CT Lottery review (2026): iLottery, 6.99% withholding, claims and odds

Who it’s for

The CT Lottery suits Connecticut players who want to buy online and who like state games with published odds, such as Lotto! and Cash5. It is less appealing to players who want a long claim window, because it allows only 180 days. We did not find a minimum age on the pages we checked.

How it works

The Connecticut Lottery Corporation is headquartered at 15 Sterling Drive, Wallingford, and has operated since 1971/72. It reports having returned more than $12 billion since inception.

Games include Powerball, Mega Millions and Millionaire for Life, plus Lotto!, Cash5, Play3, Play4 and Keno. Lotto! costs $1, draws Tuesday and Friday, and starts at $1,000,000. Cash5 costs $1, draws daily and has a top prize of $100,000.

Odds and value

For the state games, the numbers are clear. Lotto! has jackpot odds of 1 in 7,059,052 and a 1 in 39.3 chance of any prize. Cash5 has jackpot odds of 1 in 324,632 and a 1 in 72.1 chance of any prize.

The comparison between the two is worth noting. Cash5 has better top-prize odds, but its chance of any prize is lower than Lotto!’s. If small wins matter to you, Lotto! is the better of the two, and a state such as Colorado, where Cash 5 has a 1 in 6.2 chance of any prize, offers more frequent small wins. The national games are unchanged: Powerball is 1 in 292,201,338 for the jackpot. See the methodology.

Trust and regulation

We found no regulatory actions against the CT Lottery on the pages we checked. The helpline is 1-800-GAMBLER. The claims department can be reached at (860) 713-2680.

The lottery returned $361.6 million to the General Fund in FY2025, a transfer the lottery reports as going to the General Fund.

Claiming prizes and taxes

Draw prizes must be claimed within 180 days, and scratch-offs within 180 days of the game ending. Connecticut withholds 6.99% on prizes over $5,000, plus 24% federal tax. The CT figure is higher than Virginia’s 4% or Louisiana’s 3%.

We did not find a stated anonymity rule, because the lottery’s FAQ is silent on it. See the Connecticut state page.

Playing online

The CT iLottery sells Keno and draw games on iOS, Android and the web. Mega Millions’ FAQ also lists Connecticut among the states where online purchase is possible. Our state data lists no courier apps for Connecticut.

An app that sells Keno and draw games makes spending easy, so use the account limits if you play. See our guides.

Our take

One caution for online players: the CT iLottery sells draw games and Keno on the same app. Keno is not one of the games for which we hold published odds in our fact sheet, so we cannot say how it compares with Lotto! on value. Check the odds shown in the app before you play.

Connecticut offers online play and honest published odds, but a short claim window and a relatively high withholding rate. It is a sound choice for a resident who wants to play online. It is not the most generous on claims, where Pennsylvania, New York and Michigan all give a year.

Frequently asked questions

Can I play the CT Lottery online?

Yes. The iLottery sells Keno and draw games on iOS, Android and the web.

How long do I have to claim?

180 days for draw prizes, and 180 days from the end of a scratch-off game.

How much state tax is withheld?

Connecticut withholds 6.99% on prizes over $5,000, plus 24% federal.

What are the odds on Lotto!?

1 in 7,059,052 for the jackpot and 1 in 39.3 for any prize.

Where does the money go?

To the General Fund. FY2025 was $361.6 million.