Ohio Lottery's instant games make winners without the wait

Some Ohio Lottery players just don't want to wait for a winner. Buckeye Staters not into the blissful excitement of brightly colored pingpong balls with numbers printed on them find that Ohio Lottery's instant games scratch their winning itch.

The Ohio Lottery distributes some 48-52 instant games to retailers per year, ranging in price from $1 to $20. Up to 30 million tickets per game are printed annually, with each game having a life span of four to five months.

Many of the games feature multiple prize structures. The long-running and ever-popular Cash Explosion also offers players their own "Mr. DeMille, I'm ready for my close-up" moment: a chance to play on Ohio Lottery's very own television game show.

Branded games are among the most appealing instant winner lottery games nationwide.

The Ohio Lottery Commission has recognized this trend, offering games based on Ohio's sports teams, including the NFL's Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns; on vintage arcade games like NAMCO's 1980s classic Pac-Man; and on popular television game shows (such as NBC's "Deal or No Deal") and more.

Holiday-themed instant games like the recent Valentine's Day Doubler and Luck of the Irish also tend to be fairly popular with Ohio Lottery players.

If you're holding on to a winner in one of these latter-mentioned games, be aware of the 180-day window and cash in quickly before your ticket expires.