PA Lottery New Pick-2 Game - details not released yet - any ideas?Prev TopicNext Topic

• Ron5995

  

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  Jan 7, 2015, 9:11 am

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  PA Lottery began posting ads for their new Pick-2 game, but with no details. I'm assuming it will be like Ontario Canada Lottery's (OLG) Pick-2 version, which pays $2 (costs $2 to play; break-even win) for matching first digit (1 in ~11) and $99 for matching both (1 in 100). If PA Pick-2 has similar payouts, then it's worth playing, because OLG's version pays back 58.5%, which is better payback than any PA Lottery numbers game.

  Another possibility is PA Pick-2 version will be more like a 2/XX game - that would allow for larger prizes, but with the odds being much harder. Can't see PA Lottery going down that road, since the relatively low payout verses risk would turn off many players. So I'm assuming it's like OLG Pick-2 ...

  I'm surprised to PA Lottery is introducing such a game, since it's likely only going to appeal to a relative small slice of their player base. Keno would be far more popular, and likely generate more net revenue too. I get the sense PA Pick-2 is more a "filler" until something else comes along. Anyone know more about PA Pick-2 and/or have some guesses as to what it will be ...
• Crazy Wombat

  

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  Jan 7, 2015, 9:42 am

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  In response to Ron5995

  Quote: Originally posted by Ron5995 on Jan 7, 2015

  PA Lottery began posting ads for their new Pick-2 game, but with no details. I'm assuming it will be like Ontario Canada Lottery's (OLG) Pick-2 version, which pays $2 (costs $2 to play; break-even win) for matching first digit (1 in ~11) and $99 for matching both (1 in 100). If PA Pick-2 has similar payouts, then it's worth playing, because OLG's version pays back 58.5%, which is better payback than any PA Lottery numbers game.

  Another possibility is PA Pick-2 version will be more like a 2/XX game - that would allow for larger prizes, but with the odds being much harder. Can't see PA Lottery going down that road, since the relatively low payout verses risk would turn off many players. So I'm assuming it's like OLG Pick-2 ...

  I'm surprised to PA Lottery is introducing such a game, since it's likely only going to appeal to a relative small slice of their player base. Keno would be far more popular, and likely generate more net revenue too. I get the sense PA Pick-2 is more a "filler" until something else comes along. Anyone know more about PA Pick-2 and/or have some guesses as to what it will be ...

  First I have heard of the game ... I will check it out in Canada ... any states already have the game ?

  If you get more information ... I'm interested in the actual payouts. Would this be a daily game ???

  CW
• Crazy Wombat

  

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  Jan 7, 2015, 9:57 am

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  OK ... understand it better now from Canada ... might be able to play this like some people do at roulette in a casino.

  Looking at the OLG stats for the game ... number 5 is the best 1st and 2nd number  ... they have come out more than the other numbers ... so maybe playing the 5s (in Canada) since you get your money back on all the other 5 numbers.

  Have to wait to see how the numbers work out in PA ... it's possible this may be of interest to a roulette player and others ... a person maybe could make small amounts of money in a month ... but who knows for sure.

  CW
• Ron5995

  

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  Jan 7, 2015, 12:52 pm

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  Right now, a player can win nearly the same amount ($100 verses $99) on a $2 bet by playing front or back pair in the Daily Number or Quinto. However, the second tier payout OLG's Pick-2 has for matching just the first number makes things interesting - you're spot on about that. That extra 9% payout (the $2 break-even prize), while not huge, makes a meaningful difference for frequent players. Hoping PA Pick-2 has a similar payout structure - I'd definitely play it often.
• PrinceRene

  

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  Jan 7, 2015, 12:58 pm

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  I don't mean to sound like a curmudgeon but I think this game is going to crash and burn. There is such a thing as too many games.
• Chris$

  

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  Jan 7, 2015, 1:05 pm

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  Im sure ill be playing it a little bit.

  I prefer the bigger payouts and super straight plays on the daily number.

  Our pa pick 3 thread here on LP has great posters and daily winners.

  Pick 2 may be fun as something to recoup the lost funds on the days we dont hit the daily.

  Good luck everyone!

  ♠♣♥♦= $$$$
• destinycreation

  

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  Jan 7, 2015, 1:35 pm

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  In response to Ron5995

  Quote: Originally posted by Ron5995 on Jan 7, 2015

  PA Lottery began posting ads for their new Pick-2 game, but with no details. I'm assuming it will be like Ontario Canada Lottery's (OLG) Pick-2 version, which pays $2 (costs $2 to play; break-even win) for matching first digit (1 in ~11) and $99 for matching both (1 in 100). If PA Pick-2 has similar payouts, then it's worth playing, because OLG's version pays back 58.5%, which is better payback than any PA Lottery numbers game.

  Another possibility is PA Pick-2 version will be more like a 2/XX game - that would allow for larger prizes, but with the odds being much harder. Can't see PA Lottery going down that road, since the relatively low payout verses risk would turn off many players. So I'm assuming it's like OLG Pick-2 ...

  I'm surprised to PA Lottery is introducing such a game, since it's likely only going to appeal to a relative small slice of their player base. Keno would be far more popular, and likely generate more net revenue too. I get the sense PA Pick-2 is more a "filler" until something else comes along. Anyone know more about PA Pick-2 and/or have some guesses as to what it will be ...

  Is a Pick 2 game, the same as picking PAIRS ????
• Ron5995

  

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  Jan 7, 2015, 2:06 pm

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  In response to destinycreation

  Quote: Originally posted by destinycreation on Jan 7, 2015

  Is a Pick 2 game, the same as picking PAIRS ????

  The details remains unknown about PA Pick-2 ... presumption is it will be like OLG's, but that's just a guess. Maybe it will be different.

  Speaking of OLG's Pick-2 ... yes, it's the same as picking pairs, but with an important difference. It features a 2nd tier prize of $2 (break-even) for matching just the first digit. That's an 8.5% advantage (9% actually, but OLG chips a $1 off the top prize; 0.5%) over playing pairs in most other lottery games.

  On a jackpot game, a 8% or whatever extra overall payout might not make much meaningful difference, because payback percentage includes all prizes, including the top ones. But in any game in which a player, over a realistic number of plays (ie. a few hundred for OLG's Pick 2), can hit all prize tiers, that extra advantage will be noticeable; allowing for more play.
• Crazy Wombat

  

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  Jan 7, 2015, 4:31 pm

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  In response to Ron5995

  Quote: Originally posted by Ron5995 on Jan 7, 2015

  The details remains unknown about PA Pick-2 ... presumption is it will be like OLG's, but that's just a guess. Maybe it will be different.

  Speaking of OLG's Pick-2 ... yes, it's the same as picking pairs, but with an important difference. It features a 2nd tier prize of $2 (break-even) for matching just the first digit. That's an 8.5% advantage (9% actually, but OLG chips a $1 off the top prize; 0.5%) over playing pairs in most other lottery games.

  On a jackpot game, a 8% or whatever extra overall payout might not make much meaningful difference, because payback percentage includes all prizes, including the top ones. But in any game in which a player, over a realistic number of plays (ie. a few hundred for OLG's Pick 2), can hit all prize tiers, that extra advantage will be noticeable; allowing for more play.

  Years ago when I played the PA daily number more frequently ... I would also play pairs and hit $250 and $500 that way sometimes ... usually if I played the triple 777s ... I would also go 77 Front and Back pairs ... one time 776 hit so I got a little something.

  The only time you can lose is if the 77s are split ... instead of 776 or 677 ... out pops 767 ... a real killer.

  This new game eliminates a possible split ... if you play all the ten 77 numbers for $20 and 76 would hit ... at least in Canada you would win $99 + $18 for the other first digit 7 numbers ... a person could cover a lot of numbers ... say all 4s and 8s also with the 7s and still make some money.

  As you said ... no details yet as to if this will be like the Canadian game ... that's why I was sort of comparing the game to roulette at the casino ... when you see people putting chips all over the table and usually hitting something.

  Not sure if I would play it but it may prove interesting ... not going to get rich but it maybe could be "worked" for a profit.

  If there are two daily draws and the evening draw would still be with bouncing balls and not a computer draw ... I would only play the evening drawing ... not really fond of the computer draws ... hopefully as an evening game they would have a machine pick ... since all the other evening games are machine bouncing balls.

  However, they may just make it an afternoon game ... the lottery is pushed now to get all those numbers drawn on the evening broadcast ... unless they work it like Quinto ... those numbers are up very fast so I suppose they could shoot two numbers up in 2 or 3 seconds.

  CW
• chrissy16

  

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  Jan 8, 2015, 1:52 am

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  I never heard anything about a Pick 2 game, coming to PA.  If it does, then this is great news.  I have a little Pick 2 system that I would love to put to use.  Does anyone know exactly, when this will actually happen?

       
  
• Ron5995

  

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  Jan 8, 2015, 1:07 pm

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  Yeah, splits are a killer. Some lotteries offer split pairs, but not PA. The strategy of buying all 10 numbers (ie. 70-79) seems a good one with a near break-even return for a second-digit "miss". That's where that extra $18 payout (9 x $2) really makes all the difference. So many ways to work the game, though as you point out, likely not going to win big money, but a good way to win a little extra cash here and then.

  The drawings are much faster than they used to be. Often the balls are all out before the camera even gets to the particular game, in particular Quinto, being drawn. Hope Pick-2 is a twice a day game. It's a shame PA doesn't stream drawings live on the internet, since not all are shown due to other tv programming.
• TheGameGrl

  

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  Jan 8, 2015, 7:40 pm

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  The Pick2 will crawl before it shows any interest. Once again PA will try anything to get more money from its players. With the Monopoly game being squashed far too early in its debut its now back tracking to what appears to be a game most players can quickly pick up on. I consider it some what of an insult to human intelligence for folks to say the game (monopoly) was too hard. Read the directions, follow the guide lines and play. Maybe PA should put its money into education instead of seniors if folks are having comprehension concerns.  Not a fan of tossing 2$ at this game. I'll stick to Pick 3 or Pick 4 where you can wager 50 cents and come out much better on pay outs.

  Count your smiles.
• Quinto

  

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  Jan 8, 2015, 9:14 pm

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  I can't wait for this. I already play pairs on the daily and quinto as well as triads and quads on quinto (lots of places I play these, the employees say they never heard of anyone playing that way) I think they are trying to open the door to younger players who like many options. Not the old fogies who play the same number for 50 years then die when they hit. I look forward to it. It may be like the OLG Pick 2, which pays $99. Think about it, if $2 a play, it would cost $200 to guarantee a win. So, $99 payout is good. If it's gonna be this way, I will play heavy on 1x so anytime a 1 comes out first I win. Looking for long term winnings in this case

  
• Crazy Wombat

  

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  Jan 9, 2015, 5:06 am

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  Well there are still too many unknowns about this new game ... if it plays like the Canadian game then it might be worth playing. If they don't pay anything for the first number and only just for a two number match, then I would not be interested at all.

  Of course the game could be completely different and somewhat better than the Canadian game ... with payouts or odds ... hard to say for now.

  I agree GameGrl ... $2.00 is a steep price compared to a payout on a 6/49 game but if it resembles the Canadian game it might be worth watching and playing.

  Have to see how the numbers flow or trend.

  As I said earlier, in the Canadian game the 5s seem to rule for now as 1st and 2nd shows.

  5 = Total shows ... 433

  1st digit - 231 times

  2nd digit - 202 times

  the 4s are in 2nd place with 396 total shows, so the 5's have a pretty good lead for now.

  CW
• Ron5995

  

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  Jan 9, 2015, 5:24 am

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  The Pennsylvania Bulletin weekly update occurs at 9 am this morning, which may have details about the new Pick-2 game. Hoping it's like OLG's.

  As for MMC, PA and other states had no practical choice to abandon the game after Texas left, which put the game into a death spiral. Lack of player understanding was an issue, but not the only one. Even many savvy players, who understood MMC, played it cautiously, if at all. The odds were terrible, and felt like a rip-off.

  Many have mentioned that players routinely play instant tickets at such price-points with little issue. However, the odds of winning anything is generally better than 1 in 4.4 for PA $5 instant tickets while MMC was over twice as difficult at 1 in ~10. Players noticed the difference quickly, and felt cheated; lack of thrill for the cost.

  Players can tell a good game from a bad one. PA Treasure Hunt, despite its relatively low jackpot prizes compared to other games, has a very loyal following, because it's a good value (payback may be over 50%) and many players win. PA Pick-2, if it's anything like OLGs, while being a niche game, will generate a loyal player base. With all that said, ditto on your sentiments regarding Daily Number and Big-4 with their very low cost of entry for a nice size payout.