-842-1-front.jpg?quality=20&width=280&height=660&mode=crop&anchor=topleft)
Millionaire for Life: Why You Should Enter The First Drawing
Wednesday February 18th 2026It’s been pending for months, but the first Millionaire for Life drawing is imminent, and lottery fans are hyped. Not thought about taking part? We’ve put together five key reasons why the first (and last ever first) Millionaire for Life drawing is a special lottery event you should consider entering.
What Is Millionaire for Life?
In case you don’t yet know, Millionaire for life is a new multi-state draw game that provides the opportunity to be granted $1 million a year, every year. You will be able to enter Millionaire for Life drawings every day. The aforementioned prize is the jackpot, but there is also a second prize of $100,000 a year for life.
Tom Seaver, the new lottery’s Product Group Chair and Senior Director of the Colorado Lottery tells us that, “Winning a million dollars a year for life is the jackpot of a lifetime. Millionaire for Life adds a strong new option to lottery game portfolios while giving players more choice in how and when they play for these life-changing prizes.”
Why You Should Enter the First Millionaire for Life Draw
With that brief introduction out of the way, here are the top five reasons for entering the first ever Millionaire for Life drawing:
1. You Could Be The First Winner
Being in the first drawing gives you the opportunity to make history as the first person (ever!) to win not just the top prize, but any prize at all. Many lottery players enjoy the novelty and bragging rights of being a ‘first-ever winner’.
2. You Get Early Exposure
Entering the first draw is a great way to gain early exposure to the prize structure and game format. That’s especially beneficial if you intend to enter Millionaire for Life regularly. Why not dip your toe in the water and see how the game feels?
3. There Are (Psychologically) Better Odds
While this is a psychological factor and not a mathematical one (the odds stay the same), it’s still noteworthy. Fewer people tend to enter the very first draw compared to later ones once the game becomes established, making the odds feel better if you’re a first time participant. This ups the excitement of the game and lets you play with confidence.
4. Historical Significance
Remember, the launch of a shiny new multi-state lottery is exceptionally rare. That’s because it requires coordination between many state lotteries and approval from lottery boards and regulators. Plus, states are cautious about interfering with existing successful lotteries. That makes the launch of Millionaire for Life a rare and historical moment in US lottery history.
5. To Join in on the Excitement and Hype
The first draw is often more hyped up and exciting than any that follow it. Some lotteries issue first-draw commemorative tickets or record the winners in the official launch press. If you win, you’re part of the game’s inaugural history, which could have long-term interest or collector value. Or, you just get the ability to say that you got involved in the first event.
Enter Millionaire for Life
If that has fueled your fire for the first ever Millionaire for Life draw, then watch this space. Tickets become available starting February 22, 2026, the official launch of the game. If you live in one of the participating states — including West Virginia and Mississippi — you will be able to purchase tickets from that day forward.
The first draw takes place at 11:15 PM Eastern Time on Sunday February 22, 2026. After that, it draws every day of the week indefinitely. Those wanting to take part in the first Millionaire for Life draw ever have until 9:58 PM ET, or 10:15 PM EST to get their tickets.
Find out more about the United States’ newest multi-state draw game at our main Millionaire for Life page. This page includes a list of states where you can play, a table of the odds and prizes, and a step by step guide of how to play the game.
Latest News