Hey there, if you enjoy playing lottery games like Powerball or Mega Millions, you‘ll be happy to know that your local 7-Eleven likely offers a wide selection of lottery tickets right in your neighborhood. As an official retailer for the California State Lottery, 7-Eleven gives you convenient access to all the biggest multi-state and state-exclusive lottery games.
As a fellow lottery player myself, I‘ve put together this comprehensive guide to answer all your questions about buying lottery tickets at 7-Eleven. I‘ll overview the types of lottery games sold, explain how to purchase tickets in-store, provide tips for finding your nearest 7-Eleven, share interesting stats, and give some smart lottery playing advice. Let‘s dive in!
Major Lottery Games Sold at 7-Eleven in California
The California Lottery has authorized 7-Eleven franchises all across the Golden State to sell official lottery tickets. This means you can walk into any 7-Eleven and find these popular games available:
Multi-State Jackpot Games
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Mega Millions – Play this exciting multi-state game on Tuesdays and Fridays for a shot at jackpots starting at $20 million. The current Mega Millions record is $1.53 billion won in 2018!
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Powerball – Drawings are held Wednesdays and Saturdays for this nationwide lottery game. Powerball also holds the world record lottery jackpot of $1.58 billion from 2016.
California State Lottery Games
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SuperLotto Plus – Exclusive to California, this game offers huge jackpots upwards of $20 million on Mondays and Wednesdays.
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Fantasy 5 – Pick 5 numbers between 1-39 for a chance at rewards up to $200K in nightly drawings. One of the California Lottery‘s most popular offerings.
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Daily Derby – This one combines horse racing and lottery number picking for a shot at a $312K top prize. Drawings happen 7 days a week.
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Hot Spot – Reveal matching symbols on a 5×5 grid to win rewards from $2 up to $50,000. Also drawn daily.
Scratchers
- Scratch-Off Tickets – 7-Eleven sells a huge assortment of colorful scratcher games ranging from $1 to $30 in price with prizes from free tickets up to millions!
Along with the state lottery, you can also find tickets for massive national games Mega Millions and Powerball at your local 7-Eleven thanks to membership in the Multi-State Lottery Association.
So no matter your favorite lottery game, you can likely find lottery tickets for it whenever you pop into a 7-Eleven in California!
Buying Tickets In-Store at 7-Eleven
When you‘re ready to buy some lottery tickets at 7-Eleven, you‘ve got several quick and convenient options:
From the Cashier
The traditional way is to simply tell the cashier which games and number picks you want printed on your ticket. You can choose your own numbers or ask for computer-generated quick picks. The cashier can print everything right there for immediate purchase.
Lottery Vending Machines
Many 7-Elevens now have self-service lottery vending machines near the front entrance for fast access. Just insert cash, choose a game, and out pops your ticket with quick pick numbers.
Mobile App Purchase
You can also use the 7-Eleven mobile app in California to buy lottery tickets from your phone. Select numbers yourself or go with quick picks and a barcode will be generated to scan at the store.
Online Through Lottery Couriers
A small number of lottery games allow online purchase through third-party courier services that will physically buy and deliver tickets for you. Check availability for your preferred games.
Get 7Rewards Points
When buying lottery tickets at 7-Eleven, be sure to scan your 7Rewards loyalty card to earn points towards delicious freebies like coffee, Slurpees, pizzas, and more!
So easy and convenient! Now let‘s go over some tips for finding a 7-Eleven near you that‘s selling those lucky lottery tickets…
Locating Your Nearest 7-Eleven Selling Lottery Tickets
With over 600 stores statewide, you‘re never far from a 7-Eleven in California. Here are some handy ways to find a location selling lottery tickets nearby:
Use the 7-Eleven Store Locator
Search the 7-Eleven store locator site by city or ZIP code. Look for the helpful "Lottery" tag on listings to confirm ticket sales.
Check the 7-Eleven Mobile App
The 7-Eleven app makes finding stores a breeze when on the go. Simply enable the locator and filter by the "Lottery" amenity to see nearby participating spots.
Search on Mapping Apps
Apps like Google Maps and Apple Maps let you quickly search and map local 7-Eleven spots. Give stores a call to double check on lottery sales before heading over.
Look for Bright Green Signs
Keep an eye out while driving around your city for the unmistakable bright green 7-Eleven signs. Swing through to check for lottery games inside.
Ask Fellow Local Lottery Players
Chat with neighbors, friends, or family who regularly buy lottery tickets about which 7-Eleven they go to. Fellow players can share insider store tips!
I find the 7-Eleven stores with gas stations almost always have lottery tickets handy for purchase. And now you‘ve got all the tools to easily track down the 7-Eleven locations selling lottery games closest to you. Time to try your luck!
The California Lottery and 7-Eleven Retail Partnership
The California State Lottery launched in 1985 after being approved by voters the previous year. Today, annual lottery ticket sales top $7 billion statewide. By law, all profits generated benefit public education programs in California.
7-Eleven has been an authorized retail partner selling lottery tickets since the very start in the 1980s. Along with supermarkets, gas stations, liquor stores, and other convenience franchises, 7-Eleven helps the Lottery distribute games across the state.
"Having major retail partners like 7-Eleven is absolutely vital for the Lottery in providing widespread access to our products for players." – California Lottery Spokesperson
These retail partnerships ensure Californians can conveniently find lottery tickets in their own neighborhoods. The stores also benefit from lottery ticket sales commissions and increased customer traffic. It‘s a win-win arrangement!
Big California Lottery Wins at 7-Eleven Stores
Numerous massive lottery jackpot tickets have been sold at California 7-Eleven locations over the years:
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April 2021 – A 7-Eleven in Sacramento sold a Mega Millions ticket worth $20 million, the city‘s biggest MM prize ever.
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January 2019 – A National City 7-Eleven produced a lucky $40 million SuperLotto Plus winner.
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November 2018 – The 7th largest Mega Millions jackpot in history of $543 million was won on a ticket from a San Jose 7-Eleven.
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June 2010 – A $72 million CA Lottery jackpot, one of the largest ever, was claimed by a winner who bought a Mega Millions quick pick ticket at a Lakewood 7-Eleven.
With prizes in the tens of millions being won there before, your neighborhood 7-Eleven could sell the next big jackpot ticket. You might want to buy your next Powerball or SuperLotto Plus ticket at a California 7-Eleven near you!
Playing the Lottery Responsibly
The convenience of being able to stop in and buy lottery tickets at local 7-Eleven stores is great. But it‘s also important we keep lottery play fun and responsible.
The odds of actually hitting one of those huge jackpots remain extremely long:
- Powerball Odds: 1 in 292 million
- Mega Millions Odds: 1 in 302 million
- SuperLotto Plus Odds: 1 in 41 million
I recommend setting a reasonable budget for lottery purchases each month and sticking closely to it. Never spend money on lottery games meant for bills, mortgage, rent, or other priorities.
Avoid chasing losses and recognize the most likely outcome is the money spent on tickets will not be recouped or create massive winnings. Playing lottery games is entertainment with a cost for participants like other hobbies.
Most importantly, if you sense signs of harmful gambling behavior or lottery obsession, seek help from resources like the California Problem Gambling Help Line. Play safely within your limits and have fun!
Where California Lottery Revenue Goes
While we focus on those incredible jackpots, it‘s good to know the money spent on lottery games at 7-Eleven and elsewhere benefits communities around California.
By law, all profits from the California Lottery are directed to supporting public education programs in the state. In 2020-21, the Lottery generated over $8 billion in revenues and contributed $1.8 billion for schools. Since 1985, more than $39 billion has gone to benefit education across California.
So while chances remain very low of winning a lifechanging prize yourself, your lottery play helps California students and schools!
California Lottery Player Statistics and Demographics
Some key stats on who plays the lottery in California and how much they spend:
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68% of CA adults report playing the lottery in the past year, one of the highest rates in the U.S.
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Lottery play is most popular among middle-aged adults 45-60 years old in California.
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Lower income residents buy lottery tickets more frequently, but wealthier players spend more per ticket on average.
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Hispanics make up the largest share of CA lottery players at 44% of total, followed by Whites at 35% and Asians at 12%.
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Average per person lottery spend is $10 weekly, but frequent players may invest $25-$50 or more chasing jackpot rollovers.
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Scratcher sales account for around 70% of Lottery revenues. But jackpot games drive spikes in ticket purchases when pots get huge.
The widespread availability of lottery games at local retailers like 7-Eleven ensures tickets are conveniently accessible to the millions of Californians who enjoy playing for just $2 or $3 bucks a pop. Who knows, this just might be your lucky day!
I hope you found this guide helpful for understanding everything 7-Eleven offers in California lottery games. With so many stores in our state selling tickets to massive jackpot lotteries like Mega Millions and Powerball, you‘re always near a 7-Eleven where you can try your hand at becoming California‘s next big lottery winner!
Let me know if you have any other questions about playing lottery games in our state. I‘m always happy to chat more about lottery playing strategies, our biggest California jackpot wins, and anything else useful to fellow players like you. Thanks for reading and best of luck on your next lottery ticket!
