News writer
'Tis the season for big-ticket state holiday raffles.
Starting today, Maryland residents can try their luck in the state's Holiday Raffle, which is making a widely anticipated return. The raffle offers chances to win 10,000 cash prizes ranging from $50 to $1 million.
Sales end January 1, or whenever all 325,000 raffle tickets are sold out - whichever comes first.
How to participate
Players should head to an authorized Maryland Lottery retailer or to a self-service lotto ticket vending machine to participate in the 2025 raffle.. Maryland Lottery Holiday Raffle tickets cost $20 each. It's not a regular draw or scratch-off game - players simply buy a ticket and see if their ticket number is drawn. Tickets are numbered from 000001 to 325000. Authorized raffle tickets will not be available for purchase online.
Multiple drawings and prize tiers
Players are encouraged to buy raffle tickets early. Not only will the tickets sell out, but three Early Bird drawings will give players a chance to win $50,000 on November 24, December 8, and December 22.
The final drawing is on January 2, 2026. The prizes for that drawing include a $1 million winner, 10 $100,000 winners, a thousand $500 winners, three thousand $100 winners, and six thousand $50 winners.
Odds of winning any prize are 1 in 32.46.
How to find drawing results
On the day of each drawing, results will be available after 2 p.m., so players should set alerts for each drawing day.
To find out if they've won, players can enter their ticket numbers into the Maryland Lottery Holiday Raffle page, scan their ticket through the Maryland Lottery app, or head to an authorized Lottery retailer, where their tickets will be scanned for them. The app is free on Google Play or the App Store.
Claiming wins
Maryland has many ways to claim winning prizes, depending on the amount won. Draw game prizes must be claimed within 182 days of the win. Any authorized lottery retailer can redeem prizes worth $600 or less.
For prizes larger than $600, the winner must present a photo ID, along with proof of their Social Security Number or their Federal Tax ID number. Prizes less than $5,000 can be redeemed at Maryland Lottery headquarters in Baltimore or at select retailers. Any prizes higher than $25,000 must be redeemed at headquarters, in person only.
Where does the money go?
After prizes and expenses, lottery revenue benefits the Maryland Stadium Facilities Fund, the Maryland Veterans Trust Fund, the Baltimore Public School Construction Financing Fund, and the State General Fund. The Lottery has raised $20.7 billion for the state since its inception in 1973.
Holiday raffles are common seasonal promotions all over the country, drawing players with the holiday spirit. They operate separately from national draw games, state draw games, and regular scratch-offs. In Maryland, one person will win the gift of becoming a millionaire - and the lesser prizes aren't too shabby, either.
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