The awaited midday Mass Cash drawing is launching on Sunday

On Sunday, August 17, Massachusetts' popular number matching game Mass Cash will add a second drawing at 2 p.m. every day on top of its daily 9 p.m. drawing. The launch date has been hotly anticipated after delays.

The wait is over

The Massachusetts Lottery, one of the most successful lotteries in the country, announced the addition of a second Mass Cash draw in mid-July, sparking excitement among players. The changes were expected to go live on Sunday, July 20, at 2 p.m.

One day before launch, the lottery announced system delays, halting the third draw indefinitely. Now, there's a new date: the second draw will begin this Sunday.

Why is a second draw a big deal?

About 140 players have won Mass Cash in 2025 with just one drawing, making it a high-yield winner game. At just $1 per play, it's already an inexpensive investment. Adding a second drawing could potentially double the daily winner churn.

At the time of the second drawing announcement, Mark William Bracken, Executive Director of the Mass Lottery, explained:

Introducing a midday drawing takes Mass Cash to a new level, giving players more chances to win and more opportunities to enjoy the game.

Mass Cash is simple

Mass Cash has been a popular state pick since its inception in 1991.

Unlike most jackpot number matching games, Mass Cash involves just one jackpot each drawing: $100,000. If a player chooses the correct numbers 1 through 35, they win the prize. There are no shared jackpots. Players can win $250 with 4 out of 5 matches, and $10 with 3 out of 5 matches. Odds of winning any prize are 1 in 72, while the odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 324,632. Each ticket costs $1.

Players can use a Quick Pic option, and they can.

Drawings can be viewed on the Massachusetts Lottery YouTube and Facebook accounts.

Stepping down on multiple draws

Ordinarily, multiple drawing options let users play numbers in advance of future Mass Cash draws. Due to the second draw rollout, the Massachusetts Lottery has a multi-draw “step-down schedule” from August 9 through the second draw launch. Beginning August 17, the limit will be removed and users can go back up to 60 multi-draw allowances per ticket.

The schedule from today forward looks like this:

How are sales holding up?

For the fiscal year ending June 30, the Mass Lottery reported fewer sales than the previous year, according to a statement. Revenues came in at $5.962 billion, which is $206.8 million lower than the 2024 record. However, the net profit $1.065 billion was higher than the projected $1.050 billion. State Treasurer Deborah B. Goldberg, Chair of the Massachusetts State Lottery Commission, stated:

I am proud of our team's performance, as we continue to face an ever-evolving and changing industry. Thanks to our retail partners and loyal customers, we are able to provide vital local aid to all 351 communities across Massachusetts.

Powerball and Mega Millions sales were down, which may account for the state's renewed lean into a local jackpot game like Mass Cash.