How Old Do You Have to Be to Buy Lottery Tickets in California?

The TLDR: you must be at least 18 years old to buy a lottery ticket in California. That covers everything the California Lottery sells, Scratchers and draw games alike. Here is what the rule means in practice, and the details worth knowing.

The age to buy is 18

In California, you have to be 18 to purchase any lottery product, whether it is a scratch-off (California calls them Scratchers) or a draw game like SuperLotto Plus, Powerball, or Mega Millions. There is no separate, higher age for pricier tickets. Eighteen is the line for everything at the counter. If you want the rules across the country, here is how the age limit works in general.

Retailers have to check ID

Stores that sell lottery tickets are required to verify age, and selling to someone under 18 is illegal. A clerk can and should ask for ID if there is any doubt, and retailers caught selling to minors face penalties from the lottery, including fines and the loss of their license to sell. If you look young, expect to be carded. The same 18 rule applies however you play, in a store or through any official app the California Lottery offers.

Can you give a ticket to someone under 18?

This is where people get tripped up. Buying a ticket and handing it to a minor is discouraged, and a minor generally cannot claim a prize on their own. If a ticket ends up in a child's hands and it wins, the prize is typically claimed by a parent or guardian, sometimes through a trust for larger amounts. The simplest rule to remember: lottery tickets are not a gift for anyone under 18.

Why the limit exists

The age requirement is a responsible-gambling measure. Lottery products are a form of gambling, and 18 is the age California treats you as an adult who can decide to play. It is the same reasoning behind age limits on other adult purchases.

And once you are old enough to win

Claiming works the same as anywhere: small prizes at the store, larger ones at a lottery office with a photo ID and your Social Security number, and taxes come out of the bigger wins (how lottery winnings are taxed). You also generally claim in the state where you bought the ticket, which we cover in claiming across state lines.

In California, 18 is the number: 18 to buy, 18 to claim, no exceptions at the register. If you are of age and want to see which tickets are actually worth buying, that is what our California scratch-off rankings are for.