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Lottery scratch games still being sold after jackpots are gone
S.E.Iowa United States Member #59008 February 18, 2008 306 Posts Online
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| Posted: June 30, 2008, 7:36 pm - IP Logged |
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In Delaware the retailers are notified through their terminals and by phone from the Instant ticket sales people as soon as the last top prize in a game is sold. The retailers are instructed to immediately remove the game from sale and return it to the Lottery. It's only fair even though there are often lots of prizes left in the game.
Second chance drawings and awarding a top prize through such a drawing is one way of extending the life of a game. I don't know how the retailers in Iowa are notified,probably pretty much the same as in Delaware,I imagine.But there is still going to be some lag time after the top prize is sold.Supposedly,the Lottery doesn't know when or where the ticket will be sold.They wouldn't know it was sold until someone had it verified at the retailer or redeemed it at Lottery headquarters.
Iowa had a $10 ticket a few years ago that was pulled after 3 weeks because all of the top prizes had been won.One top prize of $50,000 was won just minutes after the ticket hit the stores.
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Pennsylvania United States Member #17377 June 10, 2005 1068 Posts Offline
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| Posted: June 30, 2008, 9:02 pm - IP Logged |
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Perhaps I am missing the mark here, but I disagree that the lottery is only being sold for the top prize category. Winning 10k in change is still worth the effort to keep the tickets on sale. Its a TIERED payout so they arent misleading anyone other then the folks who are narrow minded and think that only 4 grand prizes are worthy of being on sale for. Even powerball players know that they have a slim chance of hitting the major winning but I bet anyone who hit 10k or 200k isnt gripping at that second or third tier prize payout. kindness is a small gesture accepted by another
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Michigan United States Member #22730 September 24, 2005 866 Posts Offline
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| Posted: June 30, 2008, 9:54 pm - IP Logged |
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Perhaps I am missing the mark here, but I disagree that the lottery is only being sold for the top prize category. Winning 10k in change is still worth the effort to keep the tickets on sale. Its a TIERED payout so they arent misleading anyone other then the folks who are narrow minded and think that only 4 grand prizes are worthy of being on sale for. Even powerball players know that they have a slim chance of hitting the major winning but I bet anyone who hit 10k or 200k isnt gripping at that second or third tier prize payout. If you have a top prize available, I am sure many more players are willing to spend the $20 - to take the chance of hitting it. Why does anyone want to spend $20 to hit a smaller prize when another game might still have a Million Dollars for the same price?
I disagree with pulling the game just because the top prize is won. The solution is rather simple, if the top prize is $1,000,000 for a $20 ticket. Then someone wins it and the next prize is $500,000, the ticket price should be cut in half ($10). And so on, until all the prizes are gone. truecritic -> It's always darkest before dawn. So if you're going to steal your neighbor's paper, that's the time to do it.
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Texas United States Member #56363 October 23, 2007 264 Posts Offline
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| Posted: June 30, 2008, 11:01 pm - IP Logged |
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If you have a top prize available, I am sure many more players are willing to spend the $20 - to take the chance of hitting it. Why does anyone want to spend $20 to hit a smaller prize when another game might still have a Million Dollars for the same price?
I disagree with pulling the game just because the top prize is won. The solution is rather simple, if the top prize is $1,000,000 for a $20 ticket. Then someone wins it and the next prize is $500,000, the ticket price should be cut in half ($10). And so on, until all the prizes are gone. I rarely play scratchers, but when I do, I always check online to see what payouts are left, along with overall odds on different tickets I'm considering. A couple years ago a lady in Garland made a big stink about top prizes being gone and tickets still being sold. To me, it's just common sense to check online before buying.
Cutting the ticket price when the top prizes are gone is not a bad idea, and would probably help the state sell remaining tickets faster.
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Burbank CA United States Member #56201 October 16, 2007 172 Posts Offline
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| Posted: June 30, 2008, 11:28 pm - IP Logged |
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The thing that appalled me the most about this story, was the fact that one of the states in questions felt it was okay since they posted that information on their website, I'm sorry but to assume everyone has internet access is a complete joke, especially when the majority of scratch off buyers are lower income families, and even with the library excuse most these families work when librarys are open. Unless this information is posted at every scratch off retailer you can't use that excuse.
Thank goodness I live in a state that already had a law suit to stop this practice. EXMECHANIC "My dollar buys hope, what does yours do?"
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Georgia United States Member #21312 August 29, 2005 1703 Posts Offline
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| Posted: July 1, 2008, 3:02 am - IP Logged |
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If you have a top prize available, I am sure many more players are willing to spend the $20 - to take the chance of hitting it. Why does anyone want to spend $20 to hit a smaller prize when another game might still have a Million Dollars for the same price?
I disagree with pulling the game just because the top prize is won. The solution is rather simple, if the top prize is $1,000,000 for a $20 ticket. Then someone wins it and the next prize is $500,000, the ticket price should be cut in half ($10). And so on, until all the prizes are gone. very good idea true critic....
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Sunny SW Florida United States Member #25708 November 5, 2005 4080 Posts Offline
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| Posted: July 1, 2008, 3:56 am - IP Logged |
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I rarely buy scratch tickets, but I always assumed people checked first, since the amount of top prizes available are listed, at least they are on the FL site. I don't even play them & I check! LOL
I agree with GameGrl and would be very satisfied making $10,000 with a $20 investment. Sure people want a shot at the big prize, but with such high odds, I'm sure most people are just happy to get their money back!
I don't think the idea of cutting ticket prices in half would ever work. All the thousands of retailers would have to be notified and then there would be additional work involved. Too complicated. Having a second chance drawing is always a nice bonus, however.
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United States Member #13375 March 30, 2005 1100 Posts Offline
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| Posted: July 1, 2008, 5:44 am - IP Logged |
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The lottery plans to sell X number of tickets at Y dollars per ticket, minus W dollars of prizes and other expenses, and keep Z dollars of revenue. There seems to be this notion that they are in business to provide money to gamblers. The lottery's job is to collect more money besides what the state can collect from the voters in taxes.
Demanding that the scratch-off games be pulled once the top prize is claimed is a sure way to cause those top prizes to 'drift' towards the last packs printed, or "Oopsie, we had a 'bad run' in that game. Seems the printer neglected to include a top prize ticket". Prince of Insufficient Light ~ Ruler of Heck
"The Earth moves around the Sun." -- some 'crazy' guy, 1632
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Atlanta United States Member #16270 May 24, 2005 177 Posts Offline
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| Posted: July 2, 2008, 8:47 am - IP Logged |
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Hey Sorensonfan41, are you willing to share the information about which tickets have the best chances? Sure would save me a lot of time, and if not, I understand. Mainly interested in $5 games up to $20. Thank you.
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Illinois United States Member #30849 January 17, 2006 3515 Posts Offline
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| Posted: July 2, 2008, 10:20 am - IP Logged |
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Selling tickets for an advertised top prize that no longer exists is almost as bad as selling tickets for a top prize that never existed.
Both are false advertising.
Selling tickets for a top prize that never existed is a flat out scam.
Selling tickets for top prizes that have all been paid out gives lottery players the perception that the lottery is out to scam them. It's Lotto, not horseshoes or artillery! close doesn't count! I sell everything at a loss but make up for it in volume - Milo Minderbinder, Catch-22
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