Coronavirus claims another victim: Real lottery drawings
By Todd Northrop
Starting today, you will no longer be able to watch how the Kentucky Lottery draws its daily numbers games because the drawings now take place inside a computer program.
The daily Pick 3, Pick 4, and CashBall 225 games are all transitioned to computerized drawings starting Monday, and will no longer be drawn using balls and machines. Instead, a dedicated computer system known as a random number generator will randomly generate winning numbers.
This is not a new system to the Kentucky Lottery; winning numbers for the daily 5 Card Cash game have been drawn using a random number generator for almost eight years. Currently 31 state lotteries in the U.S. use some form of a random number generator for their lottery drawings.
"By using this system, our drawings will be done in a much quicker manner with the same levels of security and integrity," said the Kentucky Lottery's Sr. vice president of communications, PR and social responsibility Chip Polston. "Given the current COVID-19 situation, we want to improve safety for our draw staff as much as possible. Instead of taking an hour for the midday drawing and almost two hours for the evening drawing using the old method of balls and machines, we will now be able to complete this vital function in a matter of minutes."
The random number generators are not connected to any external system and contain no ability to connect to the internet. The device is locked into a full-sized chassis, and tampering is prevented with a bar-coded security bolt that has to be destroyed to be removed. Detailed written procedures require two people to be present at all times in order to access the system, containing a number of checks which must be verified by both individuals before a drawing can be conducted.
The random number generators are housed in the dedicated draw studio with extensive electronic and video surveillance located at the Kentucky Lottery headquarters building in Louisville. Midday lottery drawings take place at approximately 1:20 PM EST, and the evening drawing occurs at approximately 10:58 PM EST.
As always, winning numbers will be available minutes after the drawing on Lottery Post's Kentucky Lottery Results page.
Let's hope for the best
State lotteries have been emphatically stating for years that computerized drawings both save money for the state as well as provide an entirely secure, reliable way to draw lottery numbers, but the worst cases of fraud and drawing failures have always come from computerized drawings.
Lottery Post has documented case after case of computerized drawing failures of every type, including outright rigging.
In 2017, the Arizona Lottery had to take computerized drawing machines completely out of service due to repeat numbers being drawn. (See Arizona Lottery computerized drawing machine generated identical winning numbers, Lottery Post, Oct. 6, 2017.)
Just four years prior to that, the very same state lottery — the Arizona Lottery — suffered a monumental computerized drawing failure that went undiscovered for two months, rendering almost 8% of all Pick 3 tickets sold during that span incapable of winning.
(See COMPUTERIZED DRAWING GLITCH STRIKES ARIZONA LOTTERY, Lottery Post, Aug. 20, 2013.)
Other computerized drawing states have had the exact type of failure as Arizona, drawing the same numbers multiple times in a row. (See Computerized lottery drawing glitch picks same numbers for 3 days, Lottery Post, Dec. 23, 2005.)
In Delaware, such a glitch prompted players to cash in on the situation — regular lottery players detected the malfunction sooner than the lottery awoke to the realization that its drawings were flawed. (See Keno players cash in on lottery glitch in Delaware, Lottery Post, Dec. 24, 2015.)
Does this mean Kentucky Lottery players will experience these same problems? Perhaps, or perhaps not. But either way, it's one more thing to worry about during a time when people would rather not be burdened with additional worries.
All I can say is there is nothing you can do about it. If there is a 'flaw' pattern you need to take advantage. It sucks that many States want to use computers to pick the numbers.
I think that Lotteries here in America have 1 - 800 #'s to report problems. Do the right thing.
It appears that Lotteries have created more security since the Iowa debacle and crime.
Not good. Unfortunately, I wouldn't be surprised if more states go to computerized drawings due to virus concerns for staff members (and then never return to real drawings after the virus threat has passed).
It would be a strange twist of fate if a computer virus then infected and influenced the computerized drawings...
Just received confirmation of this from KLC on private FB messenger. Said they're sorry to see me go. I wrote back I understand, just don't like RNG games.
States like computerized drawing because it cuts down on equipment costs and make it easier to rig the results.
Well, you won't ever see the lottery ever won in KY again. Come to think of it...I've never seen the jackpot won in KY. It's always the same states it seems. Thankfully I live in one where it happens. lol
Do you really need computerized drawings? I mean it's a person in a room with some balls spinning around in another ball. LOL. If people can come into a news studio everyday and do the news I think someone can come in for a few minutes and stand in front of a spinning ball.
R.I.P. Kentucky Lottery
4/13/2020
don't know how, but they had a bunch of winners for Pick 3/4 mid-day. Personally don't play those, but will see what happens with my favorite Cashball 225.
Anyone have any good Tiptons...er Tips on what numbers to pick in KY?
That's the problem -
If its a physical drawing I think "is this going to be rigged like Iowa?"
If its a RNG I think "Is that PC rigged to take into account all numbers previously bought?" - I know a few people that believe this 100% no doubt - I am not one of them, but the thought crosses the mind once in a full moon.
I've never won millions of dollars - I guess its easy to be paranoid
Haha
I live in Illinois and we are computerized.
We hate it. The numbers coming in
are the worst combinations. I know
people are going to Indiana playing.
At least when it was physical drawings you saw it happen -
Hard not to be paranoid about something you cant see or know what goes on.
Not surprised people would go to another state to play - too bad some have to go to that level of effort just to play comfortably.
I hope you get some good luck your way.
Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures. If they continue using an RNG when things get back to normal, KY players will decide if it's wise decision.
California is just as bad. If they could swing the MM & PB jackpots to computerized games, they would. Every game, except for scratchers is computerized. What's with the fascination?
Just you wait till another Eddie Tipton makes he's move while this bread is still baking, then you will hear " We thought the games were safe."
"NEVER LET A CRISIS GO TO WASTE" said many <snip> Politicians from all Political Affiliations.
Of course they would. They did it to suck you in for one last win so you would keep playing. If the average amount of daily winners falls off by quite a bit in the near future, then you'll know they won't be switching back to ball drawings anytime soon. The only alternative is for the players to stop playing completely. Maybe then they will see the error of their ways, but I doubt either one will happen.
Please read the story and comments here. https://www.lotterypost.com/news/222615/1828912
If anyone here on LP, DOES NOT think that the state lotteries are watching us, read the last comment in the above link.
LOL. He's waiting for PB and MM to go PRNG.
My Condolences....
Holiee...you almost spooked me with that pix of Tipton
Try doing quick picks.....
LOL! Good one.
Computer drawings are freaking horrible!
All state lotteries should be required to use a mechanical random number generator and be required to show their drawings live online so more people can watch.
I specifically only predict for states that use mechanical random number generators because of the high probability that states manipulate the outcome of drawings that use computer random number generators.
Now there are only 3 states (Texas, New Jersey & North Carolina) that have a live online viewing of their drawings.
All they have to do is make a process to decontaminate the building and especially the room they use for the drawings before and after the drawing. Along with requiring their employees to wear nose/mouth covering and gloves and that is as safe as you can be to keep things going.
These CHEAP azz state lottery bassterds are making multiple millions if not billions from people losing the lottery and don't want to spend money to keep the maybe less than 5 people needed to produce a live viewing of their drawings. Horrible decision making is why state lotteries suck! You can still minimize risk, be safe AND be profitable while continuing to use mechanical number generators.
It just seems like they are most likely using COVID-19 as the perfect excuse to switch to a computer random number generator when the real reason is that they make more profit.
Employees just need to be trained on how to work in a possibly contaminated environment. Train them!!!
I'm sure the people that make the live drawings happen need that money they are paid to make it happen.
There's a way to be safe and still get work done.
I really hope no other mechanical random number generator state does this.
The reality now is that is safer to practice physical distancing when in pubic along with wear some type of mask and gloves. If you are not doing this then you are the most likely one of the dumb people contributing to the spread of the virus just because you don't want to keep a distance from people along with cover your nose, mouth and hands.
How are you going to complain about the virus and still do dumb shyt!
Yall be safe out there.
From the comments, it starting to look like not very people understand how the KY Lottery conducted their live drawings.
Eight years ago they held a nightly live ball drawing on TV and then changed to live streaming their drawing on the Internet. When the changed was made, they added lived streaming their Midday drawings too. The thread about the live streaming the drawing had its share of critics too.
I'm assuming the ball drawings will be returned to live streaming eventually. They are still paying $600 for a $1 straight bet and with only about 2% of the players watch the live drawings so most players haven't watched in years.
Computerized systems are rigged, BIG time. All the good, common Numbers will cease.
Using Coronavirus to pull the okie doke!
What are the "good, common Numbers" the live random ball drawings had?
Just wondering.
All I can say is, I'm against rng drawings. Don't play much & will be less now.
Every state should also be required to post their test draw results also. Some do tennessee is horrible also.
There weren't many winners in KY RNG games last night. You are correct. Let a bunch win for a few days then make for fewer winners.
It looks like you're taking about the Cash Ball EZ Match payoffs. They don't give Pick-3 and Pick-4 sales numbers, but those payoffs are on par as the payoffs before the change. A few years ago when the KY Lottery went to streaming drawings, their spokesman, Chip Polson said only 2% of the players watch the live drawings.
It's all about keeping their employees safe and the same reason millions of Americans are now laid off.
"with the same levels of security and integrity"
No computer hacker has ever successfully hacked a ping-pong ball.
Every one should take note of the Cashball 225 winners when the Jackpot hits location in the state of Kentucky and start viewing the pay out details on each draw night because the pay out never reaches above 5 grand, ever wonder if the lottery is really rigged, well pick 5 $1 numbers and play them every day and don't change your numbers plus pick 5 $1 numbers on paper and don't play them just use them to see which numbers come up as winners because the results are shocking to say the least, one can hit the jack pot on paper within a short time frame because the state lottery don't know your numbers picked on paper, but when you purchase lottery numbers to be drawn well the rest is history!!!
For the record, there were two Triples and two Quads since they started using RNG drawings. And as I said before, the players will decide with sales the type of drawings they want.
The daily Pick 3, Pick 4, and CashBall 225 games are now deliberately robbing players of their joy.