Penn. Match 6 Lotto Rules Finalized

Jan 2, 2004, 8:17 pm (23 comments)

Pennsylvania Lottery

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:



  1. 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.)
  2. 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:

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

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.

Lottery Post Staff

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Comments

CASH Only

Many people will either LOVE this game, or HATE it.

smd173

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.

Todd's avatarTodd
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.
hypersoniq's avatarhypersoniq
Quote: O
Todd's avatarTodd

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.

Bradly_60's avatarBradly_60

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

CASH Only

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.

Lotto Czar's avatarLotto Czar

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.

CASH Only

Czar:

NO bonus balls.

Delaware should try "Hot Lotto"; then replace DE 6/36 with a pick-5.

Lotto Czar's avatarLotto Czar

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.

CASH Only

Czar:

You got it. A ticket would have to contain several duplicates, or two games with the same # three times.

Lotto Czar's avatarLotto Czar

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.

johnph77's avatarjohnph77

DE Lotto is 6/38, not 6/36.....

Lotto Czar's avatarLotto Czar

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.

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