Lottery makes "upgrade" to in-state draw game
By Kate Northrop
The Nebraska Lottery announced that its locally drawn Pick 5 game will receive "enhancements" later this summer.
Today, the Nebraska Lottery revealed some changes to its Pick 5 game that players can expect to see in three months.
As of Sun., Aug. 13, 2023, Pick 5 will have two additional numbers to play, bringing the number matrix to 1 to 40 instead of 1 to 38.
This will decrease the odds of winning the jackpot from 1 in 501,942 to 1 in 658,008. The odds of matching two out of five numbers, or winning the base prize, will change from 1 in 9 to 1 in 9.2.
The second-tier prize, won by matching four out of five drawn numbers, will increase from $450 to $500. Every time a drawing occurs without a winner, the jackpot will grow by $10,000.
"Since 1995, Nebraska Pick 5 has provided fun and excitement to lottery players," Lottery Director Brian Rockey said in a press release. "The upcoming game changes will offer our players the chance to win bigger prizes while generating funds for good causes across our state."
Starting May 21, the number of Nebraska Pick 5 drawings that can be purchased in advance will be temporarily reduced to prepare for the upcoming upgrade, the Lottery advised. The maximum number of drawings that can be purchased on a multi-draw ticket will decrease by one after each successive drawing.
Players will again be able to purchase up to 84 drawings, or 12 weeks-worth of drawings, beginning Sun., Aug. 13.
The Pick 5 jackpot currently stands at $50,000 for the drawing on Fri., May 19. Drawings take place every day at 8:40pm CT. Tickets cost $1 each.
All Pick 5 winning numbers, prizes, and odds are published on Lottery Post's Nebraska Lottery Results page right after each drawing.
The state lotteries never make changes to games that benefit the players. It's always to raise more revenue.
Adding numbers to make it harder to hit the jackpot doesn't sound like an upgrade to me.
The people have the power to have them open their eyes. Stop playing the game until they rescind this change.
Raise the Prizes: NOT the ODDS!
Lotteries exist to generate revenue for the states. And for the most part, they haven't had to make changes that benefit the players, because players would play whatever was available. Nebraska Lottery may be experiencing the shape of things to come, though, as Nebraska Lottery Scratch ticket sales for fiscal year 2022 decreased 5% over the previous year. In contrast Florida Lottery sales from scratchers has gone from 60% of total lottery sales in 2012, to a whopping 75% in 2022. So if Nebraska is losing sales on scratchers, that to me indicates something is up, and it's not falling in the states' favor.
I agree, the states are like a one-trick pony in regards to lottery game design. I personally would like to see something along the lines of a 4/25 game matrix with the option of 50-cent play, and a 60% payout-to-odds (Florida Lottery states that 62% of sales go back into prizes.) With a flat-rate payout, and no second-tier cash prize (maybe free QPs) you could win $7500 for a $1 play, and $3750 for a 50-cent win. Making it the perfect draw game/pick game hybrid.
I'm not holding my breath. In the meantime, what Maddog said. I haven't quit playing altogether, but I have cut way back.
I would run from this Cash 5 game. Too many numbers in the matrix as it was. It would have to be more than 100k before I dove in to this one. Only one reason I am glad I am not living in Nebraska. Yet, I like corn on the cob.
the fix is in
"The Pick 5 jackpot currently stands at $50,000" and "the odds of winning the jackpot from 1 in 501,942".
And with the odds increasing to 1 in 658,008, saying "doesn't sound like an upgrade to me" is an understatement. They only have two state drawn games and both are computer drawings.
Their pick 3 game pays $600, better than most, and better than their pick 5 odds of 1 in 3,042 to win $450.
they should include a free corn on the cob prize for matching 1 out of 5. it's the only way to save this game from these terrible upgrades.