Missouri Lottery gives inside view of computerized drawings

Apr 16, 2010, 10:54 am (31 comments)

Missouri Lottery

Includes video report

For years, the Missouri Lottery conducted its daily drawings using mechanical ball machines.

In 2004, the lottery replaced its drawing equipment with a computerized drawing system that generates the winning numbers with a Random Number Generator (RNG) — a computer program that instantly produces random numbers.

Several other states have switched to a computerized drawing system, but the concept has not swept through all the states, perhaps due to player pushback.

Since computerized drawings entered the scene, lottery players have voiced concerns.  Because there is no way to witness the exact method the computer generates the numbers, there will always remain a degree of doubt as to how random the numbers really are.

The Missouri Lottery, by way of its inside-look video, hopes to erase some of those doubts, and to tout the system's benefits as more efficient, less costly, and more secure.

In the "Reel Lottery" video (shown below), Producer Frank Finley takes viewers on a "behind the scenes" look at the Missouri Lottery drawing show.

VIDEO: Watch the report

Lottery Post Staff

Comments

pick4hawk's avatarpick4hawk

todd

Until people believe that the non-physical computer machines are more fun than the ping-pong ball machines to view. People will most likely view the machines as rigged in the favor of state.

They can hold way to much data on past results. Perhaps just to verify they are working statisically within bounds but the whole thing smells like rigged slot machines to provide money supposedly for schools.

However only a small portion of  money really ends up there.

I like the concept of actually seeing my balls choosen --I hope my state in illinois never goes to RNG.

I'll stop playing that very same day.

HAWK

pick4hawk's avatarpick4hawk

How can anyone ever trust machines that one can never see, feel, and hear ?!

konane's avatarkonane

Note they use marketing catch phrases "Advances in computer technology" "new approach".

"Because there is no way to witness the exact method the computer generates the numbers, there will always remain a degree of doubt as to how random the numbers really are. 

The Missouri Lottery, by way of its inside-look video, hopes to erase some of those doubts, and to tout the system's benefits as more efficient, less costly, and more secure."


Less costly to use their retired machines and ballsets, broadcast live no frills draws on the web.  No fancy stuff, just draws where everyone can see for themselves which balls drop.  Sales would probably increase exponentially.

GASMETERGUY

The
Tennessee Lottery did something like this about a year ago.  Their video did nothing to convince me that their drawing was fair and balanced.  They still retreat behind closed doors only to emerge several minutes later with the "winning numbers". 

I want to see the balls being flung around in a clear plastic container.  I want to see the balls drop into a clear plastic chute.  I want to see the numbers on the balls.

Until that day comes, I will firmly believe the Tennessee lotto is rigged in some shape, form, or fashion.  I also believe any state that uses RNG to determine winning numbers do so to their advantage; the player can go to the River Styx.

Todd's avatarTodd

Quote: Originally posted by GASMETERGUY on Apr 16, 2010

The
Tennessee Lottery did something like this about a year ago.  Their video did nothing to convince me that their drawing was fair and balanced.  They still retreat behind closed doors only to emerge several minutes later with the "winning numbers". 

I want to see the balls being flung around in a clear plastic container.  I want to see the balls drop into a clear plastic chute.  I want to see the numbers on the balls.

Until that day comes, I will firmly believe the Tennessee lotto is rigged in some shape, form, or fashion.  I also believe any state that uses RNG to determine winning numbers do so to their advantage; the player can go to the River Styx.

Not only that, but the whole world got to witness how easy it is for a computerized drawing to become corrupted, as weeks of drawings were tainted, and thousands of tickets had no chance of winning, because of a "programming error".

Dead_Aim's avatarDead_Aim

See the window to the left. That is the draw room. You see the hallway they are in?

That is where you have to stand to watch the drawing. You see how narrow it is?

That is a regular working hallway in the building. When I went to cash my 5 out of 6 hit last year

on the MO Lotto I ask to watch the midday drawing. In the very short process I was interrupted

from watching it 3 times by passersby trying to use the hallway. Roll Eyes

I have said it all many times before. And I will say it again.

 

LckyLary

And again, I yell about something, and something is done about it! I have kept saying, show us how the computerized numbers are drawn so we have less fear of these drawings being used. Unfortunately the @*&^! BoobTube site won't allow me to download. Anyway now hehehe I can write my own program to mimic the computerized one. Doh! it's in Missouri, too far away! How about Pennsylvania Midday? use the same software??? We're there!!!

By the way, don't we want it to NOT be too random? if it's completely random then I might as well not play knowing that only 50% of the money I play will be returned. Quick Picks are no fun!!!!

PS- how come the Lottery drawing room & hallway looks slightly less inviting than the gas chamber where they execute serial killers?

grave

i trust the ball machines way more than i trust that RNG.....it looks to fish and it seems like they have the control all they way in their hands.....

joshuacloak's avatarjoshuacloak

my state rng errors "tn"

made me think, we need "open source" code to the public LOL

if we could all View the code, look into it, run it our selfs,

if such a thing happened, someone in the public would of freaking noticed TN massive Beep code was missed up beyond belief

 

and they could show visiters the "open source code running on their pc, unedited form what the public has

MAYBE just , MAYBE then I start trusting it

when i can use their software my self,

and see for my self if the software for the draws is worth the harddrive space its on

 

i hope i we never see the day thatpb or MM go to the dark side

their about the only 2 games left that due to marketing/trust  they wont Dare Touch with RNG

 

, in the years ahead, am sure we see more and more states going RNG over time

 

their is 1 thing i like about that video

"3 diff pc's can do drawings"

will good for them, , they have backups

i remb when ball drawings get delayed ever now and then a hour" rare, but it happens"

with backups, they can be like, this broken, next, lol no hour delays like if a ball draw goes wrong

takeitez's avatartakeitez

When a man has to tell you how honest he is....

 

ez

dartiger's avatardartiger

Does anyone know how many states choose their number this way,

and are there any live drawings.

Todd's avatarTodd

Quote: Originally posted by dartiger on Apr 17, 2010

Does anyone know how many states choose their number this way,

and are there any live drawings.

Click State Lottery Report Card in the Results menu.

mjwinsmith's avatarmjwinsmith

ain't nothing like the real thing, ball based numbers generated and out in the open for all to see as it happens. One thing about computers that can't be denied.....Garbage IN, Garbage OUT!

Nuff Said

 >Michael

maringoman's avatarmaringoman

I like this forum because it is helping the lotto players push back. If we dont push back against those awful RNG's then God forbid but they will try to use them for Mega Millions and Powerballs. I know the adminstrators for the two interstate games are watching very closely to see how people react to RNG's. We cant let them one day be able to say "see, it has worked for Tennessee and Indiana so it should work here"

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