Names Lottery
Free random name picker
Names Lottery is a free entertainment and organization tool for classrooms, raffles, and random selections. It does not involve real-money wagering or gambling. Users are responsible for making sure any giveaway, contest, or drawing follows local laws.
What is Names Lottery for?
Names Lottery is a free random name picker with a visible lottery bowl. You add names as labeled balls, mix the bowl in plain view, and draw a winner or the next participant through the pipe. It is made for classrooms, meetings, team raffles, parties, giveaways, and any group that wants a fair pick everyone can watch.
The idea is fairness you can see. A hidden shuffle can feel like someone already chose. Here each name sits on its own ball, the mix happens on screen, and the group watches which ball reaches the pipe. That visible draw is why it works for calling on a student, assigning a task, or picking a raffle winner without an argument about who was chosen.
You do not need an account. Add a class, a team, or a lunch group, save the list in this browser if you will use it again, and share a link when someone else should open the same names. The list is not stored on a server. Names Lottery is a simple, spirited tool for equal-chance picks. It is not gambling and it does not take money or wagers. If you run a giveaway, follow your local rules.
Common ways to use Names Lottery
- Classrooms and workshops. Pick a student to answer, present, or take the next turn with a visible random draw. Everyone can see their name on a ball, so the class follows the mix instead of waiting on a name pulled from a hat. It also works for workshop volunteers, discussion leaders, and rotating roles when you want the next person chosen fairly.
- Team raffles and task assignments. Choose who takes the next task, leads a round, or gets a slot in a team activity. A visible bowl keeps the raffle or assignment in the open, which helps when the same people keep getting picked. Use it for office raffles, sprint chores, or any team draw where the group should see the balls mix.
- Meetings and standups. Rotate who demos, facilitates, or takes notes so selections feel fair to the group. Load the meeting roster, mix the bowl, and draw the next person while others watch. That keeps standups and reviews from always landing on the same volunteer.
- Parties and game nights. Choose who goes first, picks the next activity, or starts the next round. Each name sits on a colored ball, so friends can follow the mix and cheer the draw. It is a light way to pick the next player without a debate.
- Workplace lunch and everyday choices. When a team cannot decide where to go for lunch, add the nearby restaurants or meal ideas and let the bowl make the pick. The same approach works for other small group choices, like who grabs coffee or which option the table should try next.
- Giveaways and group draws. Run a light giveaway, pick a volunteer, or choose a winner in view of the room. Names Lottery does not take entries as payments or wagers. You stay responsible for any contest rules that apply where you are.
It works as a classroom name picker, a raffle name picker, and a way to draw names from a hat. How the classroom, raffle, and hat draws work
How Names Lottery works
- Add names in the Participants list. Each name appears on a labeled ball in the bowl. Balls use a 20-color palette so they are easy to tell apart, and colors repeat if the list is larger. You can load up to 40 names, and you need at least two to start a draw.
- Edit or remove names at any time. The matching ball updates or leaves the bowl. You can also load a sample list if you just want to try the machine.
- Save a group you reuse, such as a class or team, with Saved lists. The list stays in this browser, with no account. Use Share in the header when you want a link that includes the names so someone else can open the same list.
- Press Draw winner when at least two names are loaded. The bowl mixes in view, then the ball nearest the pipe drops into the winner cup. You can also tap or click the bowl to bounce the balls before a draw.
- After a ball lands, draw the next ball from the remaining names, or start a new draw. Drawn names show under Last drawn, and you can return a name to the participants if you want them back in the bowl. The pipe holds several balls. Empty it or reset the bowl when you need space to keep drawing.
Frequently asked questions
What is Names Lottery?
Names Lottery is a free random name picker in the browser. You add names as lottery balls, mix the bowl, and draw one winner through the pipe. The pick stays on screen so a class or group can watch.
How does Names Lottery pick a winner?
The draw starts with a random mix. When the mix ends, the ball sitting closest to the pipe entrance drops out. If a few balls are tied at the mouth, one of those is chosen at random. You do not pick the winner in advance.
Is Names Lottery random?
Yes. The mix is random. When it ends, the ball closest to the pipe drops. If several balls are essentially tied at the mouth, one of those is chosen at random. You do not choose the winner in advance.
Is Names Lottery free?
Yes. Names Lottery is free to use in the browser. There is no account, no paywall, and no download.
How does Names Lottery use my data?
Your name list, mute setting, theme, and privacy-banner choice stay in this browser. We do not store your list on a server or send names to analytics. Sharing puts the names in the link, where anyone with the link can see them.
Can I share my Names Lottery list?
Yes. Use Share in the header. The link includes the names in your list so the other person sees the same names. We do not store that shared list on a server.
Can I use it for a classroom, team raffle, or live selection?
Yes. It is commonly used for classrooms, meetings, team activities, and live group selections. You are responsible for following local rules for any event or school activity you run.
Is Names Lottery gambling?
No. It is an entertainment and organization tool. It does not take wagers, prizes, or payments. If you run a giveaway, you must follow your local laws.
How many names can I add?
You can load up to 40 names. The bowl uses a 20-color palette that repeats for larger lists, while each ball keeps its name label.
Does Names Lottery work on a phone?
Yes. The bowl and draw controls are built for phones and desktops. Add names, mix, and draw from either.
How do I remove a winner and draw again?
After a ball lands, you can remove that winner from the list or leave them in and press Draw again. Draw again mixes the current bowl and picks a new ball at the pipe.