State lottery review
Maryland Lottery review (2026): anonymity allowed, 182-day claims, retail only
Maryland state lottery selling Powerball, Mega Millions and state draw games, with winners allowed to stay anonymous.
Our verdict
Maryland Lottery sells Powerball and Mega Millions, lets winners stay anonymous, and gives 182 days to claim draw prizes.
Best for: Maryland players who buy at retail and want to keep their name off a win.
- Odds & value 25%5
- Transparency 20%6
- Player protection 20%6
- Ease of play 15%6
- Payouts & claims 10%7
- Reputation 10%7
What we like
- Winners may stay anonymous (mdlottery.com)
- Draw prizes must be claimed within 182 days (mdlottery.com)
- Powerball and Mega Millions use the standard national odds
What to watch
- No official Mega Millions online sales are listed for Maryland
- State tax on prizes and state game odds could not be verified
At a glance
- Operator
- Maryland Lottery
- Type
- State government agency
- Available in
- MD
- Mobile app
- —
- Courier apps allowed
- No
Score breakdown
Rubric & weights- Odds & value 25% weight5/10
Sells the national games at standard odds (Powerball jackpot 1 in 292,201,338); no Maryland game with better published odds was verified.
- Transparency 20% weight6/10
The state site could not be read, so game odds, tax rules and payout figures could not be checked against the operator's own pages.
- Player protection 20% weight6/10
No verified responsible-play tools (limits, self-exclusion or certification) were found on a readable Maryland Lottery page.
- Ease of play 15% weight6/10
Not on the Mega Millions list of official online-sales states, so tickets are retail-only and no courier service is listed.
- Payouts & claims 10% weight7/10
Anonymity is allowed and the claim window is 182 days, a little over six months and shorter than a full year.
- Reputation 10% weight7/10
No sourced regulatory or legal event in the last five years was found in this review; default score applied.
Games, prices and published odds
| Game | Price | Draws | Top prize | Odds of top prize | Odds of any prize | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Powerball | $2 | Mon, Wed, Sat | — | 1 in 292,201,338 | 1 in 24.87 | |
| Mega Millions | $5 | Tue, Fri | — | 1 in 290,472,336 | 1 in 23 | |
| Maryland Multi-Match | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Bonus Match 5 | — | — | — | — | — |
Top prizes and odds
| Game | Match | Prize | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Powerball | 5 + Powerball | Jackpot (rolls) | 1 in 292,201,338 |
| 5 | $1 Million | 1 in 11,688,053.52 | |
| 4 + Powerball | $50,000 | 1 in 913,129.18 | |
| Mega Millions | 5 + Mega Ball | Jackpot (rolls) | 1 in 290,472,336 |
| 5 | $2,000,000 at 2X Megaplier (base prize not shown on the page) | 1 in 12,629,232 | |
| 4 + Mega Ball | $20,000 at 2X Megaplier (base prize not shown on the page) | 1 in 893,761 |
Top three prize tiers as printed on the operator's prize chart.
Odds are the operator's published figures per single play. Prize amounts are before tax.
Who it’s for
The Maryland Lottery suits players who buy at a retailer and want to keep their name off a win. It is a poor fit if you want to buy online, because Maryland is not on the Mega Millions list of official online-sales states and no courier service is listed.
How it works
The Maryland Lottery is the state-run operator. Its website blocked automated access during our review, so game prices, odds and tax rules are not verified from its own pages. Powerball costs $2 (draws Mon, Wed and Sat) and Mega Millions costs $5 (draws Tue and Fri). The state file also lists Maryland Multi-Match and Bonus Match 5, with no prices or odds.
How it scored
Payouts and claims is the strongest at 7, because anonymity is allowed and the claim window is 182 days, a little over six months. Odds and value is the weakest at 5: Powerball’s jackpot is 1 in 292,201,338 and Mega Millions’ is 1 in 290,472,336, and no Maryland game with better published odds was verified.
Transparency, player protection and ease of play scored 6. Reputation also scored 7, with no sourced regulatory or legal event found. We found no verified responsible-play tools.
Claims and tax
Draw prizes must be claimed within 182 days, per the Maryland Lottery. Winners may stay anonymous. The state tax rate was not verified, so we give none. See the claiming guide and lottery taxes explained.
Our take
The privacy rule and a clear claim window make Maryland a solid retail choice, and the 182-day limit is shorter than a full year, so claim promptly. Tax, state game odds and funding remain unverified. See the Maryland state page and our methodology.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Maryland Lottery legit?
- Maryland Lottery is operated by Maryland Lottery. Maryland Lottery is the state-run operator. Its website blocked automated access during this review, so game prices, odds and tax rules are not verified here. We rate it 6.0/10 (Fair) on odds, transparency, player protection, ease of play, payouts and reputation, verified November 2, 2026.
- How much does Maryland Lottery cost?
- From $2 to $5.
- What are the odds of winning at Maryland Lottery?
- Powerball: top prize listed on the official page at 1 in 292,201,338; any prize 1 in 24.87. These are the operator's published figures per single play.
- How long do you have to claim a Maryland Lottery prize?
- 182 days. Prize claims must be made within 182 days, per the Maryland Lottery. State tax rate not verified for this review.
- What are the downsides of Maryland Lottery?
- No official Mega Millions online sales are listed for Maryland. State tax on prizes and state game odds could not be verified.
Sources
Facts last verified November 2, 2026
Every figure on this page comes from one of the documents below. If a source has changed since our check, tell us.
- Maryland Lottery · accessed November 2, 2026
- Powerball prize chart · accessed November 2, 2026
- Mega Millions How to Play · accessed November 2, 2026
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