Now they're on the right track. We need more pick-6 games, not less!

Quite frankly, they should've went back to a pick-6 format when they joined Mega Millions. It's the obvious choice with bigger jackpots, better overall odds, and the Megaplier. The lower jackpot odds are the only incentive to play Lotto Texas now, seeing it's the same format. Going back to a 6-number game will help it stand out as a different game. Washington was very smart to ditch Lotto Plus when it joined Mega instead of waiting for sales to decline. Sure it had better odds all-around, and was lower priced. But to the untrained eye it means nothing. So they went back to the 6/49 format before sales started to really decline. I'm sure, in time, California will do likewise and take the 'Plus' out of Super Lotto Plus. Heck, they might even take the 'Super' out.

More smoke and mirrors, unless you change the payback % its all SEMANTICS, or a quick fix that will yield the same long term results.

This will be a huge plus for the Texas Lottery.  I'm very happy for you Texans, who will once again have a classic Pick 6 game to play!

It will be interesting to read what various Texans on the board have to say about all this.  They're the ones who'll be deciding whether it was the bonus ball they didn't like, or something else.

With fuel prices soaring there might be cause to wonder whether a penny-lottery is going to be the only thing anyone can afford to play.

Jack

well the sales are down and the jackpots are down too. the largest jackpot washington state had is when it had the gold ball. personally i wish for the bigger pots but financially that won't happen in washington now.

 there really is no thrill in playing the washington lotto or the washington quinto. the pots climb so slowly it is ridiculous. it barely gets up to 5 million now. oregon's megabucks gets into the 10's a lot more than washington state. i actually spend more in oregon than i do in my home state.

well i will keep playing the texas lotto when i pass through. bounus ball or no bonus ball.

by the way if you hit only the bonus ball you win absolutely nothing!!!! 

Admitting you are wrong is hard for lot of folks, especially the ones at the Texas lottery. The people who changed all of the games to make an extra buck for the politicians are still there, still working to find ways to gouge the players with games that are not easy to win in order to boost profits.

As far as a possible pick 6 game, don't count your chickens before the eggs hatch. The current game has been in trouble for a long time. If half of the 2 million folks who can't resist buying a lotto ticket twice a week would give it a rest for a month or two, the lottery would be quick to take action.

What you have here is a bunch of mostly senior citizens playing 10-week multidraws. A lot of these folks apparently don't bother to check their tickets, choosing instead to bring their tickets to a convenience store every 10 weeks and have the clerk check them for winners. Go ask some store clerks!

Some folks are thinking a pick 6 of 50, pick 6 of 52 or pick 6 of 54 will be implemented. Going to be interesting when the Gary Ried, Kim Kiplin and the GETECH gang comes out with pick 6 of 59, or other game they think will maximize state profits by minimizing prize payouts - my, opinion, of course.

I don't think they have given up on the current game. Profits are down now but they know that more and more folks will join in as the jackpot continues to grow. The jackpot reached $145 million before. It took a long time to reach that level, but sales skyrocketed, and will again. They can wait it out. Afterall, no one in government cares what they do, so long as the money continues to flow out of the pockets of the poor into the state bank account.

The main problem for the lottery is getting past the very small jackpots during the first 4 or 5 rolls following a jackpot win. They lied to keep players interested and got caught. Be interesting to see what they come up with in the future. In any event, nothing is going to happen until the current jackpot roll comes to an end.

Oh, you say lottery profits go to education? Bulls**t. Every lotto dollar put into the school foundation fund is one less dollar politicians have to take out the the general fund. It's smoke and mirrors politicians implemented years ago to make players think their money is buying something extra. A major sham, which is the way the Texas lottery has been operating since it started.

Interesting to get a Texas perspective on all this.

Jack

I might sometimes play the Texas Lotto if they take the bonus ball out and make it a 6/49 or 6/50 game, but not if it is higher than 6/50 like 6/51, 6/52 or something else, a no bonus ball pick 6 with no more than 50 ball is all that I would ever play, if it is 6/50 I would sometimes play, if it is 6/49 then I would play more often.

I have not played the Texas Lotto at all for a very long long time, since it was changed from a 6/50 game whenever that was.

Give us a no bonus ball pick 6 with 49 balls (6/49).

Say no to hard to win jackpot games.

Also increase the payouts some.

The Texas Loot-tery is way too greedy.

Also, give us a pick 4 game.

Or get rid of the Texas Lotto and give us a pick 4 game instead.

Well, I'm happy to see the bonus ball go for Texas. Besides, I can analyze their lotto picks [with bonus ball] and later I can convert them into CA SLP. When is TX going back to a 6 number game? I hope they go to a 6 number game out of 54 or more WB.

Sounds like someone in the TLC is finally listening.  But we need to hold our horses until the deal is finally done.  A lot can slip between the cup and the lip!

Orangeman                                   

Given Texas' large population, IMHO 6/50 would be too small. TX should go back to the 6/54 game.

I agree with Cash Only, they sold lots of tickets when it was a Pick 6 game in TX.  If they go back to 6/49 the odds of winning are only 1 in 13,000,000.  Won't see that many jackpots runs anymore.

Frankly I don't like the Pick 6 game type.  Its to boring.  I think the bonus ball is a good idea but limit the number of balls.  6/44 and 1/44 is just to much.  If they reduced the bonus balls to 25 or 20 then you have a good game.

Has anyone have any ideas of new games that haven't been played in the market yet?

Brad

brad:

Part of the problem with the current game is that 0+1 is a loser. Why have a mega ball game when matching only the power ball doesn't win?

Cash Only:

You nailed it.  That is what killed the 44/44 game here in Texas.  There was nothing paid for the bonus ball. 

Orangeman