One of America's Oldest Lotteries
Maryland voters approved a state lottery by referendum in November 1972, and the first ticket went on sale on May 15, 1973. That places Maryland in the same founding era as Massachusetts and Ohio, making it one of the oldest continuously operating lotteries in the United States. The lottery has been part of Maryland life for over fifty years.
Where the Money Goes
Unlike most state lotteries, Maryland's lottery revenue is not earmarked for education. Proceeds flow into the Maryland General Fund, where the state legislature allocates them across all government services — public safety, healthcare, transportation, and more. Casino revenue in Maryland is handled separately and goes to the Education Trust Fund, but lottery dollars serve the broader state budget.
Since its founding, the Maryland Lottery has contributed more than $20.7 billion to the state. That makes it one of the largest cumulative contributors among all US state lotteries relative to population size.
Unique Maryland Games
Maryland offers two in-state games you will not find elsewhere:
- Bonus Match 5 uses a 5/39 main draw plus a separate Bonus Ball from the same 1-39 pool, creating extra prize tiers that reward partial matches combined with the bonus number.
- Multi-Match gives each $2 ticket three separate lines of 6 numbers from 1-43. The multi-line mechanic effectively triples your chances per ticket, a structure not seen in other states we track.
For the full breakdown of every Maryland draw game, see our Maryland Lottery Games Overview.
Early Adopter of Online Sales
Maryland was among the first states to allow online lottery ticket purchases, expanding access beyond convenience stores and gas stations. Players can buy draw game tickets and check results through the Maryland Lottery's iLottery platform, a move that has broadened the player base and kept Maryland competitive as more states move digital.
Maryland by the Numbers
With a population of roughly 6.2 million, Maryland ranks 19th among US states in population but punches above its weight in lottery participation. The combination of twice-daily digit games, a daily rolling jackpot in Bonus Match 5, and access to Powerball and Mega Millions means Maryland players have drawings to follow almost every hour of the day.