Understanding Show Me Cash Chances

You may already know that the chances of winning the Show Me Cash jackpot are 1 in 575,757. But many people wonder how those chances of winning are determined.

Show Me Cash is played by selecting five numbers out of 39 possible choices (the numbers from 1 to 39). During each drawing, one by one, the five numbers are randomly selected. Drawings are carefully monitored and are open to the public for viewing.

So how does one determine what the chances of winning are for correctly matching all five numbers for any Show Me Cash drawing? We start with the math. The formula for calculating the possibilities for matching the numbers drawn out of all the numbers in the machine is based on probability theory. So how likely is it to get one particular outcome out of all the possible outcomes that could happen? In other words, how many different combinations of five numbers can be made out of 39 numbers? Let's look and see!

Let's do the math; it won't be hard. Any calculation of chances for a Show-Me-Cash-type game involves three basic elements:

The total number of numbers you are choosing from, which is called the field or (f).
The number of numbers the player selects on his\her playslip, which is called the pick or (p).
The number of correct matches between the player's picks and the numbers drawn, which is called the match or (m).

Here is the formula statisticians use to calculate the probability:

It looks complicated, but let us explain. Remember, f = the 39 numbers, p = the numbers you pick, and m = the numbers you correctly match.

Let's get started. The factors or elements depicted as x over y, with ( ) around them, are called binomial coefficients and, when filled in with our numbers, are what mathematicians call factorials and are depicted as x! or a number followed by an exclamation point. What's that all about? Well, simply put, a factorial is a number multiplied progressively by all other smaller numbers until you reach 1. Let's use 5 as an example; 5! would be figured as 5 x 4 x 3 x 2 x 1 = 120

In other words, we would multiply 5 times 4 times 3 times 2 times 1 to get the result. 0! is equal to 1.

So what does that have to do with Show Me Cash? Well, 5! is all the different combinations you can theoretically make out of five numbers. Starting to make sense?

To match all five numbers and win the Show Me Cash jackpot, here are the chances of winning:

(Remember, there are 39 numbers, and you must choose five of those numbers to play and match to win the jackpot.)

Show Me Cash chances of winning the jackpot:

(5 of 5 numbers matched)

We have one five-number combination (our pick) in a possible 575,757 different possible combinations or outcomes. These are your chances of hitting the jackpot with any five numbers played.

We hope this helps to better explain the chances of winning the Show Me Cash jackpot.

General Rules That Apply to All Draw Games

1. It is the player's responsibility to check his or her ticket to make sure it represents the correct game, draw date, numbers requested and has a visible bar code or serial number.
2. Winning tickets must be claimed within 180 days of the last winning draw date on the ticket.
3. Purchased tickets are only valid for the dates shown on the ticket.
4. The ticket, not the playslip, is the only valid proof of your number selection, and it is the only valid receipt to claim a prize.
5. All tickets, transactions and winners are subject to the directives of the executive director of the Missouri Lottery, the rules and regulations of the Missouri Lottery and the Missouri Statutes, and tickets are only offered for sale in accordance with the same.
6. Upon purchasing a ticket, the player agrees to abide by the Missouri Statutes and all rules and regulations of the Missouri Lottery.
7. A ticket is a bearer instrument. It is recommended that the ticket be signed at the time of purchase.
8. The Missouri Lottery is not responsible for lost or stolen tickets. Tickets are void and will not be paid if determined stolen, unissued, illegible, mutilated, altered in whole or part, misregistered, defective, incomplete, printed or produced in error, multiply-printed, or if the ticket fails any of the Missouri Lottery's confidential validation tests. Liability for void tickets is limited to replacement of the ticket or refund of sales price.
9. Tickets may not be sold to or redeemed by minors under the age of 18.
10. The holder of a winning ticket may win in only one prize category per play board and shall be paid the prize in the highest category won.

Show Me Cash Game Rules

A player must select five numbers between 1 and 39. The cost for one play is $1. A player may select each set in one of four ways: by verbally communicating the numbers to the retailer, by completing a paper playslip, by completing a digital playslip or by requesting a "Quick Pick." A Quick Pick is a computerized randomly-selected set of numbers available through the Draw Games terminal. Show Me Cash is drawn daily at approximately 8:59 p.m. The more numbers the player matches to those drawn, the more the player wins.

How to play Show Me Cash using a paper playslip

1. The playslip has five play boards ("Board A" through "Board E") containing numbers 1 through 39. You may play 1, 2, 3, 4 or all 5 boards. A play is one board for $1. EZ Match is available to select as an add-on for an additional $1 per EZ Match play. EZ Match can be applied to each separate board, for a total of 5 potential EZ Match add-ons per "Board A" through "Board E" playslip.
2. Select five numbers per board by placing a heavy mark in each box, beginning with "Board A." To have the terminal randomly select the numbers for you, mark the box next to "QUICK PICK." If you make a mistake, mark the "VOID" box on that board and select your numbers on the next board.
3. To play your numbers for more than one drawing at a time, mark the appropriate box on the left side of the playslip next to "MULTI DRAW." This will play only your selections in boards "A" through "E" for that number of drawings. Show Me Cash can be played for 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 14 consecutive drawings.
4. Use only a blue or black pen or use a pencil for marking selections; red ink will not be accepted by the terminal.

How to play Show Me Cash using a digital playslip with the mobile app

1. Select how many drawings you'd like to play. Show Me Cash can be played for 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 14 consecutive drawings.
2. Choose whether to add EZ Match by selecting "Yes" or "No." EZ Match is an instant-win feature that costs an additional $1 per play. See EZ Match rules below.
3. Select the numbers you want to play. Select five different numbers from 1 to 39; shake your phone or press the Quick Pick button to have the app select your numbers for you.
4. Review your digital playslip, then tap "Save Digital Playslip." Present the QR code at retail to use your digital playslip.

How to play Show Me Cash verbally

At the discretion of the retailer, Show Me Cash may be played by making a verbal request for a ticket. The player must provide the clerk with all of the following information:

1. The dollar amount to be played
2. The numbers to be played - either player-selected or "Quick Pick"
3. The number of draws to be played.

EZ Match

1. EZ Match is an instant-win feature that is an add-on game for Cash4life, Show Me Cash, Lotto, Pick 3 and Pick 4 that costs $1 per play, in addition to the cost of the Show Me Cash ticket. A player selecting EZ Match for Show Me Cash will receive five (5) EZ Match numbers printed below the Show Me Cash numbers on the ticket.
2. All EZ Match numbers are randomly generated. If any of the EZ Match numbers matches any of the player's chosen Show Me Cash numbers (regardless of order), the player instantly wins the prize amount printed next to the matched EZ Match Number(s).
3. Players may play EZ Match by marking the applicable EZ Match box on the Show Me Cash playslip or by requesting the add-on from the retailer. Marking the EZ Match box on the playslip will add EZ Match to only the board marked.
4. Each board played with EZ Match will be printed on a separate ticket. Show Me Cash tickets with the added EZ Match option will print with the Show Me Cash/EZ Match logo at the top of the ticket; the EZ Match logo will also be within the body of the ticket with the EZ Match numbers, and the amount of the prizes will be printed below the EZ Match logo. Draw Games tickets printed without these elements are not Show Me Cash – EZ Match tickets and are not eligible to win EZ Match prizes.
5. Show Me Cash tickets with EZ Match cannot be canceled.
6. A winning EZ Match play can be cashed at any Missouri Lottery retail location either before or after the Show Me Cash drawing. If the EZ Match play is cashed prior to the Show Me Cash drawing, an exchange ticket will print for the upcoming drawing, just like when a multi-draw Show Me Cash winning ticket is cashed before all the drawings have occurred. If a winning EZ Match play is cashed after the Show Me Cash drawing has occurred, and wins on both the EZ Match wager and the Show Me Cash drawing, the prizes will be added together and paid in one lump sum.
7. The EZ Match prize structure will be replenished automatically when the top-tier prize is exhausted.
8. EZ Match prizes can be claimed up to 180 days from the host game draw date on which the EZ Match wager was originally purchased.

Prizes are approximately 55 percent of sales. Overall chances of winning a prize are 1 in 8.77 for each $1 played.

The estimated advertised jackpot will increase at least $5,000 each drawing until won. Players matching all 5 numbers, in order, in a single line will be paid that day's estimated advertised jackpot amount. If more than one player matches all five numbers, the estimated advertised jackpot amount for that day will be split equally among all winning tickets that matched all five numbers in a single line. The daily Show Me Cash Jackpot prize pool produced from each day's sales will roll into the next day's estimated advertised jackpot amount, less $1,700. The $1,700 amount will be placed into the Show Me Cash Jackpot Prize fund. The Show Me Cash Jackpot prize fund will be used to fully fund the starting $50,000 Show Me Cash minimum jackpot if proceeds from the previous day's jackpot prize pool are less than $50,000. If proceeds from the previous day's jackpot prize pool (after a jackpot hit) are greater than $50,000, the excess will be placed in the Show Me Cash Jackpot Prize Fund.

Selling Hours

All Draw Games are available for purchase from 5 a.m. to 2 a.m. (Club Keno until 1:52 a.m.) seven days a week at any Draw Games retailer, except during Draw Breaks.

Draw Breaks

The process of selecting winning numbers for each game is referred to as a "Drawing" or "Draw." A "Draw Break" is when sales are suspended for a particular game so that the wagers for that "Drawing" may be balanced and the winning numbers drawn. The draw breaks for each game are listed below:

General Rules That Apply to All Draw Games

1. It is the player's responsibility to check his or her ticket to make sure it represents the correct game, draw date, numbers requested and has a visible bar code or serial number.
2. Winning tickets must be claimed within 180 days of the last winning draw date on the ticket.
3. Purchased tickets are only valid for the dates shown on the ticket.
4. The ticket, not the playslip, is the only valid proof of your number selection, and it is the only valid receipt to claim a prize.
5. All tickets, transactions and winners are subject to the directives of the executive director of the Missouri Lottery, the rules and regulations of the Missouri Lottery and the Missouri Statutes, and tickets are only offered for sale in accordance with the same.
6. Upon purchasing a ticket, the player agrees to abide by the Missouri Statutes and all rules and regulations of the Missouri Lottery.
7. A ticket is a bearer instrument. It is recommended that the ticket be signed at the time of purchase.
8. The Missouri Lottery is not responsible for lost or stolen tickets. Tickets are void and will not be paid if determined stolen, unissued, illegible, mutilated, altered in whole or part, misregistered, defective, incomplete, printed or produced in error, multiply-printed, or if the ticket fails any of the Missouri Lottery's confidential validation tests. Liability for void tickets is limited to replacement of the ticket or refund of sales price.
9. Tickets may not be sold to or redeemed by minors under the age of 18.
10. The holder of a winning ticket may win in only one prize category per play board and shall be paid the prize in the highest category won.

Lotto Game Rules

A player must select two or more plays (sets) of six different numbers between 1 and 44. Two plays cost $1. A player may select each set in one of four ways: by verbally communicating the numbers to the retailer, by completing a paper playslip, by completing a digital playslip or by requesting a "Quick Pick." A Quick Pick is a computerized randomly-selected set of numbers available through the Draw Games terminal. Lotto is drawn twice a week – Wednesday and Saturday – at approximately 8:59 p.m. The more numbers the player matches to those drawn, the more the player wins.

How to play Lotto using a paper playslip

1. The playslip has ten play boards ("A" through "J") containing numbers 1 through 44. Two boards cost $1, and you must play at least two boards per Lotto play. Pairs of boards must be played together ("A" and "B," "C" and "D," etc.) so that plays are added in $1 intervals. EZ Match is available to select as an add-on for an additional $1 per EZ Match play. EZ Match can be applied to each separate pairing of boards, for a total of 5 potential EZ Match add-ons per "A" through "J" playslip.
2. Select six numbers per board by placing a heavy mark in each box, beginning with boards "A" and "B". To have the terminal to randomly select numbers for you, mark the box beside "QP" for "Quick Pick." If you make a mistake, mark the "VOID" box on that board and select your numbers on the next two boards.
3. To play your numbers for future drawings, mark the appropriate box on the left side of the playslip under "MULTI DRAW." This will play only your selections in boards "A" through "J" for that number of drawings. You can play Lotto for 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10 or 15 drawings.
4. Use only a blue or black pen or use a pencil for marking selections; red ink will not be accepted by the terminal.

How to play Lotto using a digital playslip with the mobile app

1. Select how many drawings you'd like to play. You can play Lotto for 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10 or 15 drawings.
2. Choose whether to add EZ Match by selecting "Yes" or "No." EZ Match is an instant-win feature that costs an additional $1 per play. See EZ Match rules below.
3. Select the numbers you want to play. Select two sets of six numbers from 1 to 44; shake your phone or tap the Quick Pick button to have the app select your numbers for you.
4. Review your digital playslip, then tap "Save Digital Playslip." Present the QR code at retail to use your digital playslip.

How to play Lotto verbally

At the discretion of the retailer, Lotto may be played by making a verbal request for a ticket. The player must provide the clerk with all of the following information:

1. The dollar amount to be played
2. The numbers to be played - either player-selected or "Quick Pick"
3. The number of draws to be played.
4. The addition of EZ Match, if desired

Lotto Doubler

Winning game plays on a ticket designated as "THIS IS A DOUBLER TICKET!" will double all non-jackpot prizes. The Lotto Doubler is randomly-assigned and is a free bonus.

EZ Match

1. EZ Match is an instant-win feature that is an add-on game for Cash4Life, Show Me Cash, Lotto, Pick 3 and Pick 4 that costs $1 per play, in addition to the cost of the Lotto ticket. A player selecting EZ Match for Lotto will receive six (6) EZ Match numbers printed below the Lotto numbers on the ticket.
2. All EZ Match numbers are randomly generated. If any of the EZ Match numbers on the ticket matches any of the player's chosen Lotto numbers (regardless of order), the player instantly wins the prize amount printed next to the matched EZ Match Number(s).
3. Players may play EZ Match by marking the applicable EZ Match box on the Lotto playslip or by requesting the add-on from the retailer. Marking the EZ Match box on the playslip will add EZ Match to only the board marked.
4. Each board played with EZ Match will be printed on a separate ticket. Tickets with the added EZ Match option will print with the Lotto/EZ Match logo at the top of the ticket; the EZ Match logo will also be within the body of the ticket with the EZ Match numbers, and the amount of the prizes will be printed below the EZ Match logo. Draw games tickets printed without these elements are not EZ Match tickets and are not eligible to win EZ Match prizes.
5. EZ Match cannot be played with Lotto if both Lotto plays have identical numbers.
6. A winning Lotto – EZ Match play can be cashed at any Missouri Lottery retail location either before or after the Lotto drawing. If the EZ Match play is cashed prior to the Lotto drawing, an exchange ticket will print for the upcoming drawing, just like when a multi-draw winning ticket is cashed before all the drawings have occurred. If a winning EZ Match play is cashed after the Lotto drawing has occurred, and wins on both the EZ Match wager and the Lotto drawing, the prizes will be added together and paid in one lump sum.
7. Tickets with EZ Match cannot be canceled.
8. The EZ Match prize structure will be replenished automatically when all top-tier prizes have been won.
9. EZ Match prizes can be claimed up to 180 days from the host game draw date on which the EZ Match wager was originally purchased.

Prizes for Lotto are approximately 50 percent of sales. Overall chances of winning a Lotto prize are 1 in 20. All Lotto prizes, except for free Lotto tickets, are pari-mutuel.

Jackpot winners have 60 days from the claiming date to declare whether they would like their payments in CASH (equal to approximately 50 percent of the estimated, advertised jackpot) or ANNUITY (the advertised jackpot amount paid in 25 annual payments).

Selling Hours

All Draw Games are available for purchase from 5 a.m. to 2 a.m. (Club Keno until 1:52 a.m.) seven days a week at any Draw Games retailer, except during Draw Breaks.

Draw Breaks

The process of selecting winning numbers for each game is referred to as a "Drawing" or "Draw." A "Draw Break" is when sales are suspended for a particular game so that the wagers for that "Drawing" may be balanced and the winning numbers drawn. The draw breaks for each game are listed below: