Texas Lottery has history of jackpot overestimation

Comment #24

LOTTOMIKE — Sun, 26 Jun 2005 01:50:23 GMT

Comment #23

CASH Only — Sat, 18 Jun 2005 16:24:50 GMT

The NY legislature doesn't seem to be listening to complaints about the terrible NY Lotto prizes.

Comment #22

konane — Sat, 18 Jun 2005 16:18:07 GMT

Georgians spoke with their pocketbooks and it was heard all the way up through the legislature.

Comment #21

Rip Snorter — Sat, 18 Jun 2005 16:07:06 GMT

Or it may take more of speaking with their pocketbook as they seem to be doing.At the end of the day, that's the voice that comes through the bullhorn. Maybe the only one in a lot of places. Seems the MBAs hear with their calculators.Jack

Comment #20

Todd — Sat, 18 Jun 2005 16:00:12 GMT

Let me expand on my last comment a bit:Take, for example, computerized drawings. A computerized state like New Mexico would never, ever change back to real lottery drawings if all that happens is that people send negative feedack to the state. However, it IS possible to make that happen if enough outrage is expressed, and the feedback is coordinated through Lottery Post.For another example, look at Texas. They were considering going to computerized drawings, and it is quite possible that if i... [ More ]

Comment #19

konane — Sat, 18 Jun 2005 15:57:41 GMT

Before bloggers demonstrated bias and inaccuracies perpetuated by the mainstream media I suppose politicians, lotteries might have gotten away with that narrow mindset. However they need to sense the undercurrent and feel the pulse because it's changing thanks to the internet.

Comment #18

Todd — Sat, 18 Jun 2005 15:56:02 GMT

...However, if players feel their input falls on deaf ears they will never voice their opinons. If enough people contact them then perhaps that voices will be heard....That is precisely why it is important to strengthen Lottery Post, by increasing the number of players from various states who participate here, and by insisting that the state lotteries participate and draw feedback from here.It is true for any industry that the only way to affect change is to have a strong independent place wher... [ More ]

Comment #17

konane — Sat, 18 Jun 2005 15:50:14 GMT

Am sure you're correct in your assessment of the answer. However, if players feel their input falls on deaf ears they will never voice their opinons. If enough people contact them then perhaps that voices will be heard. Or it may take more of speaking with their pocketbook as they seem to be doing.I've contacted the MSL before and yes, they are very forthcoming in answering questions about Powerball ... mine were about ballsets and machines used. The internet is changing many things very r... [ More ]

Comment #16

Rip Snorter — Sat, 18 Jun 2005 15:47:45 GMT

Lottery marketers who think they're smarter than players by telling us what we're going to get because they say so are losing lottery participation especially in the south. I expect it just may be contagious.Konane:I suspect there are a lot of people among those who run the lottery systems who share the view of a NM lawmaker just before he voted to adopt a NM lottery: It's a voluntary tax on stupidity. Once a person assumes that posture of thinking, the sky is the limit in terms of what they... [ More ]

Comment #15

Rip Snorter — Sat, 18 Jun 2005 15:41:41 GMT

Mr. Strutt does not feel that he is above the players he is a registered Lottery Post member, and has participated in some discussions here in the forums. He's a stand-up guy, in an industry that generally plays keep-away from its customers. Todd:That's good to know. Thanks for sharing it.Jack

Comment #14

konane — Sat, 18 Jun 2005 15:28:53 GMT

Hear you on that. I feel lottery number crunchers are more influenced by game originators with pie charts, flashing lights, unrealistic projections of emptying everyone's pockets than listening to what players really want.Such seemed to be the case with our original now former lottery director who is now director for the TN lottery. It felt to me as if any suggestion sent in would reach the trash can because her expertise was beyond question. As a result of her expertise lottery sales decre... [ More ]

Comment #13

orangeman — Sat, 18 Jun 2005 15:20:44 GMT

I forwarded some ideas to the lottery commission including:A. eliminating the 44/44 matrix with no payment for the bonus ball.B. establishing a 6-50 format and calling it Classic Lotto.C. beginning Pick 4.Orangeman

Comment #12

Todd — Sat, 18 Jun 2005 15:18:12 GMT

Konane,If the Texas Lottery really wanted to demonstrate that they are listening to the players, then someone from that vast organization would sign up here and interact with the players on the forums.Or, if they want to just SAY that they're listening, while continuing to make changes without player interaction, then they will keep giving very generic answers like the one they gave you. Lotteries always say they listen to player input, but I have rarely seen any evidence of that.For example, t... [ More ]

Comment #11

Rip Snorter — Sat, 18 Jun 2005 14:31:00 GMT

Konane:I've wondered a bit whether the various State lottery administration structures aren't the reason for some of this..... maybe the scratcher folks are in a separate department from the people administering the draw programs, so they ones administering the draws aren't seeing how many buyers are spending the price of a draw ticket on scratchers with a lot smaller returns because they have a better chance at smaller wins.Some of those folks administering these programs probably need to go st... [ More ]

Comment #10

konane — Sat, 18 Jun 2005 14:10:51 GMT

Email came back yesterday from the Texas Lottery Commission. They are listening to player suggestions .... We want to hear from the players. I'll forward your comments to our Product Manager.We realize that sales for Lotto Texas have not been as strong latelyas in the past. There are a number of reasons for this. We've conductedextensive player research recently on several possible changes to thegame. .....Thanks again for contacting us. If you have further questions, email usat customer.ser... [ More ]

Comment #9

CASH Only — Tue, 14 Jun 2005 23:24:54 GMT

Lotto TX should go back to the traditional pick-6 format.

Comment #8

konane — Tue, 14 Jun 2005 20:16:28 GMT

Been so long since sending my cousin money to play it, completely forgot the details.

Comment #7

orangeman — Tue, 14 Jun 2005 20:04:36 GMT

I think we should go back to the original 6-50 matrix and call it Classic Lotto. They can begin at $3 million, too. That would be more popular.Orangeman

Comment #6

CASH Only — Tue, 14 Jun 2005 19:59:44 GMT

konane:Lotto TX began as a 6/50.

Comment #5

konane — Tue, 14 Jun 2005 19:41:09 GMT

Believe they were originally 6/49 or 6/50 which makes more sense ... and which people were happier with. If someone believes they have a chance of winning a small tier prize, they will play more often.

Comment #4

CASH Only — Tue, 14 Jun 2005 19:32:01 GMT

I suggest going back to the 6/54 matrix.

Comment #3

konane — Tue, 14 Jun 2005 16:43:06 GMT

Am sending them an email to the effect of my first post so will see what they have to say about it. If people say nothing then lotteries will continue experimenting with stupid ideas which have little chance of working in the long run.

Comment #2

atlasshrugged — Tue, 14 Jun 2005 16:25:34 GMT

I would not like playing the Texas lottery's matrix. Why don't they have a regular pick six? I am in agreement with Todd in that any state which does not offer their players a basic pick 6 game is giving their players the shaft. -Bonnie

Comment #1

konane — Tue, 14 Jun 2005 16:13:19 GMT

Now that TX has Mega Millions, it should lower the matrix in Lotto TX back to what it used to be. My cousin in TX who is a regular couple of dollars a draw lottery player says she knows of many players who have stopped playing entirely since TX raised the matrix making small wins far more difficult.One of these days lotteries will realize their huge mistake making the game too difficult, alienating small players who are in fact its bread and butter.Back to the subject at hand, Estimated Jackpot

Texas Lottery has history of jackpot overestimation

Lottery Post — Tue, 14 Jun 2005 14:54:00 GMT

The Texas Lotto jackpot has fallen short of the amount advertised on three occasions since November because of lower-than-anticipated ticket sales, a lottery spokesman said Monday.Sales are running almost 26 percent behind last year's pace, said spokesman Bobby Heith, blaming the problem on increased competition for the Texas gambler's money.Overall lottery sales, including tickets for scratch-off games, are up almost 11 percent over fiscal 2004, he added.A longtime lottery critic filed a false... [ More ]