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Tennessee Lottery scratch game prize controversy looming

May 28, 2004, 7:43 am

Tennessee LotteryTennessee Lottery: Tennessee Lottery scratch game prize controversy looming

What are your chances of winning big in the Tennessee lottery?

The odds are changing every day.

In fact, at some point, all of the top prizes in a scratch-off game could be gone even as lottery players continue to play, believing they still have a chance at the pot of gold.

Though that hasn't happened yet, lottery spokeswoman Kym Gerlock said that at some point all of the top prizes in a game could be gone while tickets are still being sold.

The fine print on the back of lottery tickets warns players that prize availability is subject to prior ticket sales, she said.

"We certainly don't want that to happen, and it's something we watch. But that's something that happens with all lotteries."

Tickets for the more popular games have been reprinted, and more top prizes have been added, she said. The tickets are then distributed randomly statewide.

Even if only a few top prizes remain in a game, Gerlock said, she believes players still have fun playing.

"I hear a lot of happy people winning $500 or $1,000. The top-tier prizes are fun to win, but there are a lot of other prizes, as well."

Want to know your chances of winning the top prize in the lottery's most popular games?

Tennessean

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5 comments. Last comment 8 years ago by CASH Only.
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liberal47
liberal47's avatar - Rowlf
Holt MI
United States
Member #2283
September 4, 2003
64 Posts
Offline
Posted: May 28, 2004, 8:25 am - IP Logged

 

I know the Tennessee Lottery is still in it's infancy, but they should start posting which of their scratch off games still have big money prizes to go after. Here in Michigan they post all of the remaining prizes of any consequence, on the lottery website. That way you can determine which, if any, of the scratchoffs you might want to take a chance on.

    qutgnt
    Avatar
    chicago
    United States
    Member #3746
    February 10, 2004
    384 Posts
    Offline
    Posted: May 28, 2004, 11:09 am - IP Logged

    Yeah sure its random.  The way the lotteries protect against this is backload the big prizes in the end of the print run, to insure a 80-90% sales rate.  If the lottery can confirm ticket numbers and know where the winners are its not truly random in my eyes.

      vincejr
      vincejr's avatar - wallace
      Somewhere in VA
      United States
      Member #1980
      July 29, 2003
      130 Posts
      Offline
      Posted: May 28, 2004, 9:30 pm - IP Logged
      Quote: Originally posted by qutgnt on May 28, 2004

      Yeah sure its random.  The way the lotteries protect against this is backload the big prizes in the end of the print run, to insure a 80-90% sales rate.  If the lottery can confirm ticket numbers and know where the winners are its not truly random in my eyes.

      Actually, it is quite random. Here in Virginia, three games in the past two years have had to be ended after less than 6 weeks of sales due to all of the top prizes being hit. Not to say that every state is as conscientious as VA is by "killing" a game once the top prizes are gone. Virginia even goes as far as when reprinting a popular game, using different ticket colors/designs, so players can see it has been reprinted and there are a new set of top prizes available.
        hypersoniq
        hypersoniq's avatar - xls
        Pennsylvania
        United States
        Member #1366
        April 6, 2003
        2444 Posts
        Offline
        Posted: May 29, 2004, 9:35 am - IP Logged

        in PA we have this...

        http://www.palottery.com/lottery/PALotto/instPrizes.asp

        it is updated weekly and gives you a good idea of what is worth playing...

        they also have a list here...

        http://www.palottery.com/lottery/PALotto/instList.asp

        that shows what games are current, which ones have ended sales and how much they cost...

        I won't play instants, but for those who do, it's a nice resource...

        Playing more than one ticket per game is betting against yourself.

          CASH Only

          United States
          Member #380
          June 5, 2002
          11296 Posts
          Offline
          Posted: June 1, 2004, 5:05 pm - IP Logged

          As long as the "instants" are not annuity-only...

             
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