Computerized lottery drawings may spoil the fun for some
Pick a number, any number.
When Classic Lotto 47 launches Sunday, nostalgic Michigan lottery players will get a new crack at an old favorite. The game allows players to vie for a grand prize starting at $1 million. Ticket buyers pick six of 47 numbers; matching all six yields the jackpot.
The latest lottery creation is a "throwback to the past," said Lottery Commissioner Gary Peters.
It's based on the Lotto 47, which ran from 1989 to 1993. The Bureau of State Lottery revived a revised version of the contest in response to many requests to bring back the old game, he said.
"We took an old game and made it better," he said. "We think it'll be a very successful game."
One thing that will not be a throwback to the past is the use of computerized lottery drawings. Against player preference, the Michigan Lottery will be conducting the drawings using a computer instead of a real lottery machine.
A computer(Editor: emphasis added) will draw numbers for the game at 7:29 p.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays, beginning Wednesday, May 18. The jackpot will increase by $100,000 at each drawing.
Classic Lotto 47 will replace the 3-year-old Winfall.
Every couple of years, "folks will want something new," Peters said. "People always want new games."
Wagers for the redesigned game will cost $1 each. Matching three numbers nets a $5 prize; matching four numbers, $100; and matching five numbers, $2,500.
Of the $2 billion the Michigan Lottery made in sales last year, it gave $645 million -- a record amount -- to the School Aid Fund, which supports public schools.
"Every penny of profit we make goes to support the public schools in the state," Peters said.
Winfall's final drawing will occur Saturday.
Editor's Note: Perhaps this is the way that state lotteries will spread the use of computerized lottery drawings throughout the industry. They just change the game format, and work in the use of a computer at the same time. Lottery Post urges its readers to make your voice heard loudly against the use of computers to conduct lottery drawings. Sign the Petition for True Lottery Drawings, and contact your state lottery director, members of your state legislation, and your Governor.
I live in mi and am in the process of writing them to say I won't play because of their use of a computer to generate the numbers.....guess they want to retire the crew of people doing the drawings and as you suggest this is how they will sneak in the 'puter for our daily games..........
It's only a matter of time. It gives them the advantage of not having to broadcast drawings twice a day. That saves them money, and that means we get screwed.
It's all about saving money. The more money the lotteries save the more money goes to the programs the lotteries are supposed to support.
People here may threaten to quit playing lotteries if they go computerized, but one day, everyone is going to get used to computerized lotteries.
I already accept that it will happen and would continue to play Powerball and Mega Millions even if they went computerized.
You're playing right into their hands, and if people approached everything in life that way (like lemmings) then things would be a lot different today than they are.
You see, here in the good 'ole USA we have representative government, and the people we elect are supposed to work on our behalf. The lottery directors are appointed by the people we elect, so they are supposed to be an extension of what we want.
If the people we elect (and/or their appointees) do not do what we want, we do not succumb to some unseen pressure and allow them to get away with it: we first loudly voice our opinion, and then if they don't listen we toss them out.
Now, if you want to sit back while lottery drawings morph into a computer picking numbers, then you are certainly allowed to do that. And if you feel comfortable that a cartoon animation shown to you after the computer chooses the numbers is a good way to validate the integrity of the drawing, then you are entitled to your opinion. But I don't feel that way, and most other people who are polled on this issue do not either.
Personally, I don't think they should call them "drawings" anymore, because there is nothing being "drawn". Maybe they should call them "selections". How would that go over in a marketing campaign? The Michigan Lottery can announce for their new game, "What a blast to the past, as we re-introduce the great 6/47 game, with number selections every Wednesday and Saturday nights!"
And you should read up on the subject, because it does not save that much money, if any. If all you compare is what it costs to produce a lottery drawing with what it costs to have a computer selecting numbers, then yes, it is less expensive. But any budget manager will tell you that there are a number of other factors that contribute to the bottom line. Did you take into account that a certain segment of the population will play less (or not at all) when computers are used? That's a fact, and it has affected some states already.
All around, and for many reasons, people should not take the "taking it laying down" approach to this issue. It goes to the heart of why we enjoy these games.
I just received an e-mail back from MI, and they say that they've been using RNGs since Oct. 2002. They say they haven't had any drop in sales. That's because they never used it to draw the winning numbers. We've got to stop them before they spread it's use to the other games!
I just received an e-mail back from MI, and they say that they've been using RNGs since Oct. 2002. They say they haven't had any drop in sales. That's because they never used it to draw the winning numbers. We've got to stop them before they spread it's use to the other games!
Hi,
I know nothing about the Michigan lottery, but would like to ask a question.
What games have they been using the RNG's for? All of them? or just one?
Did the general public know the game was by RNG's?
I just received an e-mail back from MI, and they say that they've been using RNGs since Oct. 2002. They say they haven't had any drop in sales. That's because they never used it to draw the winning numbers. We've got to stop them before they spread it's use to the other games!
Hi,
I know nothing about the Michigan lottery, but would like to ask a question.
What games have they been using the RNG's for? All of them? or just one?
Did the general public know the game was by RNG's?
From what I know, they've used balls for all the games (until now). Maybe they used computers to pick which machines will be used.
Thanks Jimmysand for responding. I got this from the Michigan lottery:
Dear Molly,
The random number generator is used for Fantasy 5, Keno and Winfall. Winfall ends on Saturday and the RNG will be used for Classic Lotto 47, which begins on Sunday.
Thanks for posting that e-mail from the MI Lottery. If I were a Michigan resident, I would be upset that all those games are being drawn by computer, and I would write all levels of government to see about getting it switched back to REAL lottery drawings.
What a shame!
BTW, when you mentioned in one of your posts above about not getting a response, I'm sure that's because no one knew the answer. It's probably better that people do not post "I don't know" on the thread, because then you'd get 10 or 20 "I don't know's". You did the right thing by writing to the lottery - thanks.
I am sending this letter to the State Lottery... wonder if they will write me back..
Hello,
My name is Kris. I have been playing the lottery for several years now, and I have just found out something that undermines my confidence in the lottery. I do not understand why a computer has to select the winning lottery numbers for three games rather than using a normal ball-and-machine selection process. I myself am a computer programmer, and unfortunately, there are MANY ways someone could “hack” into the system and produce malicious results.
These are some ways that the system could produce results that may look random, but in truth are not:
The programmer (or programmers) could insert malicious code into the program, and anyone who does not know what computer code looks like would not see any difference in any results, other than the fact that someone the person or persons they are in concert with could have “inside information” and gain an advantage over other players.
Even if the system used to produce the winning numbers is not connected to any other system (or a network, an intranet, etc.), it could be hacked into by someone who needs to perform routine maintenance on the system.
The code could be flawed, producing results that could favor certain numbers over others, regardless of how many times the system is checked for supposed “randomness.”
Random Number Generators are NOT random, once again, regardless of the fact of how many times it is tested for “randomness”.
Here is the worst part: The computer could look for combinations of numbers that have NOT been played and simply select those numbers, thereby paying out -0- in prize money, and people not wanting to play because it seems like they can’t win (and they would be right, too).
I have not been playing Fantasy 5 & Keno! since I found this out, and that will continue. I will also NOT be playing Classic Lotto 47 until ALL of these games are using a ball-and-machine drawing process, which is a PHYSICAL & AUDITABLE means of conducting FAIR & BALANCED drawings. I also think that just displaying the numbers every night instead of seeing a live drawing is ludicrous. If you don’t think you have time to display all of the drawings, be like Ohio and conduct all of the drawings at once… For example, while Daily 3 & 4 are being drawn, drop & mix Fantasy 5 & Classic Lotto 47, and draw them as soon as Daily 4 is finished drawing. Draw Keno! just before the TV broadcast, just like what used to happen.
I urge you to make changes to the number “selection” process, because as long as the numbers are being “selected” and not “drawn”, Myself and hundreds, if not THOUSANDS of other people across the state will no longer play these games.
Just wanted to update this... Thanks to Todd for providing some of the wording of this letter from the Eliminate Computerized Drawing petition, which I have signed. As I said in the letter, I am NOT going to play these games until they revert back to a traditional drawing.
I live in mi and am in the process of writing them to say I won't play because of their use of a computer to generate the numbers.....guess they want to retire the crew of people doing the drawings and as you suggest this is how they will sneak in the 'puter for our daily games..........
I hope they never use computers here in michigan for the for the pick 3 and 4
It's only a matter of time. It gives them the advantage of not having to broadcast drawings twice a day. That saves them money, and that means we get screwed.
You have got to be kidding me. I am e-mailing the Michigan Lottery to stop them as we speak, and you should too.
computers are a cancer to the lottery.....
It's all about saving money. The more money the lotteries save the more money goes to the programs the lotteries are supposed to support.
People here may threaten to quit playing lotteries if they go computerized, but one day, everyone is going to get used to computerized lotteries.
I already accept that it will happen and would continue to play Powerball and Mega Millions even if they went computerized.
It's all about saving money. The more money the lotteries save the more money goes to the programs the lotteries are supposed to support.
People here may threaten to quit playing lotteries if they go computerized, but one day, everyone is going to get used to computerized lotteries.
I already accept that it will happen and would continue to play Powerball and Mega Millions even if they went computerized.
You're playing right into their hands, and if people approached everything in life that way (like lemmings) then things would be a lot different today than they are.
You see, here in the good 'ole USA we have representative government, and the people we elect are supposed to work on our behalf. The lottery directors are appointed by the people we elect, so they are supposed to be an extension of what we want.
If the people we elect (and/or their appointees) do not do what we want, we do not succumb to some unseen pressure and allow them to get away with it: we first loudly voice our opinion, and then if they don't listen we toss them out.
Now, if you want to sit back while lottery drawings morph into a computer picking numbers, then you are certainly allowed to do that. And if you feel comfortable that a cartoon animation shown to you after the computer chooses the numbers is a good way to validate the integrity of the drawing, then you are entitled to your opinion. But I don't feel that way, and most other people who are polled on this issue do not either.
Personally, I don't think they should call them "drawings" anymore, because there is nothing being "drawn". Maybe they should call them "selections". How would that go over in a marketing campaign? The Michigan Lottery can announce for their new game, "What a blast to the past, as we re-introduce the great 6/47 game, with number selections every Wednesday and Saturday nights!"
And you should read up on the subject, because it does not save that much money, if any. If all you compare is what it costs to produce a lottery drawing with what it costs to have a computer selecting numbers, then yes, it is less expensive. But any budget manager will tell you that there are a number of other factors that contribute to the bottom line. Did you take into account that a certain segment of the population will play less (or not at all) when computers are used? That's a fact, and it has affected some states already.
All around, and for many reasons, people should not take the "taking it laying down" approach to this issue. It goes to the heart of why we enjoy these games.
I just received an e-mail back from MI, and they say that they've been using RNGs since Oct. 2002. They say they haven't had any drop in sales.
That's because they never used it to draw the winning numbers. We've got to stop them before they spread it's use to the other games!
I just received an e-mail back from MI, and they say that they've been using RNGs since Oct. 2002. They say they haven't had any drop in sales.
That's because they never used it to draw the winning numbers. We've got to stop them before they spread it's use to the other games!
Hi,
I know nothing about the Michigan lottery, but would like to ask a question.
What games have they been using the RNG's for? All of them? or just one?
Did the general public know the game was by RNG's?
Well, I thought it was a fairly simple few questions....but, I can't get an answer here or on the Pick 3 forum.
I just received an e-mail back from MI, and they say that they've been using RNGs since Oct. 2002. They say they haven't had any drop in sales.
That's because they never used it to draw the winning numbers. We've got to stop them before they spread it's use to the other games!
Hi,
I know nothing about the Michigan lottery, but would like to ask a question.
What games have they been using the RNG's for? All of them? or just one?
Did the general public know the game was by RNG's?
From what I know, they've used balls for all the games (until now). Maybe they used computers to pick which machines will be used.
Thanks Jimmysand for responding. I got this from the Michigan lottery:
Dear Molly,
The random number generator is used for Fantasy 5, Keno and Winfall. Winfall ends on Saturday and the RNG will be used for Classic Lotto 47, which begins on Sunday.
Thank you for the inquiry.
Lottery PR Department
MollyG,
Thanks for posting that e-mail from the MI Lottery. If I were a Michigan resident, I would be upset that all those games are being drawn by computer, and I would write all levels of government to see about getting it switched back to REAL lottery drawings.
What a shame!
BTW, when you mentioned in one of your posts above about not getting a response, I'm sure that's because no one knew the answer. It's probably better that people do not post "I don't know" on the thread, because then you'd get 10 or 20 "I don't know's". You did the right thing by writing to the lottery - thanks.
Sirs: When will we be able to post Mega-Millions, on the computer, again? as it is we are locked out in New York City? Thanks!
Locked out everywhere.
I am sending this letter to the State Lottery... wonder if they will write me back..
Hello,
My name is Kris. I have been playing the lottery for several years now, and I have just found out something that undermines my confidence in the lottery. I do not understand why a computer has to select the winning lottery numbers for three games rather than using a normal ball-and-machine selection process. I myself am a computer programmer, and unfortunately, there are MANY ways someone could “hack” into the system and produce malicious results.
These are some ways that the system could produce results that may look random, but in truth are not:
I have not been playing Fantasy 5 & Keno! since I found this out, and that will continue. I will also NOT be playing Classic Lotto 47 until ALL of these games are using a ball-and-machine drawing process, which is a PHYSICAL & AUDITABLE means of conducting FAIR & BALANCED drawings. I also think that just displaying the numbers every night instead of seeing a live drawing is ludicrous. If you don’t think you have time to display all of the drawings, be like Ohio and conduct all of the drawings at once… For example, while Daily 3 & 4 are being drawn, drop & mix Fantasy 5 & Classic Lotto 47, and draw them as soon as Daily 4 is finished drawing. Draw Keno! just before the TV broadcast, just like what used to happen.
I urge you to make changes to the number “selection” process, because as long as the numbers are being “selected” and not “drawn”, Myself and hundreds, if not THOUSANDS of other people across the state will no longer play these games.
Sincerely,
Kris
Just wanted to update this... Thanks to Todd for providing some of the wording of this letter from the Eliminate Computerized Drawing petition, which I have signed. As I said in the letter, I am NOT going to play these games until they revert back to a traditional drawing.
Have a great day everyone!
Kris