Lottery scratch games still being sold after jackpots are gone

Comment #21

MaddMike51 — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 23:51:18 GMT

I'm pretty sure the lotterys sell enough losing tickets to offset any losses they might have by pulling the game after they sell all of the top prize tickets.I know I buy a hell of lot more losing tickets than I do break even or winning tickets.For every winner they sell there are a lot of losers.

Comment #20

cher19622 — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 12:05:59 GMT

Any state lottery is the quickest way to rip people off than any other way.It's not gas,food or any other way...

Comment #19

Coin Toss — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 14:20:42 GMT

Selling tickets for an advertised top prize that no longer exists is almost as bad as selling tickets for a top prize that never existed.

Both are false advertising.

Selling tickets for a top prize that never existed is a flat out scam.

Selling tickets for top prizes that have all been paid out gives lottery players the perception that the lottery is out to scam them.

Comment #18

Littlemanjen — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 12:47:54 GMT

Hey Sorensonfan41, are you willing to share the information about which tickets have the best chances? Sure would save me a lot of time, and if not, I understand. Mainly interested in $5 games up to $20. Thank you.

Comment #17

time*treat — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 09:44:54 GMT

The lottery plans to sell X number of tickets at Y dollars per ticket, minus W dollars of prizes and other expenses, and keep Z dollars of revenue. There seems to be this notion that they are in business to provide money to gamblers. The lottery's job is to collect more money besides what the state can collect from the voters in taxes.

Demanding that the scratch-off games be pulled once the top prize is claimed is a sure way to cause those top prizes to 'drift' towards the last packs printed,... [ More ]

Comment #16

justxploring — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 07:56:39 GMT

I rarely buy scratch tickets, but I always assumed people checked first, since the amount of top prizes available are listed, at least they are on the FL site. I don't even play them I check! LOL

I agree with GameGrl and would be very satisfied making $10,000 with a $20 investment. Sure people want a shot at the big prize, but with such high odds, I'm sure most people are just happy to get their money back!

I don't think the idea of cutting ticket prices in half would ever work. All the... [ More ]

Comment #15

pumpi76 — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 07:02:57 GMT

very good idea true critic....

Comment #14

EXMECHANIC — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 03:28:31 GMT

The thing that appalled me the most about this story, was the fact that one of the states in questions felt it was okay since they posted that information on their website, I'm sorry but to assume everyone has internet access is a complete joke, especially when the majority of scratch off buyers are lower income families, and even with the library excuse most these families work when librarys are open. Unless this information is posted at every scratch off retailer you can't use that excuse.... [ More ]

Comment #13

rcbbuckeye — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 03:01:01 GMT

I rarely play scratchers, but when I do, I always check online to see what payouts are left, along with overall odds on different tickets I'm considering. A couple years ago a lady in Garland made a big stink about top prizes being gone and tickets still being sold. To me, it's just common sense to check online before buying.

Cutting the ticket price when the top prizes are gone is not a bad idea, and would probably help the state sell remaining tickets faster.

Comment #12

truecritic — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 01:54:04 GMT

If you have a top prize available, I am sure many more players are willing to spend the $20 - to take the chance of hitting it. Why does anyone want to spend $20 to hit a smaller prize when another game might still have a Million Dollars for the same price?

I disagree with pulling the game just because the top prize is won. The solution is rather simple, if the top prize is $1,000,000 for a $20 ticket. Then someone wins it and the next prize is $500,000, the ticket price should be cut in half... [ More ]

Comment #11

TheGameGrl — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 01:02:41 GMT

Perhaps I am missing the mark here, but I disagree that the lottery is only being sold for the top prize category. Winning 10k in change is still worth the effort to keep the tickets on sale. Its a TIERED payout so they arent misleading anyone other then the folks who are narrow minded and think that only 4 grand prizes are worthy of being on sale for. Even powerball players know that they have a slim chance of hitting the major winning but I bet anyone who hit 10k or 200k isnt gripping at that

Comment #10

MaddMike51 — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 23:36:29 GMT

I don't know how the retailers in Iowa are notified,probably pretty much the same as in Delaware,I imagine.But there is still going to be some lag time after the top prize is sold.Supposedly,the Lottery doesn't know when or where the ticket will be sold.They wouldn't know it was sold until someone had it verified at the retailer or redeemed it at Lottery headquarters.

Iowa had a $10 ticket a few years ago that was pulled after 3 weeks because all of the top prizes had been won.One top pr... [ More ]

Comment #9

DC81 — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 23:05:38 GMT

I saw a story about this on TV. Michigan and the other states that were doing this are seriously going to be screwed. I'm sure they'll settle since if they don't they could lose a lot and I do mean a lot of money.

Comment #8

rwsmes — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 22:54:59 GMT

In Delaware the retailers are notified through their terminals and by phone from the Instant ticket sales people as soon as the last top prize in a game is sold. The retailers are instructed to immediately remove the game from sale and return it to the Lottery. It's only fair even though there are often lots of prizes left in the game.

Second chance drawings and awarding a top prize through such a drawing is one way of extending the life of a game.

Comment #7

JAP69 — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 22:41:53 GMT

S.Carolina have notices right at the retail level that all top prizes may have been claimed in any scratch game. But the games are still sold.

I have also seen posted in the stores the prizes remaining in any scratch game. I do not know when this notice is updated for remaining prizes.

Comment #6

pumpi76 — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 22:02:50 GMT

Well learn something new...

But you can always add more scratchoff tickets.....

Comment #5

psykomo — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 19:46:42 GMT

$The LOTTERY i$ A MONEY MAKING MACHINE$

They are OUT for UR MONEY!!!! They are selling U a DREAM !!!!

IF U LOSE U can't get UR MONEY BACK !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

TRANSLATION:

ALL lottery player's KNOW that........but, PSYKO

BUTT PSYKO trie's to get the MONY everytime HE pay'$$$$$$$$$$$$

LOL

PSYKOMO

Comment #4

Bradly_60 — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 19:37:56 GMT

Michigan does have this situation too. They always sell tickets after the top prizes are claimed. But the odds of winning a top prize are so high I just usually buy them for a little entertainment and maybe and extra $20.

Ohio seems to have a good idea. Save a top prize drawing until the end of the game and then give it out. That way there still is a top prize and you can sell all the tickets. I mean it would really suck for a state to say for instance the 2 top prizes in a game to be in the... [ More ]

Comment #3

MaddMike51 — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 19:34:08 GMT

Here in Iowa the lottery posts how many of the top tier prizes are left for each scratch off game on their website.The list is updated daily,except for weekends holidays.I suppose you could end up buying a ticket that was sold after the grandprize tickets were all sold because of the lag time it takes to contact all of the retailers to pull the tickets.A person could also buy the last grandprize winner on Monday but not cash it in until Friday and the lottery might not know its been sold if the

Comment #2

ThatScaryChick — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 18:10:52 GMT

I think all states should quit selling tickets when the Grand Prize is gone. It misleads the public into thinking that they still have a chance to win the big prize which is misleading.

Comment #1

sorensonfan41 — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 17:58:49 GMT

Here in GA, it took an investigation by WAGA Fox 5's I-Team for the GA Lottery to start posting a list of how many grand prizes are left for each available game (available as in deliverable to retailers).

I've actually emailed the GA Lottery asking them to do like South Carolina does, which is post complete odds, methods of winning prizes (e.g. on $1 Junior Jumbo Bucks in GA, a $25 winner can be obtained by Jumbo $5 and Jumbo $3 + $10), and number of prizes available for ALL tiers of prizes,... [ More ]

Lottery scratch games still being sold after jackpots are gone

Lottery Post — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 17:22:15 GMT

Feeling lucky today?

Then don't buy a $20 scratch-off ticket for the New Jersey Lottery's $1,000,000 Explosion game.

Your chances of winning the $1 million top prize are Z-E-R-O.

The six top prizes were awarded months ago, but the $20 tickets are still on sale. The best prize available today is $10,000.

State lotteries are coming under renewed criticism for selling scratch-off tickets after the top prizes have been given away. The latest challenge comes from a professor who says... [ More ]