Lottery Post presents a summary of the rules for the new Pennsylvania Match 6 Lotto game.
The Pennsylvania Secretary of Revenue, under the authority contained in section 303 of the State Lottery Law (72 P. S. § 3761-303), added Chapter 872, relating to the new Match 6 Lotto game.
Purpose
Match 6 Lotto is designed to give players the opportunity to win up to four prizes in each game.
For a $2 purchase, the player gets a ticket containing three sets of six numbers, the numbers in each of these sets ranging from 1 to 49. Players can win one, two or three prizes by matching, in each of their sets of numbers, three or more of the six winning numbers randomly drawn twice a week. Correctly matching three or more of the six winning numbers selected by the Lottery entitles the ticket holder to a prize identified in the Prize Winners section below.
The combination of the player's 18 numbers generated by the single $2 purchase (arranged in the three sets of six numbers each), offers the player an additional opportunity to win. Matching any four or more numbers from among all of their three sets of numbers to any of the winning numbers selected by the Lottery entitles the ticket holder to a prize identified in the Prize Winners section below.
Ticket Price
Match 6 Lotto game tickets may be purchased for $2 per game. Each game shall consist of three individual plays, one of which, at the player's option, may be numbers selected by the player; the remaining two number plays are quick pick selections. These three individual plays combined constitute a game. Additional games may be purchased at the discretion of the player. A ticket may contain one to five games.
Drawings
Time of drawing. A Match 6 Lotto drawing will be held twice a week or as determined and publicly announced by the Secretary.
Place of drawing. A Match 6 Lotto drawing will be conducted in the Harrisburg area unless the Secretary directs that a drawing or part of the drawing procedure be conducted at some other location.
Manner of conducting drawings. The Lottery will draw at random, six numbers from 1 through 49, with the aid of mechanical devices or any other selection methodology as authorized by the Secretary. The six numbers selected will be used in determining base play winners and combined game winners for each individual drawing. The validity of a drawing will be determined solely by the Lottery.
Prize Winners
There are two ways to match numbers and win prizes for each game played:
Base Play - Match the numbers drawn to each set of six numbers in a gamme played. (There are three games played on each ticket: one that you have the option of selecting the six number for, and two that are always Quick Picks.)
Combined Game - The combination of the 18 numbers (three plays) on a player's ticket.
The Base Play prizes are determined as follows:
Tickets Containing The Following,
Prize Category
Prize
Percent (%) of Sales Anticipated
In One Single Play
To Be Paid In Prizes/Category
All Six Winning Numbers
1st
Jackpot
12.83% Actual
Five Winning Numbers
2nd*
$1,000
2.76%
Four Wining Numbers
3rd*
$20
2.92%
Three Winning Numbers
4th*
$2
5.30%
*Indicates fixed prize amount
The Combined Game prizes are determined as follows:
Tickets Containing the Following,
Prize*
Percent (%) of Sales Anticipated
In One Single Game
To Be Paid In Prizes/Category
10 or More Winning Numbers
$2,500
0.21%
9 Winning Numbers
$1,000
1.11%
8 Winning Numbers
$50
0.58%
7 Winning Numbers
$25
2.12%
6 Winning Numbers
$10
4.66%
5 Winning Numbers
$5
9.49%
4 Winning Numbers
$2
11.02%
*All prizes are fixed amounts
Notes on prizes and payments:
Prize money allocated to the base play first prize category (jackpot) will be paid on a pari-mutuel basis, divided equally by the number of plays on tickets determined by the Lottery to be entitled to claim a first prize. The Lottery will estimate and announce the projected amount of the upcoming jackpot (first place prize pool) prior to the drawing. Payment will be made only in the amount actually in the first place (jackpot) prize pool.
If, in a Match 6 Lotto drawing, there are no winning base play first place prize plays (jackpots), prize money allocated to that prize category will be added to the amount allocated for the first prize category money in the next Match 6 Lotto drawing.
If more than one winning base play first place prize play is determined, each is entitled to a prorated payment share of the total first prize category.
All Match 6 Lotto prize payments, including a jackpot prize, will be made as a one time lump-sum cash payment.
A winning Match 6 Lotto game ticket is entitled only to the highest prize won by those numbers on each play plus the highest prize won by those numbers on the Combined Game.
The number of prize categories, the allocation of prize money among the prize categories and the minimum Base Play first place prize category (jackpot) amount may be changed at the discretion of the Secretary and the change will be announced by public notice. The changes will only apply prospectively to Match 6 Lotto drawings as of the date specified in the public notice.
Retailer incentive and marketing promotion programs, including the use of unfunded free tickets, may be implemented at the discretion of the Secretary. Funds for the programs, if needed, will be drawn from the Lottery fund.
Probability of Winning
Odds of winning per Base Play game:
Number of Winning Numbers
Prize
Probability* of Winnings Per Game
Selected By Player
Category
All 6 Winning Numbers
Jackpot
1:4,661,272.3
5 Winning Numbers
$1,000
1:18,067.3
4 Winning Numbers
$20
1:344.5
3 Winning Numbers
$2
1:19.2
*Odds that one or more plays in a 3-play game will win a prize at the given level.
Since more than one play can win a prize, levels are not mutually exclusive.
Odds of winning per Combined Game:
Number of Winning Numbers
Prize*
Probability of Winnings Per Game
Selected By Player
10 or More Winning Numbers
$2,500
1:597,302.6
9 Winning Numbers
$1,000
1:45,267.4
8 Winning Numbers
$50
1:4,440.4
7 Winning Numbers
$25
1:590.9
6 Winning Numbers
$10
1:106.7
5 Winning Numbers
$5
1:26.4
4 Winning Numbers
$2
1:9.1
*All Combined Game prizes are fixed amounts
Ticket Responsibility
A ticket is a bearer document deemed to be owned by the person holding the ticket, except that if a name is contained on the back of the ticket, the person so named will, for all purposes, be considered the owner of the ticket.
The Commonwealth will not be responsible for lost or stolen tickets.
The purchaser of the ticket has the sole responsibility for checking the accuracy and condition of the data printed on the ticket.
The Commonwealth will not be responsible for tickets redeemed in error by a retailer.
Prize
If the total of the set prizes won in a particular Match 6 Lotto drawing exceed sales for that drawing by 100% or more, then those set prize tiers, in which the stated prizes won exceed the percentage of sales anticipated to be paid in prizes/category, will become pari-mutuel. Moneys will be drawn from the Lottery Fund, to the extent necessary, to fund the payment of prizes.
If the Match 6 Lotto is terminated for any cause, prize moneys remaining undistributed will be paid out of the State Lottery Fund and used for purposes otherwise provided for by law.
Unclaimed Prize Money
Prize money on a winning Match 6 Lotto play may be retained by the Secretary for payment to the person entitled to it. If within 1 year of the drawing date on the ticket, no claim is made on a winning play, as determined by the Secretary, the right to claim prize money terminates, and the prize money will be paid into the State Lottery Fund and used for purposes otherwise provided for by statute.
I think only hardcore lottery players will love it or even understand it. I think the state will benefit from alot of winning tickets being thrown away.
I will definitely try it out when it debuts, just to see how I do.
Quote:Originally posted by smd173 on January 03, 2004
I think only hardcore lottery players will love it or even understand it. I think the state will benefit from a lot of winning tickets being thrown away.
I will definitely try it out when it debuts, just to see how I do.
Exactly. My opinion is that it will join Lotzee in the proverbial waste bin in a couple of years.
Add a 6/49 game with 4 simple prize levels, and see which game does better, Match 6 or 6/49. Forget what all the surveys say, do what is successful in other states. Gimmicky games die, and tried-and-true games live on.
Ok it is an easy to follow the basic level but I really don't follow the combined part of it. For example:
1-4-14-26-38-42-49
2-5-13-27-29-32-39
11-15-19-25-32-43
Say those were your three tickets. How would you match ten numbers when they only draw six. Would you have to have a couple of the numbers more than once on your three tickets to win that?
And another point for this game.......no such thing as an annuity....is this the first jackpot game with only a lump sum payout.
It seems like an interesting game. I dont think it will be in the dumpster too quickly. Odds are too bad either.
Agree, this doesn't answer the main question of how would one get 10 matches with 6 winning numbers. Guess we will just have to wait and see. I guess my other theory of bonus balls such as the old Wild Card Lotto game isn't mentioned. Only thing I can think of if a number is duplicated on the 2nd or/and third row. Should be interesting. Unless combined game draws different numbers? How can that work? Validation computers would fry.
BTW: Lots of non annuity jackpot games out there. Delaware's ACL (All cash Lotto) is one. 6/36 but 4 numbers pays $25, 5 numbers $500. The old Pa. Wild Card just before it was replaced was also "all Cash"
Most people seem to choose the Present worth payment. Pay (federal income) taxes up front, invest the rest in a better paying annuity to live on.
Fat chance of that occuring . That would mean that either 4 numbers appear again in the next 12. or two numbers are repeated twice, or any combo of those. I can see maybe getting 4 or 5 or even all six, but more? Will have to let the computer figure it out.
Still maybe promissing if it works.
The old cash 50 should be brought back as a daily computer printed, pick you own option game. Match any combo of a 1, 2, and 3 digit number. Make top prize of $50,000. Sell for $1. Smaller prizes as the original game. 1-free ticket. 2 -$5, 3 either 3 digit or 1 digit +2 digit =$25. 4 = $500 5=$1,000. Or whatever. The best 50-cent pre-printed game ever, was replaced in early 80's by the original (that reeally sucked) pick six lotto.
Well, maybe an other Wed and Sat game might not be too bad. Since I buy a weeks worth of tickets on Monday's (not that many) Drawing days won't matter.
Anyone remeber the Lucky Lotto game from the 70's.? Good odds of winning a small prize, but not me. Big deal is that it had a TV bonus game. Get on TV make a fool of yourself. But a pick your own version may work. along with a pick 10 daily keno game (but only if the payout is freindly). Gee, I should work across town at the Lottery bureau. They wouldn't have to outsource to these consultants to come up with that stuff.
Is that a change? I may have been thinking 36, since that's one of the numbers I used to pick. Changes were made to fixed prizes, I don't play anymore when I'm down there. Sticks to video and scratch. Cash out and go home to Pa. Never know when I'm coming back, which isn't too often. Maybe twice, yearly.
Thought of something else regarding the match 6. There is a game with in a game, that is; you (or the computer) picks the first 6. Then the internal game has the computer pick twelve, and if you're lucky, within those twelve will be up to 4 of the first 6. That way, you can get 7 or more matches overall. Then the actual lotto base game and combination games begin on drawing night.
Gee, I'll say again, if the lottery wanted to combine an instant with an on-line; they could have used the Winning Hand Lotto from Delaware. If you don't remember or heard of it, I'll explain.
For $2 per ticket, the computer prints out 5 playing cards. The instant part is that there is a fixed payout for a poker hand with Jacks or Better, and so on up to a Royal Flush. Winning tickets are paid, and re-issued as draw tickets. Then the draw was in play where 5 cards were drawn. (a 5/52 lotto). I think a minimum prize was paid for matching two numbers, I can't remember. I used to have the literature laying around, and I don't know if their web site still has info. There was also a temporary promotion of two Wild Jokers in the deck. Given that, I pulled a $5 winner. Buy about 5 or 10 tickets at a time, and the computer and the clerks would go nuts, cashing and re-issuing. The computer would go ding ding ding everytime an instant winner came up.
And then there was the Lucky Date lotto. (I think that was $2, too, but not sure.) pick a month, day, and year (1/12, 1/31 -must be compatible like no Feb. 31) and 1/100. It had a fixed , progressive scale that was played straight. If the month hits, the day counts, and if the day hits, the year counts. 1 in 36,500 odds. I think top prize was around $12,000.
But then, I agree that people don't like gimmicks, (I do-whatever it takes to win) so we'll never see any of this up here. The last Pa. card game (Hearts and Diamonds 5 out of 26, drawn by computer generated animation -- much like our Md day dailies-and only those are seen on computer) had to have been a flop. It didn't last long. Who knows why? In fact , the clerk asked me one day, "Are you sure you want that ticket?" "Yeah, it's the only game I win on"
Playing card themes work well in SCRATCH games, but not in online games. I keep wondering why Washington State won't replace "Quinto" (5/52, cards) with an all-NUMBER pick-5. Quinto has existed since 1990.
In addition to Quinto, two more VERY STRANGE games are found in the Pacific Northwest; both are very similar to the retired New Jersey "Lotzee", and both pay the top prize as $1000-a-week-for-life (instead of lump sum).
"Lifetime" prizes should be confined to SCRATCH games.
I remember that. It was like the illegal (?) parley sheets/office pool. Got a lotta flack from the NFL, and made national news.
The other big news at that time there was when Delaware couldn't sell enough tickets to fund its first lottery (Standard 6-digit 50 cent ticket).
Similar thing happened in Pa around that time, too. when the powers that be decided that people still wanted to play the illegal pick a 3 digit lottery. so they came up with the $1 Winners Choice pre-printed draw ticket. (2 digit number that paid $40. Winner then turned in the ticket with a chosen 3-digit # on it. When enough (I beleive it was 1,000) entries were received to fund the grtand $120,000 jackpot, a 3 digit number was drawn, and all of those who had that number split. Sure enough, there was never a thousand winners, so the game was one and done in about 6 months, tops.
Speaking of dumb lotteries, do you agree that the match 6 might be the dumbest thing since the original 1972 Pa. game? That was weird. You may not remember it, but even though a 6-dgit number, the winning combos at the time was not straight forward like NY and NJ. Never won. Cash 50 was the first winner and that was a free ticket (Match the single "red" number ) 1976-1978.
If I'm not mistaken, Canada runs sports betting on USA sports thru their lotteries. At least in Ontario. or they did at one time.
Niether have I, and that was to niagra Falls, at least 5 years ago. Bought scratch tickets, paid American money $5. Got $5 (Canadian) worth. first mistake. When something is the same price either way, pay Canadian. As luck would have it, won $15 (Caniadian-worth $10 -$11 american. My wife says "now you can buy us breakfast". So instead of walking across and down the street to the $3.99 Buffet.; the group goes next door to Denny's. Were these people in for a shock! Grand Slam -only $9.99 (Canadian). Down home, it was $1.99 American. They couldn't believe it. The Wendy's had both prices listed. US about 80%). Same with the vending machines for a dollar (4 quarters either way. Use all Canadian, then 75 cents-US.
Many people will either LOVE this game, or HATE it.
I think only hardcore lottery players will love it or even understand it. I think the state will benefit from alot of winning tickets being thrown away.
I will definitely try it out when it debuts, just to see how I do.
Attn Pennsylvania Lottery Director:
Add a 6/49 game with 4 simple prize levels, and see which game does better, Match 6 or 6/49. Forget what all the surveys say, do what is successful in other states. Gimmicky games die, and tried-and-true games live on.
Ok it is an easy to follow the basic level but I really don't follow the combined part of it. For example:
1-4-14-26-38-42-49
2-5-13-27-29-32-39
11-15-19-25-32-43
Say those were your three tickets. How would you match ten numbers when they only draw six. Would you have to have a couple of the numbers more than once on your three tickets to win that?
And another point for this game.......no such thing as an annuity....is this the first jackpot game with only a lump sum payout.
It seems like an interesting game. I dont think it will be in the dumpster too quickly. Odds are too bad either.
Brad
Brad:
You're playing three sets of six numbers seperately, AND all 18 at the same time.
PA Cash-5 is cash only with a jackpot. So is Jersey Cash 5.
Agree, this doesn't answer the main question of how would one get 10 matches with 6 winning numbers. Guess we will just have to wait and see. I guess my other theory of bonus balls such as the old Wild Card Lotto game isn't mentioned. Only thing I can think of if a number is duplicated on the 2nd or/and third row. Should be interesting. Unless combined game draws different numbers? How can that work? Validation computers would fry.
BTW: Lots of non annuity jackpot games out there. Delaware's ACL (All cash Lotto) is one. 6/36 but 4 numbers pays $25, 5 numbers $500. The old Pa. Wild Card just before it was replaced was also "all Cash"
Most people seem to choose the Present worth payment. Pay (federal income) taxes up front, invest the rest in a better paying annuity to live on.
Czar:
NO bonus balls.
Delaware should try "Hot Lotto"; then replace DE 6/36 with a pick-5.
Good idea in Delaware. Never hit the 6/36. And it is bad more that the fixed prizes are lower. Long odds there on average.
Still, how can one get 10 winners with 6 numbers? Duplication of the quick picks? Should be interesting.
Czar:
You got it. A ticket would have to contain several duplicates, or two games with the same # three times.
Fat chance of that occuring . That would mean that either 4 numbers appear again in the next 12. or two numbers are repeated twice, or any combo of those. I can see maybe getting 4 or 5 or even all six, but more? Will have to let the computer figure it out.
Still maybe promissing if it works.
The old cash 50 should be brought back as a daily computer printed, pick you own option game. Match any combo of a 1, 2, and 3 digit number. Make top prize of $50,000. Sell for $1. Smaller prizes as the original game. 1-free ticket. 2 -$5, 3 either 3 digit or 1 digit +2 digit =$25. 4 = $500 5=$1,000. Or whatever. The best 50-cent pre-printed game ever, was replaced in early 80's by the original (that reeally sucked) pick six lotto.
Well, maybe an other Wed and Sat game might not be too bad. Since I buy a weeks worth of tickets on Monday's (not that many) Drawing days won't matter.
Anyone remeber the Lucky Lotto game from the 70's.? Good odds of winning a small prize, but not me. Big deal is that it had a TV bonus game. Get on TV make a fool of yourself. But a pick your own version may work. along with a pick 10 daily keno game (but only if the payout is freindly). Gee, I should work across town at the Lottery bureau. They wouldn't have to outsource to these consultants to come up with that stuff.
DE Lotto is 6/38, not 6/36.....
Is that a change? I may have been thinking 36, since that's one of the numbers I used to pick. Changes were made to fixed prizes, I don't play anymore when I'm down there. Sticks to video and scratch. Cash out and go home to Pa. Never know when I'm coming back, which isn't too often. Maybe twice, yearly.
Thought of something else regarding the match 6. There is a game with in a game, that is; you (or the computer) picks the first 6. Then the internal game has the computer pick twelve, and if you're lucky, within those twelve will be up to 4 of the first 6. That way, you can get 7 or more matches overall. Then the actual lotto base game and combination games begin on drawing night.
Gee, I'll say again, if the lottery wanted to combine an instant with an on-line; they could have used the Winning Hand Lotto from Delaware. If you don't remember or heard of it, I'll explain.
For $2 per ticket, the computer prints out 5 playing cards. The instant part is that there is a fixed payout for a poker hand with Jacks or Better, and so on up to a Royal Flush. Winning tickets are paid, and re-issued as draw tickets. Then the draw was in play where 5 cards were drawn. (a 5/52 lotto). I think a minimum prize was paid for matching two numbers, I can't remember. I used to have the literature laying around, and I don't know if their web site still has info. There was also a temporary promotion of two Wild Jokers in the deck. Given that, I pulled a $5 winner. Buy about 5 or 10 tickets at a time, and the computer and the clerks would go nuts, cashing and re-issuing. The computer would go ding ding ding everytime an instant winner came up.
And then there was the Lucky Date lotto. (I think that was $2, too, but not sure.) pick a month, day, and year (1/12, 1/31 -must be compatible like no Feb. 31) and 1/100. It had a fixed , progressive scale that was played straight. If the month hits, the day counts, and if the day hits, the year counts. 1 in 36,500 odds. I think top prize was around $12,000.
But then, I agree that people don't like gimmicks, (I do-whatever it takes to win) so we'll never see any of this up here. The last Pa. card game (Hearts and Diamonds 5 out of 26, drawn by computer generated animation -- much like our Md day dailies-and only those are seen on computer) had to have been a flop. It didn't last long. Who knows why? In fact , the clerk asked me one day, "Are you sure you want that ticket?" "Yeah, it's the only game I win on"
Czar:
Playing card themes work well in SCRATCH games, but not in online games. I keep wondering why Washington State won't replace "Quinto" (5/52, cards) with an all-NUMBER pick-5. Quinto has existed since 1990.
Agree, go figure. But then, never been to Washington State. Looking at their, and Oregon's web site; those are states that know how to have lotteries.
Czar:
In addition to Quinto, two more VERY STRANGE games are found in the Pacific Northwest; both are very similar to the retired New Jersey "Lotzee", and both pay the top prize as $1000-a-week-for-life (instead of lump sum).
"Lifetime" prizes should be confined to SCRATCH games.
I agree. Better odds? Win for Life will keep coming as long as people are still buying 4 more top winners out there, last I looked.
Did you see the Score Board game. Now that's weird, even though I'm a football (well, Steeler) fan. Born and raised.
Delaware had a game based on the NFL around 1976.
I remember that. It was like the illegal (?) parley sheets/office pool. Got a lotta flack from the NFL, and made national news.
The other big news at that time there was when Delaware couldn't sell enough tickets to fund its first lottery (Standard 6-digit 50 cent ticket).
Similar thing happened in Pa around that time, too. when the powers that be decided that people still wanted to play the illegal pick a 3 digit lottery. so they came up with the $1 Winners Choice pre-printed draw ticket. (2 digit number that paid $40. Winner then turned in the ticket with a chosen 3-digit # on it. When enough (I beleive it was 1,000) entries were received to fund the grtand $120,000 jackpot, a 3 digit number was drawn, and all of those who had that number split. Sure enough, there was never a thousand winners, so the game was one and done in about 6 months, tops.
Speaking of dumb lotteries, do you agree that the match 6 might be the dumbest thing since the original 1972 Pa. game? That was weird. You may not remember it, but even though a 6-dgit number, the winning combos at the time was not straight forward like NY and NJ. Never won. Cash 50 was the first winner and that was a free ticket (Match the single "red" number ) 1976-1978.
If I'm not mistaken, Canada runs sports betting on USA sports thru their lotteries. At least in Ontario. or they did at one time.
Quebec does too. Haven't been north of the border since 1993.
Niether have I, and that was to niagra Falls, at least 5 years ago. Bought scratch tickets, paid American money $5. Got $5 (Canadian) worth. first mistake. When something is the same price either way, pay Canadian. As luck would have it, won $15 (Caniadian-worth $10 -$11 american. My wife says "now you can buy us breakfast". So instead of walking across and down the street to the $3.99 Buffet.; the group goes next door to Denny's. Were these people in for a shock! Grand Slam -only $9.99 (Canadian). Down home, it was $1.99 American. They couldn't believe it. The Wendy's had both prices listed. US about 80%). Same with the vending machines for a dollar (4 quarters either way. Use all Canadian, then 75 cents-US.
Guess we're not missing anything, eh?