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. 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 Draw Management Section of Lottery's Security/Law Enforcement Division 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.

Draws Game
MEGA Millions
SuperLotto Plus
Fantasy 5, Daily 4, Daily 3, and Daily Derby Draws
Hot Spot
Draw Game Results

Draw Games
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.

MEGA Millions
California joined the Mega Millions game in June 2005. To date, 35 state lotteries participate in the bi-weekly Mega Millions drawings. Mega Millions draws are conducted in Atlanta, Georgia, at approximately 8 p.m. (PT) on Tuesday and Friday evenings. This draw is conducted similar to California’s SuperLotto draw with similar safeguards in place to ensure that the equipment and draws are securely maintained and audited. Mega Millions draws are also monitored and documented by California’s Draw Management staff and independent auditor. Tickets for the Mega Millions draw can be purchased until 7:45 p.m. (PT) on Tuesdays and Fridays where other California Lottery products are sold.

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 generator 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 number 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.

Fantasy 5, Daily 4, Daily 3 and Daily Derby Draws
The California Lottery began conducting automated draws for Fantasy 5 and Daily 3 on July 1, 1998; Daily Derby on August 10, 1998; and Daily 4 on May 19, 2008. The decision to switch to automated draws was made because of the increase of daily games offered to players and the need for a faster, more efficient and 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.

Hot Spot
Hot Spot draws are conducted by a computer program that randomly selects the winning numbers. Because Hot Spot draws occur every four minutes, Hot Spot draws are completely automated. These computerized draws are as secure as mechanical draws. The computer used in these draws is housed in the same secured draw room at Lottery Headquarters in Sacramento.

Draw Game Results
After the official draws are performed using the aforementioned machines, ball sets, computers, and procedures, 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.

All game results can be found on this website except for Hot Spot results which 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 recorded at 7:57 p.m. every Wednesday and Saturday night and posted on this site at http://www.calottery.com/Games/SuperLottoPlus/winningnumbers/. The MEGA Millions pool closes each Tuesday and Friday at 7:45 p.m.The draws are recorded at 7:57 p.m. on those days and posted on this site at http://www.calottery.com/Games/megamillions/winningnumbers/. Draw results are also published in all major newspapers throughout the state. The results can also be obtained by calling toll-free (800) LOTTERY.