Maine State Lottery review (2026): Megabucks odds, 7.15% tax and couriers

Who it’s for

The Maine State Lottery suits players who like frequent small wins from a game such as Megabucks Plus and who are happy to use a courier app or a retailer. It is a weaker fit if you need clarity on claim deadlines or winner privacy, because we could not find either on the pages we checked.

How it works

Maine’s lottery was established by referendum in 1974, and its office is in Augusta. Games include Powerball at $2, Mega Millions at $5, Millionaire for Life at $5 and Lotto America at $1.

Megabucks Plus is the state’s main game. It costs $2, draws on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 7:59 pm and has a jackpot from $1,000,000. Pick 3 costs from 50 cents to $5 and draws twice a day.

Odds and value

Megabucks Plus publishes jackpot odds of 1 in 4,496,388 and any-prize odds of 1 in 5.9. That any-prize figure is in the same range as Colorado’s Cash 5 at 1 in 6.2 and Idaho Cash at 1 in 5.7, and far better than Powerball’s 1 in 24.87.

As with any such figure, any prize includes small amounts that may only return your stake. Maine’s jackpot odds beat Powerball’s 1 in 292,201,338 by a wide margin, and the minimum jackpot is smaller. Lotto America’s jackpot is 1 in 25,989,600 with any prize at 1 in 9.63. See the methodology.

Trust and regulation

We found no regulatory actions on the pages we checked. The play-responsibly page lists 211 as the helpline, rather than 1-800-GAMBLER.

Proceeds go to the General Fund and the Outdoor Heritage Fund. We did not find a current annual total, so we do not give one.

Claiming prizes and taxes

We could not find a claim deadline for Maine on the pages we checked, and we do not state one. Read the back of your ticket.

Withholding is 24% federal plus 7.15% Maine on prizes over $5,000. That is one of the higher state rates among the lotteries we cover. We did not find a stated anonymity rule. See the Maine state page.

Playing online

We could not verify official online sales. Courier apps do operate in Maine. Jackpocket and Lotto.com both list the state. Lotto.com applies its Maine fees when you fund your account, and charges a 25% convenience fee on draw tickets.

A courier buys an official ticket for you, so the odds are unchanged, but you pay the fee on top. A $2 Megabucks ticket through a 25% fee costs more than at the counter.

One more point on price: Maine’s Pick 3 starts at 50 cents, which makes it one of the cheapest ways to play in our set. Cheap plays are easy to repeat, so a small budget set in advance matters more than the ticket price.

Our take

Maine’s Megabucks Plus has strong any-prize odds, which suit players who like regular small wins. The missing claim deadline and anonymity information are the main weaknesses, and the high withholding rate matters on a large win. We would want to see the claim period before recommending it for big-jackpot play. Our guides show how to check.

Frequently asked questions

What are the odds on Megabucks Plus?

1 in 4,496,388 for the jackpot and 1 in 5.9 for any prize.

How much tax is withheld in Maine?

24% federal plus 7.15% Maine on prizes over $5,000.

How long do I have to claim?

We could not find a stated deadline on the pages we checked.

Can I buy tickets online?

We could not verify official online sales. Courier apps operate in the state.

What is the helpline?

211, listed on the lottery’s play-responsibly page.