How to Play Australian Lotteries

Choose Where to Buy Your Ticket

Australian lottery tickets can be purchased from:

• Retail outlets: Newsagents, convenience stores, and dedicated lottery kiosks
• Official websites: The Lott (Tatts Group) or Lotterywest (WA)
• Official mobile apps: The Lott app or Lotterywest app

For online purchases, you'll need to create an account and verify your identity before buying tickets. Only purchase from authorized retailers or official lottery websites to ensure legitimacy.

Select Your Game

Choose which lottery game you want to play based on:

• Draw days (different lotteries run on different days of the week)
• Jackpot size (check current jackpots on official websites)
• Odds of winning (see our Top Picks page for comparisons)
• Price point (ticket costs vary by game)

Popular options include Powerball (Thursday draws), TattsLotto (Saturday draws), Oz Lotto (Tuesday draws), and Set for Life (daily draws).

Choose Your Numbers

Each lottery requires you to select a specific set of numbers:

• Standard Entries: Select numbers manually from the required range
• QuickPick/AutoPick: Let the system randomly generate numbers for you
• System Entries: Select more numbers than required for multiple combinations
• Syndicate Entries: Share cost and prizes with other players

For in-store purchases, mark your chosen numbers on a coupon or ask for a QuickPick. For online purchases, select numbers using the digital interface or choose random selection.

Decide on Entry Type and Duration

Consider additional options to enhance your play:

• Multi-week entries: Play the same numbers for 2-10 consecutive weeks
• Advance entries: Purchase tickets for future draws
• Subscription/Membership: Set up automatic purchases

These options help ensure you never miss a draw and can sometimes offer savings on the per-play cost.

Pay for Your Ticket

Payment methods vary by purchase location:

• In-store: Cash, EFTPOS, or credit/debit card
• Online: Credit/debit card, PayPal, or direct deposit

After payment, you'll receive a ticket (physical or digital) with your selected numbers, draw date, and a unique ticket identifier. Keep this safe as you'll need it to claim any prizes.

Check Results

After the draw occurs, check if you've won through various methods:

• Official lottery websites or mobile apps
• In-store ticket scanners at retail outlets
• Results published in newspapers
• Televised draw results (for some lotteries)
• Online through The Lott or Lotterywest websites

If you purchased online, you'll typically receive an email notification if you've won a prize.

Claim Your Prize

If you've won, the claiming process depends on the prize amount:

• Small prizes (typically under $1,500): Claim at any lottery retailer
• Medium prizes ($1,500 to $3,500): Claim at selected retailers or lottery offices
• Large prizes (over $3,500): Claim at official lottery offices
• Major prizes (Division 1): Claim at head office with additional verification

Online purchases are typically paid directly into your online account or bank account, depending on the amount.

See our detailed guide on claiming prizes for more information.