It debuted Oct. 19, but Poker Lotto, a new daily lottery drawing by the Michigan Lottery, is still trying to gain the attention — and understanding — among lottery players.
It has created a little confusion, too, said lottery officials.
"It's so new that we're getting so many calls in Lansing," said Gretchen Villareal of the Michigan Lottery. "People are not grasping the concept of instant wins and the nightly draw."
How to play
- Poker Lotto is a new nightly game where players use easy picks only.
- Tickets are eligible for two games: Instant winners see their cards drawn in front of them at the terminal, and those same cards participate in a nightly drawing for more prizes.
- Winning the instant-win game is based on whether you receive a winning hand. The nightly drawing is exclusively a matching game.
- Cards from the nightly drawing are not used to form a winning hand. The only way to win the nightly drawing is if two or more of your cards match the cards drawn.
- Tickets are $2 each. The draw is for cards, not numbers. The payout for 5 of 5 cards is $100,000. The top instant winner is a Royal Flush, which pays out $5,000.
I thought I understood the concept, but playing the game caught me a little off guard, too.
The first time I played, the lottery outlet said they did not have the appropriate screens to display the cards. So, they could not sell me the tickets.
Villareal said some retail outlets do not have the proper terminals to allow them show the player his or her cards.
"There are over 10,800 Michigan Lottery Retailers, and of that number, approximately 80 percent have the equipment to sell Poker Lotto," she said.
And the second time I played, the retailer handed me my tickets and said, good luck.
Villareal said retailers should alert you to the screen where you can see your cards drawn to see if you're an instant winner.
"Retailers are required to have a Customer Point of Sale Monitor to have the Poker Lotto privileges on their Altura terminal," she wrote in an email. "There are some locations that have Poker Lotto on other Lottery devices. These devices have a screen that shows the poker cards being dealt, similar to the Point of Sale Monitor."
My next trip was to Party World on Alpine Avenue in Comstock Park.
Party World is known for a great Michigan Craft Beer selection, as well as a reputation for selling major Lottery jackpots. (And a lucky shamrock.)
Andy Bekins of Party World happened to be at the Lottery counter when I walked in, and he explained the process and showed me how to play.
I bought two tickets: On the first draw I almost had a flush, but still won $2 on a pair of Aces, and I didn't win anything on the second draw. (Later that evening I failed to match any of the cards to win a prize in the nightly draw.)
The winning cards on Nov. 2: 9 of Hearts, King of Spades, Jack of Diamonds, 3 of Hearts and Ace of Clubs. Twelve tickets won $500, matching 4 of 5 cards. There were 31 instant winners who had 4 of a kind, winning $150 each. Two instant tickets had a straight flush, winning $500 each.
Poker Lotto drawings are held every night at 7:29 p.m. The deadline to purchase tickets is 7:08 p.m.
For the latest Michigan Lottery winning numbers, check out Lottery Post's Michigan Lottery Results page.
Sounds like a game that belongs on a Riverboat Casino.
I've played it on day one, was the first person to play at that store. I've spent $162 dollars on this game so far and have won $20.00, Pffft. I'm not happy with the game winners/payout's.
#1) I do not believe there has been a $100,000 winner yet and very few $5000 instant winners, if not only 1 so far.
#2) I do not like computer drawn games which this must be.
This game will be a "flash in the pan" if people don't start winning.
Remember "Lucky Lines"
JMHO, Play at your own risk but for 2 bucks a ticket and MAX payout being $100,000 i will keep playing "Fantasy5" instead of Poker Lotto.
I think it is a FUN game every time i have played the game i have won Instantly
FYI: Cost 2 dollars. Receiving your money back does not count as a win.
I'm sure you know what i mean. And yes i can be a joker. Sorta wish they had a joker in the mix of cards. Would make the odds a little better.
after all this talk about the poker game i went to get me a ticket and just won another $4.00 instant so minus the $2.00 i spent i guess i am ahead $2.00 bucks well see what happens tonight.
4 clubs/ J clubs/ 8 spades /4 spades/ 8 hearts
there we go
7 Hearts
9 clubs
2 clubs
6 clubs
J diamonds
Good Luck tonight
Poker Lotto games have been growing in popularity very quickly. The first ones starting appearing in Canada, and now they're spreading in the U.S. Seems like a nice, different game.
One of the worst lottery games to play....
Want that $5,000? Ha! You have a better chance winning the Fantasy 5 jackpot ($100,000+). Looking forward to that $100,000 nightly drawing? Ha again! You still have a better chance winning the Fantasy 5 jackpot and you have a better chance winning the Daily Keno jackpot ($250,000).
Andy Bekins of Party World happened to be at the Lottery counter when I walked in, and he explained the process and showed me how to play.
Timeout for a second.
Todd are you saying you were a Eyewitness in this article?
MY husband purchase a ticket yesterday. He had three of kind (2) they gave him 5 bucks and reissued the ticket for
the evening drawing, he didnt win on the reissued ticket. but he brought a second ticket and won 3 bucks.
Personally i like the game. Never know when luck will fall into your hands.
Well!!! Good Luck which ever game you choose
In some states the game is called Five Card Cash and the cost of a ticket and the payoffs are basically the same. It's a two part game with the first part being like a video poker machine; if you match a pair of jacks or better, you instantly win. Because it's a two part game the payoffs are based on a $1 bet. If you bet $1 on a video poker machine and get two pair, you win $2 and the payoff is the same in this game. A Three of a Kind payoff is even higher at $5 to $1.
The second part of the game is matching at least two of your cards in the nightly drawing and win a prize between $5 and $100,000. Most $2 scratch-offs don't pay a top prize of $100,000 and give overall odds of 1 in 3.66 if someone is comparing. Like with any lottery game, the house has the edge so it comes down to is it fun to play and I believe it is.
Some states consider confusion on scratch-off tickets as a form of entertainment. They figure if you have to think when you lose at least you will have had an experience that you will remember.
Personally I prefer the simple approach, they pick the winning numbers and if I pick different numbers, I lose.
This Game Started In Ontario 3 Years Ago.
I Played It When It First Came Out Until The Novelty Wore Off.
I've Won Free Plays Often And Won $5 Twice In The Instant Draw.
Most I've Won On The Nightly Was $5 For A 2 Card Match.
we have Poker Lotto here
not a huge fan
play it once every few months
We have it here in MA too. I have never played it. I don't plan to ever play it.
The last online card game Michigan had ended around the same time the daily 4 started. It also was an easy pick only game. I don't remember its name.
I looked at the other states Poker Lotto games and Indiana has a $250,000 top prize on theirs so if they can do it then the other states can too
.
https://www.hoosierlottery.com/games/poker-lotto
I'll give it a try before I decide, I'd rather be playing poker around a table, with money, snacks and drinks.
Once the players get accustomed with this game, they might enjoy playing this game. I hope the management can come up with simpler instructions so every players can follow. I hope they can also offer higher jackpot prize!