Of all the jackpot-style draw games offered by the Pennsylvania Lottery, Treasure Hunt has the best odds of winning the top prize. With jackpot odds of approximately 1 in 142,506, it offers more than six times better chances than Cash 5 and nearly 100 times better odds than Match 6 Lotto, and it runs multiple times every day.
If you've never played Treasure Hunt or haven't looked closely at how it compares to other PA games, this breakdown covers everything you need to know.
How Treasure Hunt Works
Treasure Hunt is a PA-exclusive draw game. You pick 5 unique numbers from a pool of 1 through 30. In the draw, 5 numbers are selected from the same pool. Match all five and you win the jackpot.
The game has multiple draws throughout each day, making it one of the most frequently drawn games in the PA Lottery lineup. Ticket price is $1 per play. The top prize is capped at $300,000. Once the jackpot hits that level, it stays there until it's won, then resets.
Why the Odds Are So Good
The number of possible combinations in a lottery game is calculated using combinations math. For Treasure Hunt (pick 5 from 30), the calculation is C(30,5), which equals 142,506 possible unique combinations. Every one of those combinations has an equal probability of being drawn.
Compare that to Cash 5 (pick 5 from 43), where C(43,5) equals 962,598 combinations. A pool of 43 numbers instead of 30 doesn't sound dramatically different, but it produces nearly seven times more possible combinations, which means seven times worse jackpot odds.
| Game | Pick format | Combinations | Jackpot odds | Ticket price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Treasure Hunt | 5 from 1–30 | 142,506 | 1 in 142,506 | $1 |
| Cash 5 | 5 from 1–43 | 962,598 | 1 in 962,598 | $1 |
| Match 6 Lotto | 6 from 1–49 | 13,983,816 | 1 in 13,983,816 | $2 |
| Powerball | 5+1 from 1–69/1–26 | 292,201,338 | 1 in 292,201,338 | $2 |
| Mega Millions | 5+1 from 1–70/1–25 | 302,575,350 | 1 in 302,575,350 | $2 |
Multiple Draws Per Day
Most PA Lottery jackpot games draw once per day. Treasure Hunt draws multiple times daily; the exact times are set by the Pennsylvania Lottery and are subject to change, so always check the current schedule at your retailer or on the official PA Lottery website before purchasing.
Multiple daily draws mean more opportunities to play on the same day. If you want to buy tickets for multiple draws in one visit, ask your retailer about multi-draw options so you don't have to return for each individual draw.
The Prize Cap
Treasure Hunt's jackpot is capped at $300,000. This is different from Cash 5 and Match 6, where the jackpot grows without a stated ceiling during a long rollover stretch. The trade-off is straightforward: better odds come with a lower potential maximum payout.
For players who prefer better odds over the possibility of a massive payout, this is a reasonable trade. For players dreaming of a multi-million dollar prize, the cap is a real limitation. Treasure Hunt is not the right game if you're chasing the biggest possible jackpot. It is the right game if you want the best realistic chance of winning one.
Secondary Prize Tiers
Like other PA jackpot games, Treasure Hunt has lower prize tiers for matching some but not all of the drawn numbers.
| Numbers matched | Prize | Approximate odds |
|---|---|---|
| 5 of 5 | Jackpot (up to $300,000) | 1 in 142,506 |
| 4 of 5 | Pari-mutuel | 1 in 2,431 |
| 3 of 5 | Pari-mutuel | 1 in 97 |
The 3-of-5 odds (roughly 1 in 97) mean you'll statistically win something at the lowest prize tier about once every hundred tickets, which is relatively frequent compared to most draw games.
Treasure Hunt vs. Cash 5: A Direct Comparison
These are the two PA daily jackpot games most worth comparing since they're both $1 tickets with daily draws.
| Treasure Hunt | Cash 5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Pick format | 5 from 1–30 | 5 from 1–43 |
| Jackpot odds | 1 in 142,506 | 1 in 962,598 |
| Draws per day | Multiple | One (evening) |
| Jackpot cap | $300,000 | No published cap |
| Starting jackpot | Set amount | $125,000 |
| Ticket price | $1 | $1 |
Treasure Hunt wins on odds and draw frequency. Cash 5 wins on uncapped jackpot potential during long rollovers. Both are significantly better bets, odds-wise, than any multi-state game.
Who Should Play Treasure Hunt?
- Players who prioritize better jackpot odds over maximum jackpot size.
- Players who want more frequent daily draw opportunities.
- Budget-conscious players who want to maximize their chances for $1 per ticket.
- Players who don't want to wait for a once-a-night draw and prefer multiple draws throughout the day.
Always verify current draw times, prize structures, and ticket prices at palottery.state.pa.us or at a licensed PA Lottery retailer. Game rules and schedules can change without notice.