The Massachusetts State Lottery will unveil plans today for its most expensive game yet, a $20 raffle-style ("sweepstakes") drawing.
The new game comes as the Lottery looks to revive sales. After years of increases, the Lottery has recently seen its sales growth stall.
The $20 sweepstakes ticket marks the Lottery's first venture into that higher-end price range.
The new "Star Spangled Sweepstakes" contest will kick off May 1, with a July 4 drawing. Lottery officials pledge to create "more millionaires in a single drawing than any other game in U.S. lottery history."
At that drawing, Lottery officials plan to dole out $40 million in cash prizes, including a $20 million grand prize; 10 $1 million payouts; and 40 $250,000 prizes.
The contest revives a revenue-raising tactic popular in Colonial times in Massachusetts, with the first drawing held in 1745 at Faneuil Hall. John Han served for a time as a state lottery commissioner.
To help market the game, a Lottery employee dressed in Colonial garb will make the rounds today. Lottery agents also stand to gain big commissions for selling the winning tickets — up to $250,000.
"The agents are excited about it and that should help drive it," said Lottery chief Mark Cavanagh.
But the decision of offer a $20 ticket is a sensitive one for the Lottery, which is now studying whether to offer scratch tickets in that price range. Opponents of high-priced lottery tickets have argued they create a deeper dent in the pocketbooks of purchasers.
The rollout comes as the Lottery, overseen by state Treasurer Tim Cahill, looks for new games to revive revenue growth. Overall, the Lottery generates nearly $1 billion a year in local aid payments to cities and towns across the state.
A total of 4 million tickets will be sold, raising an additional $80 million in Lottery revenue, officials said.
"You have to stay fresh," Cavanagh said. "You can't keep on doing the same old, same old."
The new sweepstakes, in contrast to most other Lottery products, will offer a lump-sum cash payout, rather than annuity payments stretched out over several years.
The new sweepstakes, in contrast to most other Lottery products, will offer a lump-sum cash payout, rather than annuity payments stretched out over several years.
Hmmm...a $20 million first prize is nice, 10 $1 million prizes even nicer, but I think the thing that will have the most impact on Massachusett's lottery sales with this game is the lump-sum cash payout! That rocks especially for the lucky soul who wins the $20 million grand prize. Me thinks I might have to plan a special trip to Massachusetts...NOT! But if I lived on any bordering state, I would venture there to buy a few of the sweepstakes game tickets...good luck you lucky Connecticans, Rhode Islanders, New Yorkers, Minutemen, and other Tri-staters.
Yeah I don't see this game selling out. 4 million tickets. The odds of winning any prize are what 1 in 78000. Massachusettes doesn't have that big of a population, they must count of neighbor states a lot! If they can sell that many tickets all the best to them but that seems ridiculous to me.
Massachusetts doesn't have a large population, but when you combine with areas within 1 hour of its borders, you pick up a lot of other areas (Southern Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, the entire state of Rhode Island, most of Connecticut, and the Albany NY area). Massachusetts proximity to other states, plus other mid-sized cities (plus Boston), you've got a ripe breeding ground. It is also reasonable to expect visting Taxachusetts, er, I mean Massachusetts will be enticed to buy a ticket in such a drawing.
I had already planned a Boston trip and I'll probably pick up 5 tickets, so I expect to win $24 million with them.
The new sweepstakes, in contrast to most other Lottery products, will offer a lump-sum cash payout, rather than annuity payments stretched out over several years.
Hmmm...a $20 million first prize is nice, 10 $1 million prizes even nicer, but I think the thing that will have the most impact on Massachusett's lottery sales with this game is the lump-sum cash payout! That rocks especially for the lucky soul who wins the $20 million grand prize. Me thinks I might have to plan a special trip to Massachusetts...NOT! But if I lived on any bordering state, I would venture there to buy a few of the sweepstakes game tickets...good luck you lucky Connecticans, Rhode Islanders, New Yorkers, Minutemen, and other Tri-staters.
Yeah I don't see this game selling out. 4 million tickets. The odds of winning any prize are what 1 in 78000. Massachusettes doesn't have that big of a population, they must count of neighbor states a lot! If they can sell that many tickets all the best to them but that seems ridiculous to me.
B-rad
It's also ridiculously expensive. What's next, $50 raffle tickets?!?
if the critic jay sherman says it then it has to be true...
Massachusetts doesn't have a large population, but when you combine with areas within 1 hour of its borders, you pick up a lot of other areas (Southern Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, the entire state of Rhode Island, most of Connecticut, and the Albany NY area). Massachusetts proximity to other states, plus other mid-sized cities (plus Boston), you've got a ripe breeding ground. It is also reasonable to expect visting Taxachusetts, er, I mean Massachusetts will be enticed to buy a ticket in such a drawing.
I had already planned a Boston trip and I'll probably pick up 5 tickets, so I expect to win $24 million with them.