Multi-state Wild Card game to change

Jan 15, 2013, 2:18 pm (15 comments)

Insider Buzz

By Todd Northrop

Starting with the Wednesday night drawing, the multi-state Wild Card 2 lottery game will undergo some minor changes that will make the jackpots a little bigger, while making the game a little harder to win.

Wild Card 2 is currently available to play in Idaho, Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota.

After somebody wins the jackpot, the new starting jackpot will be $200,000 — doubling the old starting jackpot of $100,000.

Also, players who win the second prize by matching all five numbers but not the Wild Card will win $6,000, instead of the old second prize of $5,000.

Wild Card 2To make the mathematics of a larger jackpot and second prize work, the lotteries are adding two numbers to the pool of numbers to choose from.  Players will now choose five numbers between 1 and 33, instead of 31, and choose from the same set of 16 Wild Cards.

The price and drawing frequency remain unchanged.  Drawings are still every Wednesday and Saturday night and tickets will still sell for $1 for two plays.

The odds of winning the jackpot are now about one in 1.9 million, compared to one in 1.36 million in the previous version of the game.

The jackpot for Wednesday's drawing is $590,000.

Thanks to HoLeeKau for the tip.

Lottery Post Staff

Comments

HoLeeKau's avatarHoLeeKau

I saw in one article (maybe on wiki) that the reason for the change was to make the game more attractive in hopes of convincing other states to add it to their stable of products.

I'm not sure how I feel about that.  On one hand, the jackpots would get higher faster.  On the other hand, nobody in Idaho would win anymore. 

puzzled smiley

dallascowboyfan's avatardallascowboyfan

I wish Oklahoma had this game...... I emailed Oklahoma Lottery Commission they said they looked into but decided not toBang Head......

jimjwright's avatarjimjwright

I don't [play the game anymore but one nice thing about it is you get 2 picks for $1.00.  If they don't change that aspect of the game I might start playing it again with the higher starting jackpot.  I got 4+0 a number of times playing this game but could never get 4+1, 5+0, or 5+1 to get the higher payouts.

Jimmy

GASMETERGUY

Perhaps the game would gather more support if the drawing were held on Monday and Thursday. 
Then we would have a big jackpot running every day of the week except Sunday.

Cletu$2's avatarCletu$2

Quote: Originally posted by GASMETERGUY on Jan 16, 2013

Perhaps the game would gather more support if the drawing were held on Monday and Thursday. 
Then we would have a big jackpot running every day of the week except Sunday.

I Agree!

HoLeeKau's avatarHoLeeKau

Quote: Originally posted by GASMETERGUY on Jan 16, 2013

Perhaps the game would gather more support if the drawing were held on Monday and Thursday. 
Then we would have a big jackpot running every day of the week except Sunday.

I suggested that to the Idaho lottery when they scheduled the Weekly Grand drawing for the same nights as Powerball.  They emailed back and said people preferred to get all their tickets at the same time.

Okay, I guess I'm different from most.  I'd buy more WG tickets just out of boredom, to have something to look forward to checking on Monday and Thursday.

Cletu$2's avatarCletu$2

Quote: Originally posted by HoLeeKau on Jan 16, 2013

I suggested that to the Idaho lottery when they scheduled the Weekly Grand drawing for the same nights as Powerball.  They emailed back and said people preferred to get all their tickets at the same time.

Okay, I guess I'm different from most.  I'd buy more WG tickets just out of boredom, to have something to look forward to checking on Monday and Thursday.

I guess I don't understand the Idaho lottery's reasoning.What is it about having a drawing every night but Sunday that prevents people from buying all of their lottery tickets at the same time?

HoLeeKau's avatarHoLeeKau

Quote: Originally posted by Cletu$2 on Jan 16, 2013

I guess I don't understand the Idaho lottery's reasoning.What is it about having a drawing every night but Sunday that prevents people from buying all of their lottery tickets at the same time?

I just assumed that Idahoans like to buy their tickets on the day of the draw.  Maybe the in-state games are usually impulse buys when they're buying their multi-million games?  I dunno, maybe it's that the person answering my email was just talking out his azz.

Cletu$2's avatarCletu$2

Quote: Originally posted by HoLeeKau on Jan 16, 2013

I just assumed that Idahoans like to buy their tickets on the day of the draw.  Maybe the in-state games are usually impulse buys when they're buying their multi-million games?  I dunno, maybe it's that the person answering my email was just talking out his azz.

I dunno, maybe it's that the person answering my email was just talking out his azz.

 

I think you hit the nail square on the head,there!

GGStarlings's avatarGGStarlings

I was just a hair away from winning the WC jackpot last Saturday; all I needed was #26 instead of #24.  Everything else was right. 

But now with the matrix change I am going to have to rewrite all of my charts in what felt like a pretty comfortable system.  Must accommodate newbies #32 and #33.  I have the new playslips, and I don't like them - the grid - some rows shorter than others.  That bugs me.

Of course, I'll get used to it.  I'll stop whimpering at some point.  I'm all for starting the jackpot at $200,000.  That was a much-needed change.

GGStarlings's avatarGGStarlings

Quote: Originally posted by dallascowboyfan on Jan 15, 2013

I wish Oklahoma had this game...... I emailed Oklahoma Lottery Commission they said they looked into but decided not toBang Head......

Hey, I remember you saying this, and they really ought to consider it.  It's nice to have an easier game to work on.  It's 1 in a million odds for JP but so much better than the astronomical odds of Powerball or Megamillions.

HoLeeKau's avatarHoLeeKau

Quote: Originally posted by GGStarlings on Jan 19, 2013

I was just a hair away from winning the WC jackpot last Saturday; all I needed was #26 instead of #24.  Everything else was right. 

But now with the matrix change I am going to have to rewrite all of my charts in what felt like a pretty comfortable system.  Must accommodate newbies #32 and #33.  I have the new playslips, and I don't like them - the grid - some rows shorter than others.  That bugs me.

Of course, I'll get used to it.  I'll stop whimpering at some point.  I'm all for starting the jackpot at $200,000.  That was a much-needed change.

Hey GG, glad to see you back!  Was wondering where you were.

So sorry about the near miss.  Hope you won the $500.

GGStarlings's avatarGGStarlings

Quote: Originally posted by HoLeeKau on Jan 19, 2013

Hey GG, glad to see you back!  Was wondering where you were.

So sorry about the near miss.  Hope you won the $500.

HoLeeKau!  How ya been? 

Yep, got the $500+.  I had 3-14-16-21 on three lines so got some extras.  I've been away from the forum while working on my number systems.

No one's won that WC jackpot, and $615,000 is nice chunk of change.  I'll give 'er a go tonight but to be honest, I'm not brimming with confidence since there are now 2 new numbers to consider.  I'll just give it my best shot. 

How about you - do you play Wild Card?  And are you still working on Pick 3?

HoLeeKau's avatarHoLeeKau

Congrats!  happy dance emoticon 

That's more than I've ever won!  Good luck tonight, that is a pretty good JP.  I'm still just playing one per draw, but it's high enough that I plan on buying a few more here pretty soon.

Nah, I still keep an eye on Pick 3, but haven't played it in a while.  Too easy to get sucked in to spending too much money on it.  You still playing it?

Subscribe to this news story