The District of Columbia's $50 top prize draw game, DC-2, has retired

The District of Columbia Lottery announced the retirement of its long-running DC-2 daily numbers game, effective yesterday, Sunday, February 22, 2026.

Simple game with decent odds

For almost two decades, DC-2 served as a simple pick-two draw game.

Players chose only two digits from 0 to 9 for a chance to win cash prizes. Tickets cost $0.50 or $1 per play, and the game has historically offered a top prize of $50 on a $1 straight wager. Drawings have been held twice daily at approximately 1:50 p.m. and 7:50 p.m., seven days a week.

Odds were decent, with a 1 in 100 chance of winning $50 on a $1 wager or $25 for a $.50 wager. The odds and prizes decreased from there.

The grand prize was lackluster

The lottery didn't explicitly announce the reason why they were sunsetting DC-2. However, the lottery is keeping DC-3, DC-4, and DC-5, which all feature the same functionality with higher grand prizes ($500, $5,000, and $50,000). These games cost the same in terms of wagers, although their odds of winning are lower.

In a world with Millionaire for Life, billion-dollar Powerball jackpots, and massive instant cash prizes, a $50 top prize is likely being dwarfed and rendered obsolete, or at the very least, not worth continuing. These games come with overhead costs, including ticket printing, retailer relations, and updating results across platforms.

Recent winning numbers

Players who have bought DC-2 in the last few weeks should check their tickets. In the final stretch of drawings, recent results included:

• Feb. 21, 2026, afternoon: 6, 5
   
• Feb. 21, 2026, evening: 8,4
   
• Feb. 20, 2026, afternoon: 6,6
   
• Feb. 20, 2026, evening: 8,0
   
• Feb. 19, 2026, afternoon: 6,0
   
• Feb. 19, 2026, evening: 7,1

Players holding winning DC-2 tickets should act quickly. Most District of Columbia draw-game prizes must be claimed within 180 days from the date of purchase. After that window closes, unclaimed winnings expire and are returned to the District of Columbia Lottery.

Game history and legacy

DC-2 debuted in 2018 as the two-digit member of the District of Columbia Lottery’s Family of Numbers games, joining DC-3, DC-4, and DC-5. The game was designed as a low-cost, quick-play option that appealed to new numbers game players.

For longtime players, DC-2's sunset marks the end of a straightforward daily game that delivered quick results and frequent small wins. Even as the District of Columbia Lottery evolves, the game's run since 2018 leaves behind a short but notable chapter in the District of Columbia's numbers game lineup.

About the District of Columbia Lottery

Since District of Columbia Lottery's launch in 1982, more than $1.8 billion has been transferred to the District's General Fund, which supports essential services such as education, parks and recreation, public safety, housing, and senior and child programs.

The agency notes that over half of annual sales are returned to players as prize money, totaling more than $3 billion to date.