed by the auditors and all events are audio and video recorded when the vault is opened. The equipment is tested regularly (measurements, X-ray and statistical tests for non-random behavior). The live drawings are also open to the public. The whole process takes about two hours..

Click here for more Powerball Information.

KENO Drawing Procedure

KENO drawings take place seven days a week. Sunday 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. and Monday-Saturday 5:04 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. The drawings take place approximately 4 minutes apart.

The Lottery will select twenty (20) numbers out of a field of eighty (80) numbers ranging from number one (1) to number eighty (80).

A computer driven random number generator will select the winning numbers for each drawing. The random number generator will only select winning numbers after receiving confirmation from the Lottery's computer system that betting for that drawing has been closed.

More specifically:
There are two computer systems involved in a Keno drawing. The primary computer takes all bets. Attached to this main computer is a random number generator that is constantly shuffling 80 numbers around. Once the betting is closed, the primary computer asks the random number generator for 20 numbers. At that moment, the primary computer knows the 20 winning numbers and graphically displays them on the Keno monitors at agent locations.

The random number generator is independent of the primary computer and has no way of determining which bets the primary computer accepts. The sole purpose of this generator is to continuously shuffle numbers and provide the primary computer with a set of winning numbers when asked.

Daily Race Game Drawing Procedure

The Daily Race Game will run once every 4 minutes. Sunday 12:02 p.m. to 12:58 a.m. and Monday through Saturday 5:02 a.m. to 12:58 a.m.

The Lottery will select three (3) numbers out of a field of twelve (12) numbers ranging from number one (1) to number twelve (12).

A computer driven random number generator will select the winning numbers for each drawing. The random number generator will only select winning numbers after receiving confirmation from the Lottery's computer system that betting for that drawing has been closed.

Make sure you get your wager in on time. Check the wining numbers against your ticket.

NOTE: Your ticket is a bearer instrument. Unless signed by owner, prize may be claimed by anyone in possession of winning ticket. SIGN YOUR TICKET IMMEDIATELY. Bettors agree to abide by Lottery Commission rules and regulations. Applicable rules are available for inspection by bettors by contacing the Lottery Commission at 60 Columbian Street, Braintree, MA 02184.

Present winning ticket to any Lottery sales agent for payment up to $600. Claims for more than $600 will be paid by the Lottery Commission after claim form is filed.