Washington players get a crack at best odds at winning $1 million

By Kate Northrop

The Washington Lottery has announced that it will be holding a St. Patrick's Day Raffle for the very first time, advertising the best odds at winning a million dollars.

Washington lottery players who participate in the Washington Lottery's newest raffle will have the best odds at winning a $1 million prize beginning later this month.

The last time that Washington's Lottery held a raffle was in November 2021 for Autumn Cashfall, which offered a top prize of $10,000. The last million-dollar raffle in Washington was the Veterans Raffle drawn in 2013.

With the million-dollar raffle finally making a return, players will be able to pick up St. Patrick's Day Raffle tickets starting Jan. 20, 2026 at 12:30 a.m. PST. Tickets are available at all brick-and-mortar lottery retailers both at the retail counter and vending machines, as well at Lottery offices.

At $15 each, this raffle offers 250,000 available tickets, making the odds at winning a million dollars 1 in 250,000.

"We wanted to bring a game to players with the best odds at winning a million dollars," the Lottery said.

In addition to the one $1 million top prize, the draw offers one prize of $250,000, two prizes of $125,000, three prizes of $50,000, five prizes of $25,000, five prizes of $10,000, and 100 $500 prizes. The overall odds of winning a cash prize are 1 in 118.

Additionally, random ticket purchases made throughout the duration of sales will be followed with a $50 "On The Spot" coupon, which will print out separately if a player sees a Bonus Offer logo at the bottom of their raffle ticket. The coupons can be processed at retailers and are paid out like any other winning lottery ticket. Coupons must be redeemed by March 27, 2026, ten days following the draw, or they will expire.

There is no limit to the number of raffle tickets a player can buy. There is a limit of four tickets per line if purchasing at a vending machine, but players may add an additional line if they wish to purchase more. Raffle ticket purchases are included in the standard monetary limitations for single purchases or weekly purchases across all Lottery games, the Lottery says.

Sales end March 16, 2026 at 11:50 p.m. PST or when all tickets are sold, whichever comes first. The Lottery will begin displaying an "almost gone banner" on all purchase buttons on retail equipment once the number of remaining tickets hits 1,000 and below.

The drawing will take place on St. Patrick's Day, March 17, 2026. Winning numbers will be available on March 18, 2026.