Virginia Lottery wasn't quite ready for Mega Millions game changes

Comment #28

msharkey2001 — Wed, 15 Nov 2017 19:39:15 GMT

They didn't purchase their tickets last minute , if anything they bought them too early after the cut off time for the final old matrix drawing, but prior to the VA lottery having their POS terminals ready for the new game rules.

Comment #27

grwurston — Fri, 03 Nov 2017 01:51:25 GMT

You're right. I wasn't thinking about the, you got spare change? perp walk in front of the local crack heads. But that does happen at the 7/11 up the street from my job in Baltimore. Which is why I only go there if the lottery machine in my regular store on the way to work is down for some reason.

Maybe they should put the sign on the back of the lottery machine instead. When was the last time you read the back of a lottery ticket?

Actually it says on the back of the play slips; It's your... [ More ]

Comment #26

noise-gate — Thu, 02 Nov 2017 02:38:10 GMT

The trouble with that sign G, is there are those folks who are afraid to meet the gaze of others, the got change on you look from strangers so they constantly looking down. That sign above the door might as well be a stuffed raccoon. My idea is better- put the warning on the ticket. But l see your point.

Comment #25

Artist77 — Thu, 02 Nov 2017 01:11:02 GMT

What are you talking about??? Which members on this site get overwhelmed by a jackpot

Comment #24

wander73 — Thu, 02 Nov 2017 00:08:57 GMT

Ok and how about a lot of members on this site that gets overwhelmed for anyone who wants to hit a jackpot. What's irrelavent speaking my mind. VA lottery didn't do their job like they were supposed to. The media is ran by our govt and told what to say.

Comment #23

grwurston — Wed, 01 Nov 2017 23:08:05 GMT

Better, better, better yet, n-g, a big sign above the door...

NOTICE!!!

If you don't check you tickets, and you lose $1,000,000 because you selected the JTJ box.

TOO BAD

Comment #22

Kingofearth — Wed, 01 Nov 2017 17:38:27 GMT

Well all tickets were usable last night to win the jackpot and no one did. Just goes to show how difficult it is.

Comment #21

lakerben — Wed, 01 Nov 2017 15:54:14 GMT

It's a mess here in NM the old slips are still out. As a result, I got 3 qp last night.

And,many clerks can barely understand how to use the terminal.

Comment #20

Teddi — Wed, 01 Nov 2017 10:27:00 GMT

When was the last time you saw the media show any interest in a $100 million jackpot? Not only an irrelevant comment, a complete fallacy too. But let's pretend that they actually do stop everything to hype up a hundred million dollar jackpot...so what? How does that affect the fact that all the applicable states knew about this new matrix months ago and still, Virginia wasn't ready for the roll out? How does any media coverage of a now routine jackpot amount explain why all the other MUSL states... [ More ]

Comment #19

wander73 — Wed, 01 Nov 2017 04:59:04 GMT

This will teach people a lesson. However I also will blame the news media when the jackpots soar past 100 million and the news media will try to overdo the news reports.

All the people that bought tickets from that state should get comped regardless of human error. It's not the machines its the idiots that run the machines.

Comment #18

wander73 — Wed, 01 Nov 2017 04:56:05 GMT

In your defense Todd with that article I totally agree with you. I don't know what could be a solution. The states that participate in the lotteries with the big games especially were well informed of the changes months ago.

You don't have to add any language.

Comment #17

music* — Wed, 01 Nov 2017 04:15:23 GMT

I find that when I create habits for the process of buying tickets I make fewer mistakes. Checking my tickets becomes second nature.

Enjoy the games

Comment #16

noise-gate — Wed, 01 Nov 2017 02:03:20 GMT

Now that is brilliant G.

Better,better yet- how about the words please check your tickets or else written in bold print at the top of the ticket.

Comment #15

grwurston — Wed, 01 Nov 2017 01:07:38 GMT

Better yet, always check your tickets before you leave the store. Doing so will help to avoid a whole lot of later on.

Comment #14

Long Odds — Tue, 31 Oct 2017 21:18:41 GMT

Roll out in NY is not glitch free either. I played midday number and Pick 4 playslips along with a Mega Millions playslip and did not get the Megamillions ticket; wasn't charged for it either (Upon realizing later in the day I didn't have the ticket I questioned whether or not I really played it or only thought I did). Later in the day, I went to a different retailer to play only a Megamillion playslip and it worked no problem. Just played my evening number and Pick 4 playslips along with a Mega... [ More ]

Comment #13

Ron5995 — Tue, 31 Oct 2017 21:06:14 GMT

Spot on! PA Lottery Millionaire Raffle 22 back in Jan-2016 sold 348 tickets in error after the Jan-2nd, 8 pm deadline with a draw date of Apr-14-2025.

https://www.palottery.state.pa.us/Draw-Games/Millionaire-Raffle/Raffle-22-Winners.aspx

From what I recall, some lotteries stop selling Mega Million and Powerball tickets after the cut-off time for the remainder of the night. Mainly to reduce player confusion as to what drawing they're participating in, but also to reduce chance of selling ti... [ More ]

Comment #12

noise-gate — Tue, 31 Oct 2017 19:52:21 GMT

The moral of this story is Never wait for the last minute to purchase lottery tickets.

*** He who hesitates is lost - A stitch in time saves nine.

Comment #11

Raven62 — Tue, 31 Oct 2017 19:47:36 GMT

Simply Put: Tickets were Sold using the Old Matrix and the Old Price instead of the New Matrix and New Price

Comment #10

Stack47 — Tue, 31 Oct 2017 19:10:35 GMT

Either way, something is wrong with the article and the drawing.

I only had to look at the title of the story and figured out $1 tickets with the numbers 71 to 75 were sold. What else could Virginia Lottery wasn't quite ready for Mega Millions game changes mean?

There is nothing in the article mentioning something was wrong with the MM drawing that wasn't done in Virginia. Maybe there are a few players who think MM is a Virginia Lottery only game and one or two might not known of the chan... [ More ]

Comment #9

Ron5995 — Tue, 31 Oct 2017 16:50:35 GMT

All in all, it appears Virginia Lottery is handling the issue extremely well. Willing to honor any prizes won, plus refunding. Not sure what more they could do.

However, it seems a bad omen in regards to Just the Jackpot option. It's as if the glitch is a warning. Maybe I'm worrying about nothing, but my hunch is there will some disappointed players in the near future. I sincerely hope lotteries rethink Just the Jackpot or are willing to honor Match-5 too for goodwill. Wishful thinking, but h... [ More ]

Comment #8

music* — Tue, 31 Oct 2017 16:36:05 GMT

Thank You, Todd and Lottery Post Staff for caring enough to alert Virginia players before the draw tonight. Excellent work indeed.

Comment #7

Todd — Tue, 31 Oct 2017 16:15:31 GMT

I have updated the news story based on further information provided to Lottery Post by the Virginia Lottery. We now have the exact number of affected (and possibly affected) tickets, as well as an important correction on the time permitted for refunds.

Comment #6

Artist77 — Tue, 31 Oct 2017 14:55:26 GMT

The Virginia lottery website also mentions not be able to buy tickets all day a few days ago. This explains my 3 trip waste of time. Of course no notice to anyone until days after the event.

Comment #5

Todd — Tue, 31 Oct 2017 14:38:01 GMT

lol, we'll just have to disagree on the definition of incorrect then. The original wording did not say the Mega Ball issue was the primary problem it specifically stated (and still states) that it is in addition to the lottery's stated concerns. In any case, I'm glad to hear it's clearer now. Cheers.

Comment #4

winoneday — Tue, 31 Oct 2017 14:35:51 GMT

The original article was incorrect. The language you added was not clarification but a correction to the original assertion that the Mega balls was the error. In fact, the error was with the white balls.

Thanks for fixing it so quickly.

Comment #3

Todd — Tue, 31 Oct 2017 14:16:06 GMT

That article is not wrong 180 tickets for sure have no chance of winning the jackpot (as well as a $1 million prize) but I have added some language that might help clarify it for you.

Comment #2

haymaker — Tue, 31 Oct 2017 13:47:02 GMT

If you have a small win...you should get the small win and the refund.

B/C the small win could have been a big win.

Comment #1

winoneday — Tue, 31 Oct 2017 13:41:00 GMT

Very misleading article. The 180 tickets in question do have a chance of winning the jackpot. In fact, they have the same chnace of winning as every other ticket sold for the Tuesday draw.

Or the article completely missed the error made. Maybe the 180 tickets in questions have numbers from 71 to 75 - numbers that are no longer in the drawing. That would be a mistake.

Either way, something is wrong with the article and the drawing.

Virginia Lottery wasn't quite ready for Mega Millions game changes

Lottery Post — Tue, 31 Oct 2017 13:20:42 GMT

Lottery says 182 tickets have no chance of winning but may be as high as 628

UPDATE: Now includes exact number of invalid plays and possible invalid plays, corrects claim period for refunds

By Todd Northrop

If you buy a Mega Millions ticket, you normally have a 0.00000033 percent chance of winning the big jackpot. But at least 182 tickets were sold in Virginia on Friday that have a 0 percent chance of winning and there may be up to 628 plays with no chance, depending on the numbers draw... [ More ]