The Arkansas Scholarship Lottery will roll out a new statewide raffle game with a top $1 million prize and more than 40 new instant tickets in the next year, officials said Monday.
Agency director Bishop Woosley said at a lottery commission meeting that the second Million Dollar Raffle will have some key differences from the first one in 2010, in which ticket sales started off slowly because a draw date wasn't set.
Woosley said ticket sales for the new raffle will begin soon with four draws already set: three early-bird draws in October, November and December offering prizes of up to $10,000, and a grand prize drawing on Jan. 2 to award the $1 million.
A single ticket could conceivably win a prize four times if it were purchased before all four drawings. The tickets will cost $10 each, though the agency will offer three for $20 and six for $30, Woosley said.
"We're hoping this one will be successful and we'll have steady sales throughout the game," Woosley said.
Speaking during a presentation offering a tentative overview of the lottery's plan over the next year, Woosley said the agency will also create 46 new instant ticket games in that span. Last year, 81 percent of sales were instant scratch-off tickets which differ from online tickets like Powerball and Mega Millions.
Among the offerings, one will be St. Louis Cardinals-themed and may offer prizes like World Series tickets and game packages, officials said. Another game will be branded with Bass Pro Shops logos.
Also during Monday's meeting, Woosley said the lottery's Natural State Jackpot proved successful in its first year. The agency projected $6 million in sales after it debuted last August. By July 31, it had sold $7,784,629 and awarded $3,900,801 in prizes.
"A lot of people said this type of game wouldn't work here," Woosley said. "I think we proved them wrong."
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46 new games? Gamblers rejoice.
Ove raffles good for Arkansas
What I don't get is Arkansas got the lottery after Oklahoma but yet they have better scratchers and games
come on Oklahoma get it together!!!!
I'm sure they mean well but who plays the lottery to win a Bass Pro-Shop tote bag or tickets to a baseball game?
I say give people cash prizes and let them decide if they want to buy tickets to a baseball game or buy a tote bag.
good news for the lottery....buddy your in the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA the most sought after in the world! y don't you take advantage of this and play scratch lotteries and win big?
exactly, who needs a tote bag or tickets to a game you can watch on hdtv. just another example of the fumbling, bumbling, inept lottery director bishop woosley at his inexperienced best. you have to feel for arkansasites who have to endure the tenure of this balding, finger pointing ex clinton worshipper who finagled his way into the top position at the arkansas lottery. is impeachment allowed in that state? has tar and feathering been outlawed? the people should settle for some of the lottery ticket sales be used for a one-way ticket out of town for a certain somebody named bishop.
We now have more games to play. If this one will become successful, more likely other players from other states might choose to play these games too. It is nice that the more tickets you buy the cheaper the cost became like if you can get 3 tickets for the price of 2.
yep. I agree