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Big Game adds more states, morphs to Mega Millionsby Acting Commissioner Jim Kipp
Beginning May 16, Daily 3 & 4 players will have
an extra reason to visit your stores. Since the Daily games started
in the late 1970s and early 1980s, players have enjoyed playing their
favorite numbers each day. Now, with the introduction of the EXTRA game,
players will have the opportunity to win both “on the spot”
and in the daily drawings. EXTRA gives players the chance to win instantly while
waiting for their special numbers to be drawn. Players who purchase
a Daily 3 or Daily 4 ticket can ask for the EXTRA play for just one
additional dollar. The three or four EXTRA numbers, respectively, are randomly
chosen and printed at the bottom of the ticket, with a specific prize
amount listed underneath each number. Players can win up to $500 instantly
by matching the EXTRA numbers that are in the same position as the Daily
3 or Daily 4 numbers they played for the regular drawings. For example, if a player plays “176” as his
or her Daily 3 numbers and has 1 (with a $50 prize underneath), 5 (with
$5 underneath) and 6 (with $50 underneath) as his or her EXTRA numbers,
he or she wins $100 instantly because the EXTRA numbers matched the
1 and 6 in that player’s Daily 3 number. Prizes can be redeemed
immediately, and players will receive a reissue ticket good for their
regular Daily 3 or Daily 4 drawing. EXTRA is an extension of the already popular Daily games,
and we are very excited about it - and expect that your customers will
be, too. The EXTRA game offers overall odds of winning a cash prize
of 1 in 5.92. With instant prizes from $2 to $500, customers statewide
will be flocking to your stores to try their luck - daily. Big Game Tickets for the Mega Millions game will go on sale Wednesday,
May 15, at a cost of $1 per wager. The first Mega Millions drawing will
be conducted on Friday, May 17, at 11 p.m. Mega Millions jackpots will begin at $10 million, but
if there are no top prize winners in the final Big Game drawing on Tuesday,
May 14, The Big Game jackpot prize will roll into and be part of the
jackpot for the first Mega Millions drawing. The Mega Millions game is expected to achieve an average
jackpot of $80 million - with a potential to surpass $500 million, which
is based upon expected ticket sales across all participating jurisdictions.
In addition to the increased minimum jackpot and the
anticipated higher average jackpot level, secondary prizes have increased
in seven of the nine prize levels - with great overall odds of 1 in
43 of winning a cash prize. With Mega Millions, players first choose five numbers
from a pool of 52 white ball numbers. Then they choose a single number
from a pool of 52 Gold Mega Ball numbers. Mega Millions tickets will be sold exclusively in Michigan,
Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Ohio
and Virginia. The Michigan Lottery is excited about the introduction
of this new game. Look for more information about this new game in your
May 2002 Gameline. Additionally, I strongly encourage you to
prominently display your Mega Millions point-of-sale materials. Coupons Players aren’t the only ones who benefit from the
coupons; retailers get a 12-cent commission for each coupon redeemed.
That’s twice the normal sales commission for a $1 purchase. Starting May 19, coupons will arrive in select home-delivered
newspapers across the state. Each coupon is good for one free Mega Millions
“easy pick” with the purchase of a $1 Mega Millions “easy
pick” wager. Both wagers will be eligible for the next available
drawing. During the promotion, sales reports and weekly invoices
will keep track of the number of coupons redeemed on the “Coupon”
line. This amount will be subtracted from total “sales,” resulting
in credit for each coupon redeemed at your store. Each Mega Millions coupon can only be redeemed once.
After June 15, the free offer expires and coupons will no longer be
redeemable. Golf & Cash The redemption of merchandise prizes in this game will
be very different from any other instant game we have offered. Retailers
should encourage players to follow the instructions outlined on the
back of the ticket. Please do not validate tickets upon which merchandise
prizes have been won. It is critical that you visually confirm that
one of the merchandise symbols has been revealed in the Bonus Play area
of the ticket before instructing a player to mail the ticket to the
prize fulfillment center. If you have questions about the merchandise prize redemption
rules for this game, please call your regional office. New Instants May 2 welcomes “EZ Bingo,” a $2 game with
a $25,000 top prize. On May 9, players will want to double their luck
and try for a $500,000 top prize by playing the $10 “Double Feature,”
the Lottery’s very first two-sided ticket. On May 23, “Goin’ Up North,” a $1 game
with a $2,000 top prize, offers great family entertainment on those
long drives on that annual summer trip up north - and possibly some
extra spending cash for those vacations. Finally, the $2 “Wild Wild Time” hits stores on May 30, and will have your customers going wild for the $30,000 top prizes. |
Extra! Extra! Read all about it - Lottery players can
win on the spot for only $1 extra with the new Daily 3 & 4 EXTRA
game.