The Minnesota Lottery expanded its annual Minnesota Millionaire Raffle for the 2027 drawing, doubling the $1 million grand prizes from two to four while raising the total ticket cap to 1.5 million. The expansion increases the total cash prize pool to more than 30,000 winning tickets, marking the largest payout structure in the game’s 20-year history.
Tickets for the annual event went on sale on Tuesday, Oct. 20, priced at $10 each. Sales will continue through midnight on Dec. 31, 2026, or until all 1.5 million tickets sell out. Results will be announced on Jan. 1, 2027.
Rapid sellout history drives ticket expansion
The decision to print 500,000 additional tickets comes after consecutive years of record-breaking sales speed. The previous edition sold out in 14 days, setting the fastest sellout record since the game launched in 2006. The edition prior to that exhausted its entire 1-million-ticket allocation in 15 days.
Unlike rolling multi-state jackpot games where ticket supply is unlimited, raffle games operate on a strict, finite inventory. When all numbered tickets are issued, terminal sales shut down completely statewide. Lottery officials increased the supply by 50% to accommodate growing demand, though retail demand may still exhaust the inventory well before the Dec. 31 deadline.
Tickets are distributed sequentially across approximately 3,000 licensed lottery retailers in Minnesota. Players interested in ordering lottery tickets online in eligible jurisdictions can also access state lottery products through authorized digital courier applications operating in the region.
Detailed prize tiers and winning odds for 2027
Every prize tier in the 2027 Millionaire Raffle has either expanded or multiplied compared to the previous year. Alongside four $1 million top prizes, the $10,000 tier doubled from 10 winning tickets to 20. The $500 tier experienced a ten-fold increase, expanding from 100 winning tickets to 1,000.
The only category removed from the schedule was the temporary $20,000 tier, which had been introduced as a one-time addition for the lottery’s 20th anniversary. Those funds were reallocated into mid-tier and lower-tier payouts to broaden winning distribution across the player pool.
| Prize Level | Individual Cash Value | Winning Tickets Available |
|---|---|---|
| Grand Prize | $1,000,000 | 4 |
| Second Tier | $100,000 | 6 |
| Third Tier | $50,000 | 6 |
| Fourth Tier | $25,000 | 6 |
| Fifth Tier | $10,000 | 20 |
| Sixth Tier | $500 | 1,000 |
| Seventh Tier | $200 | 1,100 |
| Eighth Tier | $100 | 8,000 |
| Ninth Tier | $50 | 20,000 |
Despite adding 500,000 total tickets, the addition of 10,000 lower-tier prizes improves the overall odds of winning a cash prize slightly. Overall odds stand at 1 in 49.76, compared to 1 in 50 during the 2026 draw.
How raffle drawings differ from standard lotteries
Raffle games use a distinct mathematical structure compared to traditional draw games like Powerball or Megabucks. In draw games, players select numbers, and multiple tickets can feature identical combinations. If no ticket matches all winning numbers, the jackpot rolls over to the next drawing.
In the Minnesota Millionaire Raffle, each $10 ticket generates a unique six-digit number printed directly by the lottery terminal. Numbers are issued sequentially from 000001 to 1500000. Because every ticket number exists only once, all advertised prizes—including the four $1 million jackpots—are guaranteed to be awarded on Jan. 1.
As state lotteries adapt their offerings across North America, such as when Idaho and Massachusetts join Powerball Xs and Os roster for Fall 2026, fixed-inventory state raffles remain popular because winners do not split grand prizes.
While massive scratch-off prizes can take months or years to be claimed, such as an Ohio couple claiming a $15 million top prize on a $50 scratch-off ticket in Ravenna, raffle drawings select all winning numbers in a single computer-generated event on New Year’s Day.
Raffle history and state revenue contributions
The Minnesota Lottery introduced the Millionaire Raffle in 2006 as a seasonal holiday game. Over its 20 drawings, the game has produced 40 individual millionaires across Minnesota.
Proceeds from ticket sales support state programs designated by Minnesota law. Net revenues are split between the Minnesota General Fund and the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund. The environmental trust funds state parks, wildlife protection, water quality research, and habitat restoration projects throughout Minnesota’s 87 counties.
How to verify numbers and claim prizes
Winning numbers will be posted on the official Minnesota Lottery website on Jan. 1, 2027. Players can also scan physical tickets at retail self-service terminals or present them to clerks at any authorized lottery retailer.
Prizes up to $599 can be claimed directly at participating retail locations. Cash prizes of $600 or more must be claimed via mail or in person at Minnesota Lottery offices located in Roseville, Duluth, Marshall, or Owatonna. Winners have exactly one year from the draw date—until Jan. 1, 2028—to turn in winning tickets.
Frequently asked questions
When did tickets go on sale for the 2027 Minnesota Millionaire Raffle?
Tickets went on sale statewide on Tuesday, Oct. 20. Sales continue until Dec. 31, 2026, or until all 1.5 million tickets are sold.
What are the overall odds of winning a prize in this year’s raffle?
The overall odds of winning any cash prize are approximately 1 in 49.76 across 30,142 winning tickets.
What happens if the 1.5 million tickets sell out early?
If all 1.5 million tickets sell out prior to Dec. 31, ticket sales close immediately across all terminals, and no additional tickets are printed before the Jan. 1 drawing.
Play responsibly. Lottery is a form of entertainment, not investment.
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