As of now, almost anyone can buy a Florida Lottery ticket. Just a few months ago, a Texas man won $1 million in the Florida Lottery’s “$1,000,000 a Year For Life” game.
But last week, Gov. Ron DeSantis made an announcement that could change who can and can’t play in the state’s lottery games. Last Thursday, May 1, the governor said officials are extending Florida’s immigration enforcement partnerships to state agencies that are a “target rich environment,” which includes the Florida Lottery.
According to the governor, it “remains to be seen” whether or not the crackdown will require people to show proof of legal residency to gamble or buy lottery tickets and other regulated services and products; or if the enforcement will be limited to lottery vendors and employees.
Here’s who can play the Florida Lottery as of May 7, 2025 and when drawings are.
Yes! As of May 7, 2025, you can play the Florida Lottery as long as you have some form of legal identification, even if it’s a foreign passport. But that could change soon, according to the governor’s announcement last week.
“I think that (it) remains to be seen how, exactly, they are going to do it,” DeSantis said. “I think these folks are involved in areas where they are likely going to be able to add value to what ICE and DHS are doing. So just stay tuned and see how that unfolds.”
Florida lottery and ICE: State inspectors on lottery, alcohol and tobacco to work with ICE on immigration crackdown
As of now, almost anyone can play the Florida Lottery, as long as they have a “form of identification that is current or was issued within the past five years and bears a serial number or other identifying number,” according to the lottery’s website. But if you’re using a foreign passport, it limits the kind of prizes you can claim.
Yes. Selling lottery tickets to minors is illegal in Florida, so you will have to show one of the valid forms of identification to buy one.
Florida Lottery drawings are held every Wednesday and Saturday at 11:15 p.m. ET.
Can you play the Florida Lottery if you're not a U.S. citizen? Yes, but that could change – Florida Today
