The New Mexico Lottery and Santa Ana Star Casino have entered into the first joint lottery/tribal casino game in the state and possibly the United States.
The two have launched LottoSino(C), an instant (Scratcher) game with two distinct playing fields: one for the lottery and the other for the casino.
The traditional New Mexico Lottery portion features 11 ways to win with top cash prizes of $30,000. Santa Ana Star's portion includes a scratch-off playing field revealing various casino prizes ranging from logo-styled merchandise and free bowling to $5,000 top cash prizes.
"Four different groups will reap LottoSino's rewards," said Lottery CEO Tom Shaheen. "First, New Mexico Lottery players will enjoy a new and different game. Second, casino players who normally don't buy lottery tickets may find a new product they enjoy. Third, the game will help raise more money for the Lottery Success Scholarship. And fourth, the Pueblo of Santa Ana will be able to generate needed funds to support its community programs."
"Indian gaming was put in place by the federal government to assist tribal governments in being self-sufficient," said General Manager Conrad Granito. "With federal programs to Santa Ana Pueblo being cut every year, the revenues provided by the casino help in supporting the tribal members in many ways."
Proposed to the Lottery by Vegas Games Inc. (VGI), the LottoSino concept was presented to several New Mexico tribal casinos. Santa Ana Star on the Santa Ana Pueblo not only opted to participate with the lottery, but also applied to be a New Mexico Lottery retailer. Shaheen noted that the initial proposal presented by VGI would have partnered the lottery with a Nevada casino promotion. However, he said that it was important that the promotional partnership be offered to a New Mexico Native American casino.
"We're thrilled that Santa Ana Star elected to participate in this revolutionary concept," Shaheen added.
Now beginning its tenth year of operations, the New Mexico Lottery has already raised more than $243 million for public education, including almost $177 million for the Lottery Success Scholarship program. More than 35,000 students so far have received their in-state college tuition paid by the Lottery Success Scholarship.
So one side has a 50% payback and the other a 90% payback?
Do NM tribal casino players have to be 18 (the NM lottery minimum) or 21?
Do NM tribal casino players have to be 18 (the NM lottery minimum) or 21?
I went to NM a while back, and from what I remember it varies from tribe to tribe. But it's been a while so it might've changed.
I hope to be in NM for the first time late this year.
Whew.... I play most of my blackjack at the Star.... it's about 8 miles from me.
And fourth, the Pueblo of Santa Ana will be able to generate needed funds to support its community programs."
Interesting statement. There are about 600 Santa Anas in the world. They have an enormous Hyatt Resort on the REZ, huge casino, etc etc etc.
Are they all running around in Caddies? Nope. Most are on welfare.
Jack
There is even a Santa Ana wind.
There is even a Santa Ana wind.
Likely so, but you don't whiff it much inside the Santa Ana Star Casino. Not enough Santa Anas to make wind enough to fill the place.
Surely am pleased, I am, to see NM, with a State Government I still believe (even after reading the TN Alert thread) needs not bow second-best to any other State for corruption, skulduggery and brassy high-handedness, teaming up with a tribal casino to create a lottery......
They're probably auctioning off the algorithms off the back steps even as I write this.
Wheweeee. That ought to be one for the books. Can't wait to buy me one of THOSE tickets. I look for this to be some really leading-edge chicanery.
Jack
Although I love the folks at the NM Lottery, unfortunately they currently have a grade of D on the State Lottery Report Card.
Todd:
I'm thinking they worked hard for that D. When this other one's launched you might have to create a special grading system to accomodate a lottery that can't make the grade for an F.
Jack
Do NM tribal casino players have to be 18 (the NM lottery minimum) or 21?
Cash Only:
That question's evidently the offspring of being something short of 21 years, but long on 18. You'd probably be doing yourself a service, if you have to ask that question, by making a long route around the casinos here.
There's a lot to see and do in NM that leaves you with a pair of shoes to wear home and enough money to buy a ticket out of here. We try not to go overboard with it.... leave your bucks all over the State if it moves you, but there's no point in giving one of the tribes a monopoly on it.
Jack
Todd:
I'm thinking they worked hard for that D. When this other one's launched you might have to create a special grading system to accomodate a lottery that can't make the grade for an F.
Jack
The Report Card will be improved in the future to include scratch games, which actually may help the NM Lottery raise their grade up higher. For example, if they offer a wide variety of games, plus have cash/annuity options for their scratch games, these positives will improve their rankings.
There is nothing below F, by the way.
There is nothing below F, by the way.
Too bad.
I don't buy scratchers, but I occasionally see someone win a few bucks on one.
To be honest, I almost don't play NM lottery, though I've bought Roadrunner tickees a time or two. Mostly I just play Powerball. If it happens to be corrupt, at least it's probably a fancier job of work than I'd expect from anything NM would produce.
Need hasn't forced us to get too sophisticated here. We're simple, God-fearing folks who still rely on switch blades and broken beer bottles to solve our differences.
Jack
And plungers.
todd:
When you include cash/annuity, you'll have to downgrade Mass & NY.