A trip down memory lane (California)Prev TopicNext Topic

• Chacha33

  

  Pasadena, CA
  United States
  Member #153,319
  March 13, 2014
  186 Posts
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  Mar 17, 2014, 9:53 pm

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  Around the end of 2008, the California Lottery released a $3 holiday themed scratcher, yet I distinctly remember there being a $2 cash prize as the lowest cash prize ($3 ticket prizes were also a prize tier). I understand other states have done this with higher-priced tickets with every ticket being a winner, but five years later, I still find this mind-boggling. Anybody know the Lottery's reason for releasing a ticket with a cash prize being lower than the cost of the ticket?
• mrcraft

  

  Los Angeles, California
  United States
  Member #149,486
  December 2, 2013
  919 Posts
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  Mar 17, 2014, 10:35 pm

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  Probably to encourage additional purchases (thus revenues) by having more lower tier winning tickets in the prize pool.  I think most people who win lower tier prizes just purchase more tickets.  While I would hate to win anything less than the face value of a ticket, I guess it beats not winning at all.
• Chacha33

  

  Pasadena, CA
  United States
  Member #153,319
  March 13, 2014
  186 Posts
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  Mar 17, 2014, 11:24 pm

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  In California's case, thought, not all were winners. I had a $2 winner and I almost thought about going to the Lottery to complain; that ticket went out of circulation quickly, though, thank goodness.
• CAScratcher20

  

  United States
  Member #147,159
  September 24, 2013
  507 Posts
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  Mar 18, 2014, 2:54 pm

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  I been playing scratchers for 10 years, I do not recall a game that offered a prize lower than the ticket worth. Maybe the recall was so quick.

  All I remember around 2008 is a $3 game called Extreme Green where it was the first game where there were no break even TICKET wins, it was a minimum of $5. I liked that game since you get the feeling you won after scratching off a winning matching number.

  Strike it Rich $5 game was the last time where no break even prize was offered.