Cash4Life Lottery Official Information 2025

What Is Cash4Life Lottery?

Cash4Life is a multi-state lottery game launched on June 13, 2014, by the New York and New Jersey state lotteries. The game offers a unique top prize of $1,000 a day for life, providing winners with a guaranteed daily income rather than a traditional lump-sum jackpot. Cash4Life expanded from its initial two-state offering to include 10 states across the United States.

Cash4Life draws are conducted daily at 9:00 PM Eastern Time at the New Jersey Lottery headquarters in Lawrenceville, New Jersey. All drawings are supervised by Mercadien P.C., an independent certified public accounting firm, and are live-streamed on the official Cash4Life website. The current drawing host is Jacqueline Knox.

How to Play Cash4Life

Playing Cash4Life is simple. For $2 per play, you select five numbers from 1 to 60 (white balls) and one Cash Ball number from 1 to 4 (green ball). You can choose your own numbers or opt for a Quick Pick, where the lottery terminal randomly selects numbers for you. To win the top prize of $1,000 a day for life, you must match all five white balls in any order plus the Cash Ball.

State-Specific Add-Ons: Several states offer optional features to enhance gameplay. New Jersey offers the Doubler for an additional $1, which doubles all non-top-tier prizes. Missouri offers EZ Match for $1, an instant-win feature that provides immediate prize results. Tennessee offers Quick Cash for $1, another instant-win add-on. These features vary by state and are not available in all jurisdictions.

Multi-Draw Options: Players can purchase tickets for multiple consecutive drawings. New Jersey allows up to 7 draws in advance, New York up to 8 draws, while some states permit up to 30 consecutive draws. This ensures you never miss a drawing.

Cash4Life Prize Structure

Cash4Life offers nine ways to win, with prizes ranging from $2 for matching just the Cash Ball to the life-changing top prize. Here's the complete prize breakdown:

Prize Payment Options

Cash4Life offers winners flexibility in how they receive their top-tier prizes:

Top Prize ($1,000/day for life): Winners can choose between receiving $1,000 per day for their "Measuring Life" (minimum 20 years guaranteed) or a one-time lump sum cash payment of $7,000,000. If a winner dies before 20 years, the remaining payments continue to their estate or designated beneficiary.

Second Prize ($1,000/week for life): Winners receive $1,000 per week for life (minimum 20 years) or can opt for a lump sum of $1,000,000. The same 20-year minimum guarantee applies.

New Jersey Unique Rule: In New Jersey only, players must choose between the annuity or cash option at the time of ticket purchase. If you select the cash option, it becomes binding. However, if you select the annuity option, you can still switch to cash when claiming your prize.

Taxes: All lottery winnings over $5,000 are subject to mandatory federal tax withholding. Winners will owe federal taxes in the top bracket. State taxes vary by jurisdiction. Daily and weekly annuity payments are taxed as income each year they are received.

Cash4Life Financial Overview

Cash4Life generates revenue across 10 participating states. Here's how Cash4Life revenue is distributed based on industry standards and multi-state lottery data:

How Lottery Proceeds Benefit States: Each participating state determines how lottery profits are used to benefit residents. Here are examples from Cash4Life states:

• New York: 100% of lottery proceeds go to education. Since 1967, the New York Lottery has contributed over $84 billion to support K-12 schools across all 62 counties. In FY 2021-22 alone, $3.6 billion went to education, representing more than 30% of total education funding. The distribution formula favors lower-income school districts.
• New Jersey: Lottery profits support education, public employee pensions, veterans services, and programs for small businesses. Since 1970, the New Jersey Lottery has contributed over $30 billion to state programs.
• Virginia: 100% of lottery profits go to K-12 public education since 1999. In FY 2022, Virginia Lottery transferred $779 million to public schools.
• Florida: 80% of unclaimed prizes fund the Educational Enhancement Trust Fund, which supports K-12 public education initiatives.
• Pennsylvania: Lottery proceeds benefit programs for older Pennsylvanians, including property tax and rent rebates, transportation, care services, and prescription assistance.
• Other States: Georgia, Indiana, Maryland, Missouri, and Tennessee allocate lottery funds to various state programs including education, economic development, and general fund support.

When Are Cash4Life Drawings?

Cash4Life drawings are held every night at 9:00 PM Eastern Time, 362 days per year. The lottery does not conduct drawings on three national holidays: Republic Day (January 26), Independence Day (August 15), and Gandhi Jayanti (October 2).

All drawings are conducted at the New Jersey Lottery headquarters in Lawrenceville and are supervised by Mercadien P.C. to ensure integrity and fairness. The drawings use two machines: a Magnum I machine for the five white balls (1-60) and a separate machine for the Cash Ball (1-4).

Ticket sales close at 8:45 PM ET on the day of each drawing. Tickets for the next drawing go on sale immediately after each drawing is completed. Results are published within 15 minutes on the official Cash4Life website and participating state lottery websites.

How to Check Cash4Life Results

Cash4Life results are published immediately after each drawing through multiple channels:

• Official Cash4Life Website: Visit Cash4Life.us for the latest winning numbers and live drawing stream
• State Lottery Websites: Each participating state lottery posts results on their official website
• Lottery Retailers: Check your tickets at any authorized Cash4Life retailer using their terminal scanner
• News Media: Local news outlets report Cash4Life results in participating states
• Mobile Apps: Download your state lottery's mobile app for instant result notifications
• Live Stream: Watch drawings live at 9:00 PM ET on the Cash4Life website

Always verify winning numbers through official sources before claiming a prize. Keep your ticket in a safe place and sign the back immediately to establish ownership.

How to Claim Cash4Life Prizes

Prize claim procedures and deadlines vary by state. Here's a general guide:

Claim Deadlines: Most states allow 180 days (approximately 6 months) from the drawing date to claim prizes, though some states have different periods. New York allows one year. Check your state lottery's specific deadline to avoid forfeiting your prize.

Small Prizes (typically up to $599-$600): Can be claimed at any authorized Cash4Life retailer in your state. The retailer will validate your ticket and pay you immediately.

Medium Prizes ($600 to $5,000): Claim at regional lottery offices or by mail. You'll need to complete a claim form and provide identification. Some states require Social Security numbers for tax reporting.

Large Prizes (above $5,000): Must be claimed at your state lottery headquarters. You'll need to provide the original winning ticket, valid government-issued photo ID, Social Security card, completed claim form, and potentially additional documentation.

Top Prize Claims ($1,000/day or $1,000/week for life): Contact your state lottery immediately. Do not sign the back of your ticket until meeting with lottery officials. Consult with financial advisors and tax attorneys before claiming. In New Jersey, your annuity vs. cash choice must be made at purchase; in other states, you choose when claiming.

Frequently Asked Questions