Pennsylvania Lottery

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Pennsylvania Lottery is the state lottery of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It was created by the Pennsylvania Legislature on August 26, 1971 and that October, Henry Kaplan was appointed as its first Executive Director. The Lottery premiered on March 7, 1972.

[edit] Lottery proceeds

By state law, at least 40 percent of lottery proceeds is required to be paid as prizes and at least 30 percent is required to fund programs. Currently, the Pennsylvania Lottery exceeds these requirements, for 55.1% is paid as prizes, 34.5% is paid to programs, 8.0% is paid as retailer and vendor commissions, and 2.4% is consumed as operating expenses.

For the 2003-2004 fiscal year, approximately $2.37 billion in gross revenue was acquired through proceeds and interest. Approximately $1.306 billion was paid as prizes, $817.8 million was paid to programs, $189.6 million was paid as retailer and vendor commissions, and $56.9 million was paid to advertising and operations. The gross revenue for fiscal year 2003-2004 represents an increase of approximately 40.6% in sales over the past five years (since fiscal year 1998-1999).

The Pennsylvania Lottery is the only lottery in the United States that exclusively targets all of its proceeds to programs for older residents. Since the beginning of the Lottery in 1972, more than $14.6 billion has been contributed to programs. Such programs include:

Property tax and rent rebates
Shared/Free Ride Program
PACE (Pharmaceutical Assistance for the Elderly)
PACENET (Enhanced Tier PACE)
52 Area Agencies on Aging
650 Senior Community Centers
Hot Meals Program
Home-delivered meals

The Pennsylvania Lottery website contains more detailed information about its lottery proceeds and associated programs. [1]

[edit] Current online games

The Pennsylvania Lottery currently has several online (lottery terminal) games in operation.

[edit] Daily Number

The Daily Number is a three-digit game, drawn twice a day (at 1:10 p.m. ET, the midday Daily number results can be seen at the Lottery's website after 1:35 PM ET and the nighttime Daily Number drawing takes place during the live televised drawings at 6:58:50 p.m. ET) 7 days a week. Single tickets can be purchased in amounts of $0.50, up to $5.00. Additionally, tickets can be purchased up to seven days (one week) in advance.

The Daily Number can be played in five basic ways:

Way to play	To play	To win	Payout
Straight	The player chooses any three digits.	If the three digits, and their order, match the winning number drawn, the player wins.	500 to 1
Boxed		If the three digits, regardless of their order, match the winning number, the player wins.	80 to 1
Boxed		The payout differs if a winning boxed number includes two of the same digit.	160 to 1
Front Pair	The player chooses any two digits.	If the two digits, and their order, match the front (left) two digits of the winning number, the player wins.	50 to 1
Back Pair	The player chooses any two digits.	If the two digits, and their order, match the back (right) two digits of the winning number, the player wins.	50 to 1
Super Straight	The player chooses any three digits.	The online system plays all six possible combinations of the number. Consequently, tickets cost six times the normal price of a ticket. A win is, therefore, treated like a Straight win.	500 to 1
Super Straight	The player chooses any three digits.	If a Super Straight number includes two of the same digit, the cost is three times that of the regular cost, since there are only three possible winning combinations (instead of six).	500 to 1

[edit] Big 4

Big 4 is a four-digit game, drawn twice a day (at 1:10 p.m. ET, the midday big 4 numbers can be seen at the Lottery's website after 1:35 PM ET and the nighttime big 4 drawing takes place during the live televised drawings at 6:58:50 p.m. ET) 7 days a week. Single tickets can be purchased in amounts of $0.50, up to $5.00. Additionally, tickets can be purchased up to seven days (one week) in advance.

Big 4 can be played in two basic ways:

Way to play	To play	To win	Payout
Straight	The player chooses any four digits.	If the four digits, and their order, match the winning number drawn, the player wins.	5,000 to 1
Boxed		If the four digits, regardless of their order, match the winning number, the player wins.	200 to 1
		A winning boxed number includes three of the same digit (regardless of the remaining single digit).	1,200 to 1
		A winning boxed number includes two pairs of digits.	800 to 1
		A winning boxed number includes one pair of digits (regardless of the other two digits).	400 to 1

[edit] Cash 5

The Cash 5 is a game which consisted of five numbers, from 1 to 43 (Previously 1 to 39). It is drawn once a day during the live televised nighttime drawings at 6:58:50 p.m. Eastern time 7 days a week. Tickets cost $1.00 each. Additionally, tickets can be purchased up to seven days (one week) in advance. The starting jackpot for each drawing is $125,000 (Previously starting at $100,000), unless there was no jackpot winner for the previous drawing, in which case, the jackpot increases. The Cash 5 jackpot is paid in cash (not in annuity).

The Cash 5 has four available prize amounts:

Numbers matched	Probability	Payout	Average prize (if known)
5 of 5	1:962,598.00	Varies; 67.94% after deduction of fourth-level ($1) prizes, divided among all 5-of-5 winners.
4 of 5	1:5,066.30	Varies; 11.90% after deduction of fourth-level ($1) prizes, divided among all 4-of-5 winners.	$250
3 of 5	1:136.90	Varies; 20.16% after deduction of fourth-level ($1) prizes, divided among all 3-of-5 winners.	$11
2 of 5	1:11.40	Fixed at $1

NOTE: As of February 1, 2008, Pennsylvania Cash 5 had its matrix changed to pick-5-of-43. The starting jackpot has been increased to $125,000.

[edit] MATCH 6

The MATCH 6 is a game which consists of six numbers, from 1 to 49. It is drawn once a day during the live televised nighttime lottery drawings at 6:58:50 p.m. ET on Tuesdays and Fridays. Tickets cost $2.00 each. Additionally, tickets can be purchased up to 26 drawings (13 weeks) in advance. The starting jackpot for each drawing is $500,000, unless there was no jackpot winner for the previous drawing, in which case, the jackpot increases. The MATCH 6 jackpot is paid in cash (not in annuity).

When a player purchases a MATCH 6 ticket, two additional lines of numbers are generated along with the one line selected by the player. Therefore, not only can a player win by matching three through six of the six numbers drawn (called the "base play"), but a player can win additional prizes by matching three through six numbers on each of the two additional lines, or combine the numbers on all three lines, as well (called the "combined play"). In the combined play, multiple instances of the same number count as many times as it appears.

The MATCH 6 has 11 available prize amounts:

Numbers matched	Probability	Payout
6 of 6	1:4,661,272.3	Jackpot amount
5 of 6	1:18,067.3	$1,000
4 of 6	1:344.5	$20
3 of 6	1:19.2	$2
10+ of 18	1:597,302.6	$2,500
9 of 18	1:45,267.4	$1,000
8 of 18	1:4,440.4	$50
7 of 18	1:590.9	$25
6 of 18	1:106.7	$10
5 of 18	1:26.4	$5
4 of 18	1:9.1	$2

Match 6 has a 53 percent payout, above normal for such games. The approximate overall probability of winning is 1 in 6.27.

[edit] Mix & Match

Mix & Match is game that involves selecting five numbers from 1 to 19, as well as the order that they will be drawn. There are two ways to win: one for matching three or more numbers in any order ("mixing"), and the other for matching at least one number in its correct position ("matching"). The jackpot starts at $50,000 (lump sum), and is won by matching all 5 numbers in the order they are drawn. The price of one play is $2. Mix & Match is drawn during the live nighttime televised drawings Mondays and Thursdays at 6:58:50 PM Eastern Time.

Numbers matched in exact order ("Match")	Probability	Payout
5 of 5	1:1,395,360	Jackpot
4 of 5	1:19,934	$1,000
3 of 5	1:661.3	$100
2 of 5	1:22.75	$4
1 of 5	1:4.77	Free Ticket

Numbers matched in any order ("Mix")	Probability	Payout
5 of 5	1:11,268	$2,000
4 of 5	1:166	$20
3 of 5	1:12.8	$2

Overall odds of winning are 1 in 3.57. Odds are rounded.

The Connecticut Lottery will be introducing a similar game, also to be called Mix & Match, at an unspecified date; it will be a pick-5-of-20 game.

[edit] Treasure Hunt

Treasure Hunt is Mid-day game that involves selecting 5 numbers from a field of 30. It is drawn 7 days a week at 1:10 p.m. ET, and the results are released at 1:35 p.m. ET. The jackpot has a minimum value of $10,000 to a single winner, although sales often bring the top prize to single winner higher than that. Prizes are also won by matching 4, 3, or 2 of the winning numbers. Treasure Hunt, on average, contributes 58% of sales back into prize money. It is the only Pennsylvania Lottery game that uses a computer to draw winning numbers, instead of numbered balls.

Numbers matched	Probability	Payout
5 of 5	1:142,506	Jackpot
4 of 5	1:1,140.05	$100
3 of 5	1:47.5	$6
2 of 5	1:6.2	$1

Overall odds of winning are 1 in 5.45. Odds are rounded.

[edit] Powerball

The Powerball is a multi-state game operated by the Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL), of which the Pennsylvania Lottery is the most active member. The Lottery joined the Powerball with the June 29, 2002 drawing. The Powerball is drawn every Wednesday and Saturday at 10:59 p.m. ET. See Powerball for detailed gameplay information.

[edit] Other Online Games

[edit] Millionaire Raffle

The Millionaire Raffle is the only online game shown on the nightly broadcast that uses a computerized random number generator. The cost of a ticket is $20 USD, and that ticket is assigned a unique 8-digit number from 00000001 up to the number of tickets available (quantities being limited). As of this writing, there have been 5 Millionaire raffles, each run as one-time special events.

The first Millionaire raffle was held on December 31, 2005. The ticket numbers went up to 00500000. Four numbers were selected on-air, with the holders of those tickets winning $1 million. A further five numbers were selected on-air, representing five $100,000 winners. Then 500 other numbers were selected off-air, winning those players $1,000 each. This resulted in a total payout of $5 million USD.

A second Millionaire Raffle was held on July 4, 2006. The field of tickets was expanded to include numbers to 00625000. An additional million-dollar winner (for a total of five) was added to the matrix, as were a further 250 that won $1,000 (for a total of 750), and therefore a total payout of $6.25 million USD.

A third Millionaire Raffle was held Saturday December 30, 2006 with sales on the raffle beginning November 21, 2006. The number of tickets and prizes were the same as the July 4 drawing.

A fourth Millionaire Raffle drawing was held on July 7th, 2007. It had a total of 7,777 winners: 5 winners of $1 million, 5 winners of $100,000, 200 winners of $1,000, and 7,567 winners of $100.

The 5th edition of the Millionaire Raffle drawing was held on December 29, 2007 during the live 6:59 PM ET nighttime TV drawings show. The 5 $1 million top-prize Raffle ticket numbers and the five, $100,000 second-prize Raffle ticket numbers was televised during that broadcast. The remaining 7,790 numbers for the 5th edition game was drawn off air. The lottery awarded 200 prizes of $1,000 cash; and 7,790 prizes of $100 cash in the 5th edition of this game.

The 6th edition of this game will take place on July 5, 2008 with tickets on sale May 1. The field of available tickets has reverted back to 500,000. There will be 4 winners of $1 million, 4 winners of $100,000, 100 winners of $1,000, and 5,892 winners of $100. In all, there will be a total of 6,000 winning tickets sharing $5,089,200 in prize money. The Lottery's live 6:59 PM ET drawing show on July 5th will televise the selection of the four $1 million top-prize raffle ticket numbers and the four $100,000 second-prize raffle ticket numbers. The remaining 5,992 winning ticket numbers will be selected off-air and will be posted on the PA lottery's website and Lottery retail locations the next day.

[edit] Past Online Games

The Pennsylvania has offered a number of games which would later be discontinued due to low sales or relative obsolescence compared to games both within, and outside of, Pennsylvania. Some of these games include (in order of introduction):

[edit] (Wild Card) Lotto

Lotto was the third game offered by the Pennsylvania Lottery, and replaced the traditional "passive draw" games. The first version ran from April 16, 1982 until February of 1988.^[1] The game was played by selecting 6 numbers from a field of 40. Players got two plays for $1, and had to purchase tickets in multiples of two. Players won the jackpot, which was paid in 21 annual installments, by matching all six of first six numbers drawn. Players also won prizes by matching four, five, or all six of the first six numbers drawn. In addition, players could win by matching 5 of the first six plus a seventh "alternate" number if, and only if, no ticket matched all of the first six numbers.^[2]

The prize structure with one or more jackpot winner was as follows:

Matches	Prize Category	Avg. Prize	% Of Sales	Odds ($1 purchase)
6 out of 6	Regular First Prize	Jackpot	24.5%	1:1,919,190
5 out of 6 + Alternate	Alternate First Prize*	$0	0%	1:319,865
5 out of 6	Second Prize	$921.50	9.80%	1:9,407.79
4 out of 6	Third Prize	$33.50	14.70%	1:228.07
*Alternate 1st Prize only available if there were no jackpot winners				Overall odds of winning: 1 in 222.644

The prize structure with no jackpot winners was as follows:

Matches	Prize Category	Avg. Prize	% Of Sales	Odds ($1 purchase)
6 out of 6	Regular First Prize	Jackpot	19.6% (carried over to next draw)	1:1,919,190
5 out of 6 + Alternate	Alternate First Prize*	$15,673.00	4.9%	1:319,865
5 out of 6	Second Prize	$921.50	9.80%	1:9,407.79
4 out of 6	Third Prize	$33.50	14.70%	1:228.07
*Alternate 1st Prize only available if there were no jackpot winners				Overall odds of winning: 1 in 222.644

In February 1988, Lotto was changed to Wild Card Lotto. Certain elements of the game changed, including the addition of two prize categories, the ability to win by matching 5 of the first six numbers drawn plus the "alternate" (now called the "Wild Card") with or without a jackpot winner, and the addition of numbers to the number field.

The game was played by selecting 6 numbers from a field of 48. Players got continued to get two plays for $1, and still had to purchase tickets in multiples of two. Players won prizes by matching four, five, and for the 21-year annuitized jackpot, all six of the first six numbers drawn on Tuesday and Friday nights. In addition, they could win by matching three, four, and five of the first six drawn in addition to the seventh "Wild Card" number.^[3]

The first "Wild Card Lotto" structure was as follows:

Matches	Avg. Prize	% Of Sales	Odds ($1 purchase)
6 out of 6	Jackpot	29.4%	1:6,135,756
5 out of 6 + Wild Card	$25,054.00	2.45%	1:1,022,626
5 out of 6	$1,099.50	4.41%	1:24,942.10
4 out of 6 + Wild Card	$488.50	4.90%	1:9,976.84
4 out of 6	$24.00	4.90%	1:498.84
3 out of 6 + Wild Card	$11.00	2.94%	1:374.13
Overall odds of winning: 1 in 207.5135

The game went unchanged until Halloween of 1995 when the Friday drawing was dropped, only to be reinstated on March 12, 1996. On March 26, 1996, a cash option was instituted, which allowed players to choose at the time of purchase whether they wanted to receive their jackpot in the traditional 21-year annuity, or in a single lump sum.

On February 24, 1998, the game went through a final overhaul. A seventh prize category was added giving players a $1 prize for matching 3 out of the first 6 numbers. The amount allocated to the jackpot was also increased. The remaining prize categories were decreased as a result.^[4]

Matches	Avg. Prize	% Of 49% Prize Pool	Odds ($1 purchase)
6 out of 6	Jackpot	74.17% After Deduction of 3-of-6 Prize	1:6,135,756
5 out of 6 + Wild Card	$20,041.50	4.305% After Deduction of 3-of-6 Prize	1:1,022,626
5 out of 6	$488.50	4.305% After Deduction of 3-of-6 Prize	1:24,942.10
4 out of 6 + Wild Card	$195.50	4.305% After Deduction of 3-of-6 Prize	1:9,976.84
4 out of 6	$19.50	8.61% After Deduction of 3-of-6 Prize	1:498.84
3 out of 6 + Wild Card	$7.00	4.305% After Deduction of 3-of-6 Prize	1:374.13
3 out of 6	$1.00 (Fixed)		1:28.78
Overall odds of winning: 1 in 25.274

On September 11, 1998, the final Wild Card Lotto jackpot took place after 16 years. The game, along with Keystone JackPot, was replaced with Super 6 Lotto.

[edit] Super 7

Super 7 was a jackpot game similar to keno, introduced on August 14, 1986.

The game was originally played by selecting seven numbers from a field of 80, with each selection costing $1. On Wednesday nights, the lottery would draw 11 numbers from a mix of eighty numbered balls. If all of the seven numbers on a player’s ticket matched any seven of the 11 drawn, they would win a jackpot that would be paid over a course of several years.

The original odds were as follows:

Matches On Ticket	Odds
7 out of 7	1: 9,626,413.3
6 out of 7	1: 99,652.3
5 out of 7	1: 2,931.0
4 out of 7	1: 183.7
Overall odds of winning: 1 in 172.591

On April 10, 1991, the game’s format was changed. Now, 10 numbers were drawn instead of 11, and there were 74 numbers to choose from instead of 80. Players still selected 7 numbers on their ticket.

The prize structure from 4/10/91 to game’s end are as follows:^[5]

Matches On Ticket	Avg. Prize	% Of 49% Prize Pool	Odds
7 out of 7	Jackpot	70%	1: 14,996,492.2
6 out of 7	$4,189.50	25% After Deduction of Jackpot & 4-of-7 Prize	1: 133,897.3
5 out of 7	$332.50	75% After Deduction of Jackpot & 4-of-7 Prize	1: 3,542.3
4 out of 7	$15.00 (Fixed)		1: 205.7
Overall odds of winning: 1 in 194.108

On July 10, 1993, drawings were moved from Wednesday night to Saturday night.

On October 28, 1995, the lottery held the final Super 7 draw, to be replaced by Keystone JackPot.

[edit] Hearts & Diamonds

Hearts & Diamonds began on October 5, 1994.

The game involved selecting 5 playing cards from a field of 26 (containing each card from the Heart and Diamond suits, hence the name). Players could not make their own selections; instead all plays were done by quick-pick. The game was also the first game in PA to be drawn by computer as opposed to mechanical ball machines, which would later be employed to draw the midday numbers.

The prize structure went as followed:^[6]

Matches	Avg. Prize	% Of Sales	Odds
5 out of 5	$20,062.50	30.5%	1:65,780
4 out of 5	$72.00	11.5%	1:626.5
3 out of 5	$2.50	8.0%	1:31.3
Overall odds of winning: 1 in 29.819

Sales ended for Hearts & Diamonds on March 10, 1996.

[edit] Keystone JackPot

Keystone JackPot went on sale on October 29, 1995, replacing Super 7. The game was the first in-state “Powerball”-type game in the U.S., and the only one to have seven total numbers as opposed to six or five.

The game was played by selecting six numbers from a field of 33, and a seventh “Key Ball” from another field of 33. To win, players need to match 4 or more numbers from the first set, or matching any amount of numbers from the first set in addition to the Key Ball. Players could also win by matching the Key Ball alone. If a player matched the first six numbers and the Key Ball, they would win a jackpot that was paid over 26 annual payments. Tickets cost $1 each.

The prize structure went a follows:^[7]

Matches	Avg. Prize	% Of Sales	Odds
6 + Key Ball	Jackpot	29.3412%	1:36,549,744
6	$77,793.50	6.811%	1:1,142,179.5
5 + Key Ball	$7,771.50	3.4447%	1:225,615.7
5	$77.00	1.0927%	1:7,050.5
4 + Key Ball	$77.00	1.1074%	1:6,942.0
4	$7.00	3.2291%	1:216.9
3 + Key Ball	$7.00	1.1221%	1:624.8
2 + Key Ball	$1.00	1.47%	1:138.8
1 + Key Ball	$1.00	2.7%	1:75.5
Key Ball Only	$1.00	1.65%	1:123.5
Overall odds of winning: 1 in 28.526

Keystone JackPot underwent no changes during the games history, and the final drawing was held September 5, 1998, being replaced by Super 6 Lotto.

[edit] Super 6 Lotto

Super 6 Lotto began on September 6, 1998, replacing two games, Wild Card Lotto and Keystone JackPot.

Players selected 6 numbers from a field of 69, each selection costing $1, and for each selection, players received two additional quick picks, for a total of 3 plays for a dollar. If a player matched all six numbers, they would win a jackpot that would paid in 26 annual payments or, if selected at the time of purchase, a single lump sum. Players could also win prizes by matching, three, four, and five numbers out of the six drawn.

The prize pool was arranged as follows:^[8]

Matches	Avg. Prize	% Of Sales	Odds ($1 Purchase)
6 out of 6	Jackpot	39.52%	1:39,959,157.33
5 out of 6	$4,397.50	4.16%	1:105,712.06
4 out of 6	$53.00	3.90%	1:1,364.03
3 out of 6	$2.00	4.42%	1:50.31
Overall odds of winning: 1 in 48.5

When the game first began, numbers were drawn on Wednesdays and Saturdays, and in June 1998, the drawings were moved to Tuesdays and Fridays to make room for the addition of the multi-state Powerball.

The last drawing took place on January 27, 2004. And because no jackpot winners were drawn on the final draw, the jackpot rolled down the lower prize levels, increasing them, as opposed to rolling over into the game's replacement as it’s predecessors have. Super 6 was replaced by MATCH 6 lotto, which is still on sale.

[edit] Lucky For Life

Lucky for Life first went on sale on September 30, 2004,^[9] and the first drawings were held October 2 of that same year.

Lucky For Life was played by picking 6 numbers from a field of 38, and each selection cost $2. Players could win by matching 3 or more numbers on their ticket to those drawn, or they could win at the time of purchase by way of the game’s instant win feature, or a combination thereof. If they matched all 6 numbers, they won the top prize, which was advertised as $3,000 per month for the rest of the player’s life, and was received in annual installments of $36,000 per year for life. Players would receive payments until their death, or when the total payments added up to $1,000,000, which ever came last. There was no lump sum option.

The prize structure is as follows:

Matches	Prize	Odds
6 out of 6	$3,000/month/life	1:2,760,681
5 out of 6	$2,000.00	1:14,378.5
4 out of 6	$40.00	1:371.1
3 out of 6	$3.00	1:27.8
Overall odds of winning: 1 in 25.841
Instant Win	$10.00	1:20.0
Overall odds of winning with Instant Win: 1 in 11.5

The game was originally drawn on Wednesday and Saturday nights, but on August 1, 2005, the draws were moved to Mondays and Thursdays.

The game ended on January 22, 2007, and was replaced with Mix & Match, which is still on sale.

[edit] Instant games

Besides conducting online games, the Pennsylvania Lottery has many instant games (such tickets are usually referred to as "scratch off tickets"). In fact, approximately 42% of all lottery proceeds are from instant ticket sales. The Pennsylvania Lottery website maintains an updated list. [2]

Pennsylvania instant games range in price from $1 to $20, with higher priced tickets typically putting out a higher percentage of sales back into prizes. The ranges of payout percentages for each price point are as follows:

$1	$2	$3	$5	$10	$20
58%	64%	65%	66%-70%	70%-73%	73%

[edit] Lottery offices

The Pennsylvania Lottery maintains seven area lottery offices, including its headquarters:

Area 1: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Area 2: Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
Area 3: Middletown, Pennsylvania (headquarters)
Area 4: Clearfield, Pennsylvania
Area 5: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Area 6: Erie, Pennsylvania
Area 7: Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

[edit] Claiming a winning ticket

Pennsylvania Lottery retailers can pay prizes up to, and including, $2,500 for online tickets and $500 for instant tickets. In such cases, no personal information needs to be disclosed by the winner. Claiming a prize over either amount, though, requires a standard claim form to be filed with a lottery retailer. However, for instant games that make annuity payments, as well as the top prizes in Cash 5 or MATCH 6, a claim should be filed at an area lottery office. For Powerball jackpots, a claim must be filed at Lottery Headquarters.

[edit] Winnings and taxes

When filing a standard claim form, the claimant, the retailer, and the Pennsylvania Lottery each receive a copy (the form is triplicate). The Pennsylvania Lottery then reports all winnings to the IRS. For federal income tax purposes, any lottery winnings over $600 in a fiscal year are taxable. However, when the winning amount is greater than $5,000, the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue withholds the proper amount of federal income tax before a check is mailed to the claimant. Pennsylvania Lottery winnings are not taxable for state or local tax purposes.

[edit] Triple Six Fix of 1980

Main article: 1980 Pennsylvania Lottery scandal

The host of the Pennsylvania lottery drawing, Nick Perry, and seven others participated in a plot to rig the Daily Number, colloquially known as the "Triple Six Fix." On the night of April 24, 1980, the number 666 was drawn and a handful of players came forward to claim $1.8 million of the then record $3.5 million pay-out. Lottery authorities and local bookmakers became suspicious after word on the street came out that the game was fixed. Tickets sales showed a heavy bias towards tickets purchased containing all combinations of 4s and 6s.

The lottery was fixed by Perry and Fred Luman, who managed to switch the normal ping pong balls with ones weighted with latex paint for all numbers except 4 and 6. Later viewing of the drawing tapes by the FBI conclusively showed that only the numbers 4 and 6 were light enough to enter the tube to be drawn.

Perry, in conjunction with Peter Margos, Jack Margos, Jerry Hammer and 5 other men were either convicted or entered plea-bargains for their involvement.

The 2000 film Lucky Numbers, starring John Travolta and Lisa Kudrow, was loosely based on Perry’s story. The last time the triple six was drawn was on December 21, 2007 during the live nighttime televised drawing.

[edit] References

[edit] External links