States pull the plug on Monopoly Millionaires' Club

Dec 12, 2014, 8:20 pm (163 comments)

Monopoly Millionaires' Club

Last drawing on Dec. 26

By Todd Northrop

The states involved in the Monopoly Millionaires' Club lottery game have decided to halt ticket sales for the game as of Dec. 26.

Twenty-two states plus the District of Columbia current offer the multi-state lottery game, which started just two months ago.

The decision means players in the participating states can buy tickets for the game until Dec. 26. Three more drawings will be held, including those scheduled for Dec. 12, Dec. 19, and Dec. 26.

"Lotteries developed the Monopoly Millionaires' Club game concept based on feedback from players across the nation who desired a game with the potential to make many people millionaires rather than just one person winning many millions," said Alice Garland, executive director of the N.C. Education Lottery.

But sales have disappointed the participating lottery agencies, Garland said.  The focus now will be on reviewing and improving the game to create one "truly entertaining to our players and one that they will really enjoy," Garland said.

All prizes won in the next three drawings will be awarded to those who buy tickets. Monopoly Millionaires' Club players will have the customary number of days in their state from the date of the drawings in which they win prizes to claim them.

Officials from state lotteries said they plan to continue to research the concepts behind the current game.

"We've repeatedly heard from players who say they want to see more people have a share of the winnings rather than just one gigantic top prize," said Terry Rich, president of the North American Lottery Group and CEO of the Iowa Lottery. "That was the inspiration for the current game, but players didn't respond to it as well as we'd hoped. We'll continue to review this concept, much like other ideas are evaluated and evolve over time."

"We've discussed the fact that lotteries are trying following the same successful business model on the draw-game side that we've used for years with scratch games: We offer different games at different price points to provide the variety and choices that today's consumers want," Rich said. "We remain committed to developing games that will offer value to our players and mirror the success we've seen in other lottery games nationwide."

Monopoly Millionaire's Club is a multi-state game that has been in the works for several years.  (See Biggest lottery game ever in the works?, Lottery Post, Jan. 25, 2013.)

Perhaps it is a case of creating a game that tries to appeal to everyone, rather than focusing on specific types of players.

One thing is for sure: judging from the tremendous  amount of time and effort put into this game by the states, and its subsequent short lifespan, the lotteries will be dissecting this train wreck for some time to come.

They may also be a bit uneasy about launching another game of this magnitude in the foreseeable future.

While some lottery critics may cheer, players and fans of the lottery may feel otherwise.

Lottery Post Staff

Comments

Enigmas

Maybe make a game that is easier to understand the rules and doesn't involve sitting in front of the tv...

david1691

This game was terrible in numerous ways from the start.  It took years to develop and this was the best they could do?  All these states are making a smart decision.  This game in it's current format will be quickly forgotten.

The concept of creating several millionaires is a good idea if implemented right.  Maybe a format similar to the Lucky For Life game and the Cash 4 Life game would work better, particularly the Cash 4 Life game offered in New York and New Jersey.  Perhaps they can base a new format on the board game Life instead of Monopoly?

THRIFTY's avatarTHRIFTY

LOTTERY PLAYERS HAVE BEATEN THE LOTTERY BY NOT PLAYING.LOL

RJOh's avatarRJOh

I'm not surprise, I said as much back in October when I read about this game coming on line.

https://www.lotterypost.com/news/281732/3827028

Maybe the lotteries should consult with me before bringing a new game online. Wink

"One thing is for sure: judging from the tremendous  amount of time and effort put into this game by the states, and its subsequent short lifespan, the lotteries will be dissecting this train wreck for some time to come."

Ohio had a similar train-wreck some years back when they decided to limit the amount one ticket could win in their Super Lotto game.  At the time it was paying out jackpots of $40M+ and many of them were being won by players from out of states.  Shortly there after the neighboring states got PowerBall and BigGame and out of state players stop coming to Ohio to play and Super Lotto couldn't survive without them.

ThatScaryChick's avatarThatScaryChick

I'm wondering if they will lower the ticket price or give out better prize amounts. The cap of 25 million doesn't seem very good for the $5.00 dollar price and the fact that millionaires are only made if someone is lucky enough to hit the jackpot in the first place is something that should be changed to maybe making millionaires every drawing. I don't really know but something obviously didn't work since not many people were playing.

jarasan's avatarjarasan

Almost everything (99.9%) done by govt. bureaucrats is typically a pile of sh1t,  this pile of excrement was no different,  I told you this game was a rip off and would not be supported.

Baddabing,  buh bye Monopoly! See ya!!!!!!!  Glad I didn't spend a dime on ya!!!!!!!! 

They had no choice,  they couldn't fund the prizes..........unrealistic participation estimates,  this pig could not float,  it was funded from direct participation, no one plays,  no prize pool.  The game is different from the  ACA,  in that the ACA can steal, print, fund money from the tax payers that aren't in it,  if the ACA had to fund itself it would have been over a long time ago.........................

Time. It was just a matter of time,  a very short time.

Smash

garyo1954's avatargaryo1954

Quote: Originally posted by RJOh on Dec 12, 2014

I'm not surprise, I said as much back in October when I read about this game coming on line.

https://www.lotterypost.com/news/281732/3827028

Maybe the lotteries should consult with me before bringing a new game online. Wink

"One thing is for sure: judging from the tremendous  amount of time and effort put into this game by the states, and its subsequent short lifespan, the lotteries will be dissecting this train wreck for some time to come."

Ohio had a similar train-wreck some years back when they decided to limit the amount one ticket could win in their Super Lotto game.  At the time it was paying out jackpots of $40M+ and many of them were being won by players from out of states.  Shortly there after the neighboring states got PowerBall and BigGame and out of state players stop coming to Ohio to play and Super Lotto couldn't survive without them.

Geez, wonder why this game didn't work?

Let's see...

...$5 price tag

...25 Million dollar annuity

...nobody wins a mill unless somebody wins the annuity

...can't pick the monopoly property

...and probably the 52 ball matrix had a bit to do with it.

Still there was the chance to be on TV!

Trainwreck? More like a clusterf*rt, if you ask me.

G

Chacha33

Looked like a stupid game and $5 per play, terrible odds and the inability to pick your own property probably clinched it. This explains why California took down the page with all the bells and whistles announcing the game without notice. Was due to premiere in February here.

VenomV12

Bye bye and good riddance to an awful game. It won't be missed.

erdie

i just bought 3 tickets in DC, sure hope I'm one of the winners before it closes, sure can use some XMAS money, what are the chances of someone winning in DC and MD slim to none, LOL, come on MD lottery show some love to DC and MD players

Teddi's avatarTeddi

I'm sorry, but what did they expect? 

  1. If the majority of people were really clamoring for smaller jackpots, state lotteries wouldn't have such a hard time competing with multistate games. But a relatively small percentage of lottery players made a lot of noise for a long period of time and...Viola! The squeaky wheel got the grease. 
  2. They made it $5 per ticket. That just alienated a lot of the casual players. Who thought it would be a good idea to make a game with a smaller jackpot WAY more expensive than its rivals?
  3. Simplicity rules. You can't make a lottery difficult to understand and play. D'uh.

This game could have stood a chance had they gone for a cheaper ticket price and a simpler format. It ain't rocket science.

Teddi's avatarTeddi

Quote: Originally posted by erdie on Dec 12, 2014

i just bought 3 tickets in DC, sure hope I'm one of the winners before it closes, sure can use some XMAS money, what are the chances of someone winning in DC and MD slim to none, LOL, come on MD lottery show some love to DC and MD players

Good luck!

mrcraft's avatarmrcraft

The people that were on the committee that designed this game should all be fired.  The end result was almost as sure as death and taxes.

Chacha33

Quote: Originally posted by Teddi on Dec 12, 2014

I'm sorry, but what did they expect? 

  1. If the majority of people were really clamoring for smaller jackpots, state lotteries wouldn't have such a hard time competing with multistate games. But a relatively small percentage of lottery players made a lot of noise for a long period of time and...Viola! The squeaky wheel got the grease. 
  2. They made it $5 per ticket. That just alienated a lot of the casual players. Who thought it would be a good idea to make a game with a smaller jackpot WAY more expensive than its rivals?
  3. Simplicity rules. You can't make a lottery difficult to understand and play. D'uh.

This game could have stood a chance had they gone for a cheaper ticket price and a simpler format. It ain't rocket science.

"Enter the code on your ticket and if your 20-digit code matches the one drawn, you will be entered in one of seven additional drawings to compete for one of several spots on our upcoming game show!"

Subscribe to this news story