News writer
A new raffle is debuting in Washington State later this month, culminating on St. Patrick’s Day. Featuring higher odds, a $1 million grand prize, and several lower-tier prizes, the raffle is big news for Washingtonians - if they get tickets in time.
Buying a ticket
The St. Patrick's Day Raffle is selling 250,000 tickets total, beginning January 20, 2026. Tickets will be sold at authorized local retailers at $15 a ticket until they sell out. When they're gone, they're gone. Either way, ticket sales cease on March 16, 2026.
There's no limit to the number of tickets you can buy, but vending machines selling the raffle tickets may have an upper limit on individual sales.
Each ticket is given a pre-assigned number. This number will be critical during the drawing.
Prizes and odds
The list of prizes is as follows:
- 1 $1 million grand prize winner
- 1 $250,000 prize winner
- 2 $100,000 prize winners
- 3 $50,000 winners
- 5 $25,000 winners
- 5 $10,000 winners
- 100 $500 winners
The odds of winning are simple to calculate. Since one winner will get $1 million, and there are 250,000 tickets sold total, the odds of winning $1 million are 1 in 250,000. The odds of winning $100,000 are 2 in 250,000, and so on. These odds are far greater than most lottery games, including Powerball or Mega Millions. Brian Bennet, director of Washington's Lottery, stated:
With the new St. Patrick's Day raffle from Washington's Lottery, players know exactly how many tickets are in play across the state. That clarity, combined with multiple chances to win, makes this an exciting game to be a part of, and we're looking forward to seeing players enjoy this different way to play.
Bonus coupon offer
During the raffle duration, 2,000 lucky ticket holders will receive a $50 cash prize right on the spot. Lucky coupon winners can redeem this at authorized retailers.
The drawing
The drawing will take place on St. Patrick's Day, or March 17, 2026. A player's raffle ticket number must match one of the drawn numbers. The winning numbers will be made available the next day.
Claiming a raffle prize
In Washington, players must claim their prize within 180 days of their win. Players can mail in their tickets for prizes $600 or less. For prizes $601 or more, they must make an in-person appointment at the Washington Lottery offices.
Beneficiaries
The Washington State Lottery benefits state financial aid, early education programs, and STEM initiatives for low-income students and students of color.
The state lottery has generated $5.3 billion for these various state programs, including the pre-K initiative Early Childhood Education & Assistance Program, the WA Grant and College Bound Program, and the GET Ready for Math and Science Scholarships.
Significance of St. Patrick's Day
St. Patrick's Day is a holiday that originated in Ireland, recognizing the death of the country's patron saint, St. Patrick. However, the holiday is celebrated across the US mostly with partying, parades, and revelry. Often, the lottery has a tie-in with St. Patrick's Day, since the holiday often comes with symbols of luck, like four-leaf clovers.
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