Draw Procedures

The following information will explain all the procedures performed during various draws conducted by the California Lottery. All draws are open to the public, and you are always welcome to attend. If you would like to attend a draw at Lottery Headquarters in Sacramento, call 1-800-LOTTERY (800-568-8379). It is helpful if you phone ahead in order to ensure that staff is available to give you a proper tour and answer any questions you may have regarding the draw process.

The Lottery's Security & Law Enforcement Division Draw Management Section staff conducts all draws with a representative present from a firm of independent certified public accountants (referred to as an "independent representative"). Draw procedures governing draws are documented in written form and approved by the Lottery Director. The independent representative must attest that each drawing is conducted according to written procedures. The independent representative has the authority to stop a draw at any time prior to or during a draw if they feel the integrity of the draw has been compromised. In this event, the independent representative must submit a written report to the Lottery Director noting the draw deviation observed and any actions that were taken to complete the draw. During any draw, two video cameras are used to tape the entire draw process.

Raffle Draw
Raffle draws are conducted using an automated draw machine. The automated draw machine is a state-of-the-art, stand-alone computer containing a random number generator. Before each draw, Draw Management Staff randomly selects which automated draw machine will be used. Draw Management Staff then enters into the computer’s random number program the range of Raffle numbers sold to date that are eligible to win, beginning with the lowest number sold and ending with the highest. The total number of Raffle numbers that are to be chosen as winners are then entered into the computer and the winning numbers are selected.

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Fantasy 5 Feature Draw
The Fantasy 5 Feature consists of two parts: a winners draw (conducted at Lottery headquarters) and a prize draw (conducted on The Big Spin®). In order to participate in this feature, a player must purchase a Fantasy 5 ticket worth $5 or more. As a result of this purchase, an entry form coupon will be automatically generated which can be submitted for a winners draw by mail (at the Lottery's designated Post Office box number). Fantasy 5 Feature winners draws are conducted every two weeks. Based on Fantasy 5 sales levels for the preceding two-week period, a specific number of winners may be selected from the entry form coupons submitted by players. The U. S. Post Office delivers Fantasy 5 Feature entry form coupon mail to the Lottery in trays and racks. For this draw, a tray of mail consists of approximately 1,200 envelopes, and each rack consists of 36 trays of mail. Each tray of mail is identified by a number, beginning with "1," as it is received by the Lottery for the bi-weekly draw. The total number of trays received by the Lottery during the two-week period comprises the pool of entries from which winners will be selected in the Fantasy 5 Feature winners draw.

A designated drawer places individually numbered opaque capsules corresponding to the total number of trays of mail in the winners draw pool in a drum for selection. (A designated drawer cannot be an employee of the Lottery or a family member who resides in the same household as an employee. If you are interested in participating as a designated drawer at Lottery Headquarters, please call 1-800-LOTTERY). The designated drawer selects a capsule from the drum. The number contained inside the capsule corresponds to a tray of mail in a rack. This selection process is repeated depending on the number of winners that can be selected based on the two-week Fantasy 5 sales level.

Each tray of selected mail is then placed, one at a time, in front of the designated drawer. Using a ruler (labeled "marker" on one side), the designated drawer, with eyes averted, inserts the ruler into the tray to select one envelope. Draw Management Section staff open the envelope and review the entry form coupon for eligibility. All trays of mail in the winners draw pool which were not selected, and all envelopes in the selected trays which were not selected, are destroyed, unopened.

Winners selected at a Fantasy 5 Feature winners draw are scheduled to appear on The Big Spin®. At The Big Spin®, winners participate in a prize draw at the Fantasy 5 Dream Machine for a chance to win a minimum prize of $10,000 to the top prize of $150,000.

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On-Line Game Draws
All On-Line Game draws are conducted in a secured draw room at the Lottery's Headquarters draw site in Sacramento. An independent representative must be present with Draw Management staff in order to unlock the door to the draw room. The draw room door is sealed with a numbered, metal seal. In order to enter the draw room, this seal must be cut and removed. The seal number is recorded in a logbook kept inside the draw room and is verified by the independent representative and Draw Management staff. The draw room is also alarmed and monitored 24 hours a day via video camera by the Lottery's command center.

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SuperLOTTO Plus
The draw machines and ball sets for SuperLOTTO Plus are stored in the secured draw room. For each SuperLOTTO Plus draw, a pool of three draw machines and six ball sets is used. Using a random number program, Draw Management Staff selects two machines and two ball sets to be used at each draw. The first machine selected is designated as the SuperLOTTO Plus draw machine, with the second machine designated as the Mega draw machine. Six solid rubber balls sets are available for use for each SuperLOTTO Plus draw, three sets each for the SuperLOTTO Plus balls (white), and three sets each for the Mega balls (purple). Each ball set is stored in a locked box with a numbered, metal seal attached. The ball set seal number is recorded in a logbook. In the event a ball set or machine failed during pre-testing, an alternate ball set or machine would be used for the draw.

The machines and ball sets used at each draw are pre-tested before the official draw. These numbers are recorded and documented by Draw Management staff and the independent representative to ensure that the machines are working properly and the balls are being selected in a random manner. Once the machines and ball sets have passed the pre-test process, they are ready for the official draw. The official draw occurs after the pools have closed (at 7:45 p.m. on Wednesdays and Saturdays) and wagering has ceased for that drawing. All pre-test and official draw results are submitted to an independent statistician who analyzes this information to ensure statistical randomness.

The solid rubber balls are weighed and measured once a month to check for wear and weight consistency in comparison to the other balls and to ensure that each ball does not vary in weight or measurement from its original specifications.

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Fantasy 5, Daily 4, Daily 3 and Daily Derby Draws
Not all draws are mechanical. The California Lottery began conducting automated draws for Fantasy 5 and DAILY 3 on July 1, 1998, Daily Derby on August 10, 1998 and for Daily 4 on May 19, 2008. The decision to switch to conducting automated draws was made because of the increase of daily games offered to players and the need for a faster, more efficient, maintenance-free method of drawing winning numbers.

The automated draw machines are state-of-the-art, stand-alone computers. Two automated draw machines and three randomization methods are used for the daily draws. Before each draw, Draw Management Staff uses a random number program to determine which draw device and which randomization method will be used. The winning numbers selected by either method are unpredictable. The computer's hard drive cannot be opened without breaking a numbered security seal and, inside the computer, the programs that generate the random numbers are permanently implanted and cannot be altered.

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Hot Spot
Hot Spot draws are conducted by a computer program that randomly selects the winning numbers. Because Hot Spot draws occur every five minutes, it would be impractical for draw officials to conduct mechanical draws this frequently. Computerized draws are just as secure as mechanical draws. The computer used in these draws is housed in the same secured draw room at Lottery Headquarters.

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On-Line Game Draw Results
After the official On-Line Game draws are performed using the machines, ball sets, computers, and procedures described previously, the winning numbers are noted on various documents that are verified by Draw Management staff and the independent representative. Official draw results are then distributed to Lottery retailers and media throughout the state.

The Hot Spot draws can be viewed on any Lottery retailer's terminal that offers the Hot Spot game to players. The SuperLOTTO Plus pool closes each Wednesday and Saturday at 7:45 p.m. The draws are televised live at 7:57 p.m. every Wednesday and Saturday night on 12 television stations statewide. The Lottery also broadcasts animated results of the Daily DerbyTM, Fantasy 5 , and DAILY 3 draws on a nightly basis. Those pools close at 6:30 p.m. with the draw results broadcast at 6:59 p.m. on those same television stations. Draws are broadcast statewide from the Lottery's in-house broadcast studio located at the Lottery's Headquarters draw site. Draw results are also published in all major newspapers throughout the state. These results can also be obtained by calling 1-900-776-4000, or going to the California Lottery Web site.

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