The Kansas Lottery launched sales for its annual Holiday Millionaire Raffle, with the first of three Early Bird drawings scheduled for October 4. A maximum of 150,000 tickets are available statewide for the raffle, which features a guaranteed grand prize of $1 million and more than $1.2 million in total cash prizes. At $20 per ticket, the game offers players a 1 in 150,000 chance of winning the million-dollar top prize if all tickets sell out.
How the Holiday Millionaire Raffle works
Unlike traditional draw games where winning numbers are drawn from a pool of individual digits, the Holiday Millionaire Raffle utilizes pre-printed, sequential six-digit numbers. These numbers range from 000001 to 150,000. Each ticket represents a single entry in the game.
Because tickets are sold sequentially, the Kansas Lottery cannot issue duplicate numbers, meaning only one ticket can hold the exact winning number for each prize tier. Once the limit of 150,000 tickets is reached, sales immediately close across all retail locations.
The fixed ticket pool creates a different statistical probability compared to multi-state lottery games. For example, standard draw games often feature odds that extend into the hundreds of millions. In contrast, the Holiday Millionaire Raffle guarantees a single million-dollar winner from a pool of no more than 150,000 entries. These odds remain stable unless the game does not sell out, in which case the odds of winning the top prize actually improve for those who purchased tickets. While looking at surrounding regional wins, such as how a Missouri Show Me Cash winner claimed a major jackpot, raffle players in Kansas enjoy favorable jackpot odds.
Early bird drawings and deadlines
To encourage players to purchase their tickets early in the holiday season, the Kansas Lottery structures the raffle with three Early Bird drawings. Each Early Bird drawing awards a single cash prize of $30,000.
The scheduled dates for these early drawings are:
- First Early Bird drawing: October 4
- Second Early Bird drawing: November 8
- Third Early Bird drawing: December 6
A key advantage of the raffle format is the compounding eligibility of early ticket purchases. A ticket purchased prior to the first deadline is automatically entered into the October 4 Early Bird drawing, the November 8 drawing, the December 6 drawing, and the final Grand Prize drawing on January 4, 2027.
Players must complete their purchase before 6:59 p.m. Central Time (CT) on the day of an Early Bird drawing to be eligible for that specific drawing. Tickets purchased after 6:59 p.m. on a drawing day are excluded from that night’s selection but remain eligible for any subsequent drawings, including the final $1 million draw.
Prize structure and odds of winning
The Holiday Millionaire Raffle features a total of nine prize tiers, distributing over $1.2 million across thousands of winning tickets. The final drawing determines the winners of the $1 million grand prize, as well as secondary prizes ranging from $50 to $100,000.
The odds of winning any prize in the raffle depend on the total number of tickets sold. If the 150,000 ticket allocation does not sell out entirely, the Kansas Lottery may pay prizes on a pari-mutuel basis. In a pari-mutuel payout, the prize amounts are adjusted based on the total revenue collected from sales, meaning individual payouts could be reduced proportionally.
Below is the complete breakdown of the planned prizes, assuming a full sell-out of the 150,000 tickets:
| Prize Level | Number of Winners | Prize Amount (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Grand Prize | 1 | $1,000,000 |
| Second Prize | 1 | $100,000 |
| Third Prize | 1 | $25,000 |
| Fourth Prize | 2 | $10,000 |
| Fifth Prize | 10 | $5,000 |
| Sixth Prize | 30 | $1,000 |
| Seventh Prize | 800 | $100 |
| Eighth Prize | 4,800 | $50 |
| Early Bird Prizes | 3 (1 per drawing) | $30,000 |
For those tracking other high-value drawings during this period, regional promotions also offer intermediate options, such as the Powerball Chase to $1 Million promotion, which distributes smaller structural tier prizes.
Ticket purchasing and prize claim procedures
The Kansas Lottery requires all Holiday Millionaire Raffle tickets to be purchased in person at authorized physical retailers within state borders. The state lottery does not offer online ticket sales or direct digital purchases for this game. Sales are scheduled to run until 6:59 p.m. CT on Sunday, January 3, 2027, or until all 150,000 tickets are completely sold.
For lottery players located outside of Kansas or those seeking to participate in major national draws online, digital alternatives are available. Players looking for convenience can get lottery tickets online through secure platforms that service major US draw games.
If you purchase a winning physical raffle ticket, you must follow specific claim guidelines. Prizes under $600 can generally be claimed at any authorized Kansas Lottery retailer. For prizes of $1,000 or more, winners must submit a claim form alongside the physical ticket. These claims can be processed in person at the Kansas Lottery headquarters in Topeka or submitted via mail. Under Kansas state law, all lottery prizes must be claimed within 365 days of the draw date. Unclaimed prizes are returned to the state’s lottery fund to support public programs.
Frequently asked questions
Can I purchase Kansas Lottery raffle tickets online?
No. The Kansas Lottery does not sell Holiday Millionaire Raffle tickets online. All raffle tickets must be purchased in person at authorized retail locations within the state of Kansas.
What happens if the raffle tickets do not sell out?
If the Kansas Lottery does not sell all 150,000 tickets, the odds of winning the grand prize improve for those who bought tickets. However, the lottery notes that some prizes may be paid on a pari-mutuel basis, which means cash payouts could be adjusted downwards based on actual ticket sales revenue.
How long do I have to claim a prize from the raffle?
Winners have exactly 365 days from the date of the respective drawing to claim their prizes. Prizes of $1,000 or more must be claimed in person at the lottery headquarters in Topeka or via mail.
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