Why no Combos?

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Here in Massachusetts for our daily number game in which 3 & 4 digit game are one in the same, there's no spearate pick 3 or pick 4 just pick 1,2,3, or 4 digits and play them however you want. Other states have what's called boxed which I'm sure you all know. Here boxed payouts are called any order and pay accordingly between $80 & $100 give or take. Basically a losing proposition, finanacially. We do have combos, which pay exact order payouts ( on average $600 and for 3 digits can range from $400 to $1100 and 4 digits can easly exceed $6000) Of course it cost more (3 different digit $1 bet cost $6 but it's more convenient and more rewarding) To me it's just depressing say to play 148 boxed then have the  number come out 148 and make a lousy $80 bucks. My questions is how many states have the combo option which has to keyed in by the lottey agent and if not why. Sure you can cover more numbers boxed for less money but the break even point leaves a lot to be desired. any comments

charlie52

Entry #2

Comments

Avatar Todd -
#1
charlie52,

I agree with you, I really dislike daily numbers games that combine the Pick 3 and Pick 4. I think Massachusetts should have a separate Pick 4 game.

However, I like the new Pick 4 game format that New Mexico just came out with (debuts this Monday). In that game, players select 4 numbers, just like a regular Pick 4 game. But the prizes are awarded differently: top prize ($4,000) for matching all 4 straight, 2nd prize for matching the last 3 digits in order, 3rd prize for matching the last two digits in order, and 4th prize for matching the last digit. So the overall odds of winning a prize are better than 1 in 10, which, in my opinion, is really great.

One of the reasons I rarely play Pick 4 is that you almost never win a prize. But the NM prize structure makes it so you win a lot more often. Plus, all the prizes are fixed amounts, so you don't have the uncertainty of pari-mutuel payouts.

-Todd

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