Hello everyone,
This is my first post here. Sorry to get on a soapbox right away.
Texas Lotto players; On January 13, 2013, the Texas Lottery issued a News Release saying that effective April 14, 2013, they were adding an "Extra" feature to the game. This feature allows a player to pay an extra $1 per ticket and increase non-jackpot prizes. They also increased the annuity period from 25 to 30 years. What they didn't announce and you may have noticed now that two drawings have happened since the rule change is that they have capped the jackpot rollover increase to $250,000 per drawing. Previously, the jackpot would increase about a million per draw. This is a blatant money grab since their online document show weekly sales for Lotto Texas at around 1.3 million or more depending on the prize amount.
I like the Lotto Texas game because the 6/54 format means better odds than all the Mega/Poweball games and the jackpot gets into "instant retirement" territory within a couple of weeks after someone wins. With this new rollover rule, the jackpot will increase far more slowly and the Texas Lotto game will pay out far less money.
If you are a Lotto Texas fan I urge you to contact the Texas Lottery and tell them that this new rule ruins the game. Google "Texas Lottery" and go to the main page. Scroll the bottom of the page and click Contact Us. In the email section there are two options to send an email. If you are feeling more assertive, in the left hand navigation bar click on Key Personell Phone Directory. There you will find the email address for the Executive Director of the Texas Lottery.
Many years ago, the Texas Lottery Commission messed with the game and added a Bonus Ball option. Ticket sales went into the toilet until the public protested and they reverted back to the original 6/54 format. They can't seem to keep from messing with the game or grabbing the money. I urge Texas Lotto players to express their displeasure with the new prize rules. Thanks everyone.