Ohio Lottery panel rejects new Gov.'s call for smaller prizes

Comment #8

CASH Only — Thu, 15 Feb 2007 15:38:44 GMT

I've said numerous times that Ohio continues to make the same mistake for its in-state annuitized jackpot games. Mega Millions cash value winners (in all 12 states) get the actual retail value of the cash value of the annuity, minus withholdings. But Ohio continues to fix the cash value of the annuity (currently 50%) of its in-state game (Classic Lotto.) Therefore lump-sum winners of Ohio Classic Lotto will not get their full share of the cash value.

Comment #7

MADDOG10 — Wed, 14 Feb 2007 23:28:42 GMT

It's time for them to wake up and smell the Chock full of Nuts ....... or maybe they think everyone else is...

Comment #6

Stack47 — Tue, 13 Feb 2007 20:44:11 GMT

When you read the fine print, it actually starts at $500,000 if the winner takes the cash option. It should gain some following from the people that like to play traditional lotto because it pays $2 for hitting 3 out of 6.

The jackpot increases at minimum of $100,000 but has increased by $900,000 in the last 3 draws so it should eventually increase by a million as the jackpot grows.

The sales should be much better then Lot 'O Play but because of Mega Millions, I don't see it matching the... [ More ]

Comment #5

qutgnt — Tue, 13 Feb 2007 19:15:32 GMT

Yes the higher the payout percentage the higher the excitement and the higher the revenues. Sometimes though when you have a high payout percentage and all that money goes to super inflated jackpots a lot of little people dont realize the higher percentages. Not every scratch off game needs to have million dollar payouts. That is where I think these lotteries get wacky. Let the online games have the huge payout of millions and tens of millions. Let the scratch off games have reduced life changin... [ More ]

Comment #4

Drivedabizness — Tue, 13 Feb 2007 18:17:08 GMT

59% total payout is not bad but it is certainly not a best practice level of payout - especially for a mature lottery. Only a healthy online game mix (with lower payouts than instants) can help a lottery be successful at that overall payout level. From what I've heard and read here and at other sites, it sounds like Ohio has had real problems with their online games. Maybe they need Marty Morrow to come back and lead their marketing team...

The earlier comment about marketing and pr... [ More ]

Comment #3

jeffrey — Tue, 13 Feb 2007 17:26:26 GMT

The new lotto is already a decrease. It starts at 1,000,000 rather than 4,000,000 and only increases by 100,000 rather than a million a drawing. Wonder if sales will decrease

Comment #2

Stack47 — Tue, 13 Feb 2007 17:05:32 GMT

Lottery officials responded yesterday to a report from Gov. Ted Strickland's transition advisers that said the lottery has an inordinately high percentage of prize payouts.

It seemed to me the report was about the profitability of some of the scratch-off games and not the lottery in general. Governor Strickland probably got similar reports from his transition advisers concerning all state agencies. Does he need to purchase a hunting, fishing or liquor license to understand those reports to... [ More ]

Comment #1

liberal47 — Tue, 13 Feb 2007 14:56:47 GMT

I have to wonder how many lottery tickets, and what actual experience the governor has, with the lottery. He sounds like the carpers you hear at the local store, demanding more lower tier prizes because they have not recieved any return on the two dollars a week they spend. He should support better marketing and promotions, that is what really drives sales. I don't recall Ohio joining the trend in offering a raffle this past holiday season

Ohio Lottery panel rejects new Gov.'s call for smaller prizes

Lottery Post — Tue, 13 Feb 2007 14:21:01 GMT

Ohio Lottery Commission officials say a recommendation from Ohio's new Governor that they reduce prizes to give their profits a boost would have the opposite effect.

Lottery officials responded yesterday to a report from Gov. Ted Strickland's transition advisers that said the lottery has an inordinately high percentage of prize payouts.

The advisory panel last month asked lottery commissioners to consider scaling back the 59 percent it returned in prizes, which was higher in 2004 than w... [ More ]