How can they call it Lotto America if only 14 states are eligible to play? 

Throwback names make it so difficult for historians to separate out original information from throwback information (ie: Lotto America, Lotto America 2, Lotto America 3, etc.)

Well I like the idea of the real ball drawings, the $1 price tag and much better odds than the big jackpot games even though the jackpots wont reach the massive prize amounts.

Fat chance of that game ever reaching the West coast.

So, here we go again! They already are showing how dishonest the game is by "NOT" putting the drawing on T.V.!!! I will only buy one ticket but until I can see the drawings!!!...........

"The odds of winning the jackpot in Lotto America will be around 1 in 26 million"

Yet jackpots will start at only $2 million.

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In addition to the jackpot there are eight other lower-tier prizes ranging from $2 up to $20,000.

Yet there are 2,598,960 or maybe so possible combinations for the 5/52 main balls, those numbers might be wrong, but still more than 2 million combinations for the 5 main balls, when they only pay $20,000.

That is less than 1/100 of the total possible combinations.

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Like with all lottery games, payouts are not in proportion to the odds of the game.

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Same as always, the house always wins and wins huge.

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Players never have a chance!

Games are of course made so the house always wins very big and people can only win by chance and win little.

But of course, you are not forced to play, people play by either entertainment and or greed.

Needy people should get a job instead of playing, unless of course you are playing with money that others give to you and you don't really need that money, such as homeless people do.

Many homeless people buy lottery tickets, not to mention tobacco and beer, after all, they are buying such with money given to them.

Here on Texas we have some lottery games that you would need to be a baboon to buy, but I should not say that, I don't want to offend baboons, after all they are people and they are intelligent in their own way.

And they are cute!

Be kind to "animals", they are also people.

Whoa-just because some primates can walk upright for some time, that does not make them people. The only time you will find some donning a pair of pants,is if they in a circus. A pair of pants,without a wallet, or loose change.

Original DC Lotto America, only time I hit for anything 'good' for $114 just before leaving for Deutschland back in '88.  Never did anything like that on PB or MM.  Man does that bring back memories.

They should have kept the "tax withholding paid" aspect of Hot Lotto which was about it's only redeeming quality.

Firstly, the game is a rip off!

As to why. Look at the odds. 1 in 25,989,600 for jackpot that will likely be single to maybe double-digit millions at best. Worse, it's an annuity. Yep, that $2 million starting jackpot isn't really $2 million. The actual value is more closer to 60% of the advertised amount. $1.2 million or so to start. 1 in ~26 million to win that. Crazy!

To be fair, due to no one hitting the final Hot Lotto jackpot, it appears the initial starting Lotto America jackpot will be $15 million annuity. So not as bad, relatively speaking.

2nd place is terrible too. 1 in 2,887,733 to win $20,000. In contrast, Powerball odds (1 in 1,826,258 when adjusted for $2 price) winning $50,000 is still better. Even if one ponies up the extra dollar for Lotto multiplier, Lotto America still comes up short much of the time.

Another aspect is the payback percentage. I couldn't find the exact percentage anywhere, and not in the mood to calculate it. Since the number isn't mentioned, likely around 50% or so similar to Powerball and Mega Millions. Further compounds the rip off.

As for no televised drawing, not enough demand for that. My sense is the Lotto America game is a flash in the pan and won't last. They're reinventing an inferior version of the former $1 per ticket Mega Millions. Maybe I'm way off, and Lotto America will be a hit, but highly doubt it. Time will tell.

I'm glad they rolled over the majority of the Jackpot not won from the last Hot Lotto draw. I was afraid that money would just get pocketed by each of the participating states.

In response to previous posts in no particular order, Lotto America is not in the whole country, but the name will entice future states who will participate in the game. Yes, the starting jackpot is extremely low, but at least it will start at $15 million from the $13 million rollover money. It is worth playing until the first jackpot is won.

I intend on playing the game, along with the record-breakin jackpot, but unpopular game of Multi-Win Lotto when I make my way to the Delaware border on Sunday.

DC had hot lotto. I have not heard of this game for DC.

Lotto*America  was the first lottery game offered by the  Multi-State Lottery Association  (MUSL). It was replaced in 1992 by Powerball, which, along with Mega Millions, are MUSL's flagship games.

In 1987, six states and the  District of Columbia  banded together, since, on their own, they could not create jackpots into the tens of millions of dollars that had become commonplace in the most populous lottery states. MUSL's first game was called "Lotto*America" even though only those seven jurisdictions took part, although technically it could be played on both the  East Coast  and  West Coast. The first Lotto*America drawing was in 1988.

Lotto*America lasted until April 1992, when it was replaced with Powerball. MUSL held the rights to the  Lotto America  name; a new version of the game will be launched on November 12, 2017 with the first drawing three days later. The new Lotto*America will replace the scandal-driven  Hot Lotto  game.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lotto_America

Agreed, it's awful.  But then, what lottery game isn't a rip off?

Call me crazy, but if The New York Lottery offered it, I'd play it. It'd be a refreshing change. Lotto America offers better odds/features than that horrendous disaster NY calls "Lotto". 

I've learned a lot about the business side of lotteries from many of your posts, and you've definitely made me a  smarter player. For that I say 'Thank you!'  But I've also got to say that the vast majority of players don't know/understand what you know. (I certainly didn't until I read your posts) Even if they did, I doubt they'd care. 

IMHO, Lotto America probably has a better shot at being a hit than either you or I think it does. G5

Good luck to the players who're playing this game! I wonder why they have to run five white balls of 52 and 10 Lotto America Star Balls in the second machine?

True, most players have no idea of game features, odds, payback, etc. Ultimately, it comes down to luck, so if Lotto America was offered in PA, I'd likely play it occasionally. Lotto America is trading on an old name that doesn't seem relevant. Lack of creativity, but maybe the experts know what they're doing... We'll see.

You're spot on about NY Lotto. Insane odds and payback of only 40%. 1 in 46 of winning anything; most likely $1 or $20-$30. That makes Lotto America look great in comparison.

Lotto America may last awhile, since it's near certain to be highly profitable with virtually no risk to participating lotteries. However, seems redundant to Mega Millions and Powerball. Moreover, many lotteries already offer regional games, such as Cash4Life, with similar odds and multimillion dollar top prizes. Draw schedules are getting crowded in many states; cannibalizing sales of already existing games.

I'll play this game for a bit to see how it goes.

Bought a ticket today ... 1 line for 10 draws.  Since its starting with the larger jackpot I figured I'd give it a try.   Hopefully I'll do well :] and good luck to everyone else playing =>

That makes a ton of sense.  After the initial jackpot is won, who knows how long it will be before it gets this high again.  I would play myself if I lived in a Lotto America state.

I agree with Todd, Id play if it was available here in Kentucky. I quit on Powerball when they changed then ive quit on Megamillions since they changed. Been playing more on Kentuckys cashball. If and when i travel to West virginia or Tenneessee ill play Lotto America. The only time i would play the other two would be in a pool where you could play on a couple dollars. 

UTAH?  Where did you play???  Sorry couldn't help that.

OK, We're in it for $5.00.

The payouts are lookin...  EH???

But, We Like Playing With Balls.

Ha ha! I bought my ticket in Idaho on my way home from Montana. I regularly buy tickets In idaho and Wyoming. Both have border towns about an hour and a half from where I live :]

Thanks for the laugh.  We both know UT & NV have about as much chance of a lottery as a snowball in h--l of even getting on the table.

It's not going to be on TV, but from what I've read you will be able to watch the draws as they are going to stream them live on the internet

Ran a DisimulateNexus Based on a Disimualte of the Total distribution as a starter seed.

Disimulate starter seeds

05 11 18 29 45 - 03
17 22 23 24 51 - 08

Here's a DisimulateNexus set of 50 we came up with for tonight.

11 38 39 40 42 - 10
03 32 34 37 45 - 01
03 22 31 39 40 - 03
06 24 32 41 43 - 08
02 25 34 37 50 - 06
10 18 21 40 44 - 02
14 17 27 28 42 - 04
01 10 29 38 45 - 03
02 14 24 25 50 - 04
09 21 40 41 50 - 09
03 29 34 35 43 - 06
03 34 43 47 48 - 01
08 16 25 44 46 - 03
14 16 17 41 50 - 06
13 20 23 38 40 - 04
02 03 15 46 49 - 07
14 19 27 31 46 - 08
03 06 32 34 43 - 09
10 15 23 30 31 - 09
13 18 31 39 52 - 02
07 11 27 32 45 - 07
12 21 40 41 45 - 09
06 08 11 29 41 - 04
05 21 22 29 40 - 06
08 10 11 35 51 - 01
03 20 33 40 44 - 05
18 20 33 40 47 - 03
06 33 34 38 47 - 08
06 23 33 41 42 - 08
05 16 27 41 44 - 08
05 08 27 43 45 - 02
07 21 22 26 42 - 03
07 31 37 41 43 - 09
08 14 26 27 50 - 09
10 11 18 34 48 - 07
20 26 27 28 43 - 02
04 18 36 42 44 - 05
01 10 33 44 51 - 05
04 13 21 31 49 - 09
13 25 32 33 37 - 10
13 33 38 40 51 - 02
16 25 43 47 48 - 07
06 19 36 39 51 - 03
03 04 09 28 40 - 05
07 20 32 38 42 - 10
04 18 27 34 36 - 05
09 22 40 41 45 - 02
07 09 24 30 36 - 07
13 24 36 41 46 - 06
15 30 39 44 47 - 04

Total Distribution of Numbers

Glad that I read this article as I was thinking the starting JP would be $2 million, not the actual $15 million from the Hot Lotto rollover. Glad that MUSL did the right thing and push the jackpot from the old game into Lotto America, except it won't be all cash and "taxes paid" like Hot Lotto was. I also like that this game won't be an RNG game!

Dissapointed that New Hampshire has decided to wait until January to participate in this game. Fortunately I live near the Maine/NH state line and only had to drive 2 miles to the nearest Maine lottery retailer to pick up my 10 lines for tonight's drawing. Good luck to all those who are playing.

Well, I was right:

https://www.<snip>.com/lottery-odds-calculator.php

http://www.smartluck.com/odds-of-winning-lotto-games.htm

Lotto America Odds

 The odds calculated as EXACTLY in a lotto game '52/5/5':

~ 0 of 5 in 5 from 52  -> 1 in 1.69
~ 1 of 5 in 5 from 52  -> 1 in 2.91
~ 2 of 5 in 5 from 52  -> 1 in 16.03
~ 3 of 5 in 5 from 52  -> 1 in 240.42
~ 4 of 5 in 5 from 52  -> 1 in 11059.4
~ 5 of 5 in 5 from 52  -> 1 in 2598960


 The odds calculated as AT LEAST in a lotto game '52/5/5':

~ 0 of 5 in 5 from 52  -> 1 in 1
~ 1 of 5 in 5 from 52  -> 1 in 2.44
~ 2 of 5 in 5 from 52  -> 1 in 15.01
~ 3 of 5 in 5 from 52  -> 1 in 235.29
~ 4 of 5 in 5 from 52  -> 1 in 11012.54
~ 5 of 5 in 5 from 52  -> 1 in 2598960

DC had Hot Lotto and I played it regularly until the Tipton scandal.  Now that they have a ball drawing, DC opts out!  DC lottery players should be angry that the rollover jackpot will go elsewhere when they may have contributed to it.

Mmm... matched a few.

Draw
02 09 18 31 39 - 09

Matched
13 18 31 39 52 - 02    3 + 0
09 21 40 41 50 - 09    1 + 1
10 15 23 30 31 - 09    1 + 1
07 31 37 41 43 - 09    1 + 1
04 13 21 31 49 - 09    1 + 1
03 06 32 34 43 - 09    0 + 1
12 21 40 41 45 - 09    0 + 1
08 14 26 27 50 - 09    0 + 1

Draw
02 09 18 31 39 - 09

Disimulate starter seed wasn't too far off.

05 11 18 29 45 - 03
+3 +2 ·0 -2 +6 - -6 ←Difference from actual draw.

Here's a distribution break down of the DisimulateNexus selections.

Hmm, interesting... the Star Ball 9 was most often selected by the DisimulateNexus.

At least I won $2 last night on $10 spent by covering all 10 star balls. Going to do the same thing for Saturday's draw and reduce my jackpot winning odds tenfold down to 1:2,598,960.

Great idea :] 

I had 2 numbers... No  $$$ :[