Cashola
Encyclopedia
Ca$hola, a video lottery game, is a former Multi-State Lottery Association
(MUSL) game. Ca$hola was, to date, the only US multi-jurisdictional video lottery game. It began in July 2006; Ca$hola ended upon its final jackpot win on May 15, 2011. (MUSL will begin MegaHits
, its second video-lottery game, in July 2011.)
Ca$hola was played on linked machines at nine lottery-run casinos; three in Delaware
, two in Rhode Island
, and four in West Virginia
. The minimum jackpot was $250,000; it was paid in 30 annual installments, unless the winner chose the cash option
within 60 days of winning. The jackpot
exceeded $4 million (annuity) for the first time on November 4, 2009. The first 27 jackpot winners (unlike traditional lottery jackpot games, the grand prize could not be split by multiple players, as each Ca$hola machine was independent); as of February 2, 2009, all 27 chose the cash option. The largest Ca$hola jackpot, of $4,918,605.91, was won on November 26, 2009, at Charles Town in West Virginia.
To win the jackpot, the maximum amount of $2.25 must have been wagered for that spin. The themes for the Ca$hola slots varied by machine (e.g. Kingdom of Pharaohs, The Big Easy.) The minimum denomination also differed (there were penny, nickel, and quarter Ca$hola machines.) Each Ca$hola machine had five "reels"; for a jackpot to be won, in addition to the maximum wager, the gold-colored "Ca$hola" symbol must have appeared on each of the five "reels" in any of the lines the player "purchased" in that spin (the "Ca$hola" symbol appearing on each reel did not guarantee a jackpot win.)
Depending on the venue, the minimum age to play Ca$hola was 18 or 21.
In April 2011, it was announced that Ca$hola would be retired upon the next jackpot win, its 37th. Other Ca$hola machines then in use by players automatically shut down, issuing each player a voucher for credits in those machine(s).
Ca$hola's replacement, to be called MegaHits, will be available at the same nine casinos beginning July 15, 2011; unlike Ca$hola, it will feature five progressive jackpots.
Multi-State Lottery Association
The Multi-State Lottery Association is a non-profit, government-benefit association owned and operated by agreement of its 33 member lotteries MUSL was created to facilitate the operation of multi-jurisdictional lottery games, including Powerball, Mega Millions), video lottery, and instant ...
(MUSL) game. Ca$hola was, to date, the only US multi-jurisdictional video lottery game. It began in July 2006; Ca$hola ended upon its final jackpot win on May 15, 2011. (MUSL will begin MegaHits
MegaHits
MegaHits is a video lottery terminal multiple-progressive jackpot game that began on July 15, 2011. MegaHits replaced Cashola, which was offered from July 2006 to May 15, 2011. Cashola was offered at lottery-run casinos in Delaware, Rhode Island, and West Virginia; the same three lotteries take...
, its second video-lottery game, in July 2011.)
Ca$hola was played on linked machines at nine lottery-run casinos; three in Delaware
Delaware Lottery
The Delaware Lottery is run by the government of Delaware. Unlike most US lotteries, Delaware offers video lottery; its other games include Mega Millions, Powerball, Cash 5, Play 3, and Play 4....
, two in Rhode Island
Rhode Island Lottery
The Rhode Island Lottery is run by the government of Rhode Island. It is a charter member of the Multi-State Lottery Association . Rhode Island Lottery games include Mega Millions, Powerball, Wild Money, keno, and numerous scratch tickets...
, and four in West Virginia
West Virginia Lottery
The West Virginia Lottery is run by the government of West Virginia. It is a charter member of the Multi-State Lottery Association . It offers games such as Powerball, Mega Millions, and scratch tickets...
. The minimum jackpot was $250,000; it was paid in 30 annual installments, unless the winner chose the cash option
Present value
Present value, also known as present discounted value, is the value on a given date of a future payment or series of future payments, discounted to reflect the time value of money and other factors such as investment risk...
within 60 days of winning. The jackpot
Progressive jackpot
A progressive jackpot is a jackpot for a gaming machine where the value of the jackpot increases a small amount for every game played...
exceeded $4 million (annuity) for the first time on November 4, 2009. The first 27 jackpot winners (unlike traditional lottery jackpot games, the grand prize could not be split by multiple players, as each Ca$hola machine was independent); as of February 2, 2009, all 27 chose the cash option. The largest Ca$hola jackpot, of $4,918,605.91, was won on November 26, 2009, at Charles Town in West Virginia.
To win the jackpot, the maximum amount of $2.25 must have been wagered for that spin. The themes for the Ca$hola slots varied by machine (e.g. Kingdom of Pharaohs, The Big Easy.) The minimum denomination also differed (there were penny, nickel, and quarter Ca$hola machines.) Each Ca$hola machine had five "reels"; for a jackpot to be won, in addition to the maximum wager, the gold-colored "Ca$hola" symbol must have appeared on each of the five "reels" in any of the lines the player "purchased" in that spin (the "Ca$hola" symbol appearing on each reel did not guarantee a jackpot win.)
Depending on the venue, the minimum age to play Ca$hola was 18 or 21.
In April 2011, it was announced that Ca$hola would be retired upon the next jackpot win, its 37th. Other Ca$hola machines then in use by players automatically shut down, issuing each player a voucher for credits in those machine(s).
Ca$hola's replacement, to be called MegaHits, will be available at the same nine casinos beginning July 15, 2011; unlike Ca$hola, it will feature five progressive jackpots.