State lottery review
South Carolina Education Lottery review (2026): Powerball and Mega Millions
South Carolina's state lottery operator, selling Powerball and Mega Millions; state-specific rules still to be verified.
Our verdict
South Carolina players can buy Powerball and Mega Millions; state-specific claim, tax and online rules are not yet verified.
Best for: South Carolina players who want Powerball or Mega Millions tickets.
- Odds & value 25%5
- Transparency 20%5
- Player protection 20%5
- Ease of play 15%6
- Payouts & claims 10%5
- Reputation 10%7
What we like
- Powerball and Mega Millions are sold in South Carolina
- Mega Millions lists South Carolina as a participating state
What to watch
- State-specific claim, tax and online rules are not yet verified
- No state game list verified on this run
At a glance
- Operator
- South Carolina Education Lottery
- Type
- State government agency
- Available in
- SC
- Official online sales
- —
- Mobile app
- —
- Courier apps allowed
- —
- Federal withholding
- 24%
Score breakdown
Rubric & weights- Odds & value 25% weight5/10
Sells the national games at standard odds (Powerball jackpot 1 in 292,201,338); no state game odds were verified on this run.
- Transparency 20% weight5/10
The Lottery's own website could not be reached on this run, so no state publications were verified; score reflects national-game disclosures only.
- Player protection 20% weight5/10
No state responsible-play tools were verified on this run; the national games' own responsible-play information is the only verified source.
- Ease of play 15% weight6/10
Official online draw-ticket sales were not verified for South Carolina, so it is scored as retail-only until checked.
- Payouts & claims 10% weight5/10
Claim window, anonymity and state tax were not verified on this run, so the score sits at the floor of the range.
- Reputation 10% weight7/10
No sourced regulatory or legal event was found; the default reputation score applies.
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 |
Top prizes and odds
| Game | Match | Prize | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Powerball | 5 + Powerball | Jackpot (rolls) | 1 in 292,201,338 |
| 5 | $1,000,000 | 1 in 11,688,053.52 | |
| 4 + Powerball | $50,000 | 1 in 913,129.18 | |
| Mega Millions | 5 white balls + Megaball | Jackpot | 1 in 290,472,336 |
| 5 white balls | $2,000,000 to $10,000,000 by multiplier | 1 in 12,629,232 | |
| 4 white balls + Megaball | $20,000 to $100,000 by multiplier | 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 South Carolina Education Lottery suits players who want Powerball or Mega Millions tickets. It is a weak fit for anyone who needs verified state rules, because we could not reach the lottery’s own website on this run.
How it works
The South Carolina Education Lottery is the state’s lottery operator. We could not verify the state’s own rules, and we found no regulator, minimum age or founding year. It sells Powerball at $2 (draws Mon, Wed and Sat) and Mega Millions at $5 (draws Tue and Fri). Mega Millions lists South Carolina as a participating state. We could not verify any state-specific games.
How it scored
Odds and value, transparency, player protection and payouts and claims all scored 5, the lowest band in our scale, because no state publications could be verified. On odds, the national games run at standard odds, with Powerball’s jackpot at 1 in 292,201,338 and Mega Millions’ at 1 in 290,472,336. On claims, the window, anonymity and state tax were not verified.
Ease of play scored 6: official online draw-ticket sales were not verified, so it is scored as retail-only until checked. Reputation scored 7, a default because we found no sourced regulatory or legal event. See our methodology.
Claims, tax and funding
We did not find a claim window, state tax rate, anonymity rule or beneficiary, so we state none. The only figure we have is the federal withholding rate of 24%. The claiming guide and lottery taxes explained cover the general rules.
Safety
We verified no state responsible-play tools or helpline, so we describe none.
Our take
South Carolina gives you the two big national games at the standard odds. We will raise the scores when we can verify the claim, tax and online rules. See the South Carolina state page.
Frequently asked questions
- Is South Carolina Education Lottery legit?
- South Carolina Education Lottery is operated by South Carolina Education Lottery. The South Carolina Education Lottery is the state's lottery operator. It sells the national games listed here, and the state's own rules were not verifiable on this run. We rate it 5.4/10 (Below average) on odds, transparency, player protection, ease of play, payouts and reputation, verified November 2, 2026.
- How much does South Carolina Education Lottery cost?
- From $2 to $5.
- What are the odds of winning at South Carolina Education 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.
- What are the downsides of South Carolina Education Lottery?
- State-specific claim, tax and online rules are not yet verified. No state game list verified on this run.
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.
- Powerball prize chart · accessed November 2, 2026
- Mega Millions: How to Play · accessed November 2, 2026
- Mega Millions: Where to Play · accessed November 2, 2026
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