Idaho Lottery
Encyclopedia
The Idaho Lottery, which began on July 19, 1989, is run by the government of Idaho
. It is a member of the Multi-State Lottery Association
(MUSL). Fifty percent of all net funds is given to public schools, while the remainder is pledged to the Permanent Building Fund, which is used as a financial resource for Idaho's colleges and universities.
The Idaho Lottery offers drawing games: Mega Millions, Powerball, Hot Lotto, Wild Card 2; and two daily games, Double Play Daily and Idaho Pick 3. Drawings for Pick 3 and Double Play Daily are seven days a week, with the other games Wednesdays and Saturdays, with the exception of Mega Millions (Tuesdays and Fridays.) The minimum age to play the Idaho Lottery is 18.
The Lottery also offers approximately 50 instant Scratch GamesTM yearly. Prices range from $1 to $20. PullTabs are offered in social settings, such as restaurants, bars, and bowling centers. Ticket prices are 25 cents to $1.
All prizes in both drawings are pari-mutuel.
, Queen
, King
, or the Ace
of any of the four suits (Clubs, Diamonds, Hearts, Spades).
and Powerball
in US lottery jurisdictions. Idaho began selling Mega Millions
tickets on January 31, 2010.
FY 2009 sales by product for the Idaho Lottery are as follows:
The Lottery also changed its instant ticket vendor to Scientific Games, Inc. in July 2007. This combination of companies has allowed the Lottery to offer unique game promotions where players have the opportunity to enter second-chance draws through either the internet or via tele-entry using a regular touch-tone telephone.
In July 2007, the Lottery debuted a North American industry first when it offered their VIP Club members the opportunity to earn rewards for making game purchases (excluding instant tickets.) For each $1 spent on Powerball, Mega Millions, Double Play Daily, Hot Lotto, Wild Card 2, Pick 3, and/or Raffle tickets, players receive one point. Points may be redeemed through the Lottery’s VIP Club website for merchandise, including I-pods, DVD players, bicycles, and watches.
In August 2008, the Lottery offered another North American first – the ability for players to donate part of their winnings from scratch tickets to an international non-profit organization. The Lottery offered a $1 ScratchTM game to help financially support the 2009 Special Olympic World Winter Games to be held in Idaho that February. Using creative game technology, winning players were asked to donate 25%, 50% or 100% of their win to support the international event.
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
. It is a member of the Multi-State Lottery Association
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). Fifty percent of all net funds is given to public schools, while the remainder is pledged to the Permanent Building Fund, which is used as a financial resource for Idaho's colleges and universities.
The Idaho Lottery offers drawing games: Mega Millions, Powerball, Hot Lotto, Wild Card 2; and two daily games, Double Play Daily and Idaho Pick 3. Drawings for Pick 3 and Double Play Daily are seven days a week, with the other games Wednesdays and Saturdays, with the exception of Mega Millions (Tuesdays and Fridays.) The minimum age to play the Idaho Lottery is 18.
The Lottery also offers approximately 50 instant Scratch GamesTM yearly. Prices range from $1 to $20. PullTabs are offered in social settings, such as restaurants, bars, and bowling centers. Ticket prices are 25 cents to $1.
History
Idaho citizens approved a lottery in a constitutional amendment vote in November 1988. A mere 200 days later, a lottery industry record at the time, the Idaho Lottery began on July 19, 1989. Since its beginning, the Lottery has sold more than $1.8 billion in tickets and returned more than $437.3 million to Idaho public schools and buildings.Double Play Daily
Double Play Daily is drawn twice a day, seven days a week. Games cost $2 each; tickets are good for both nightly draws. The first drawing is for a set $20,000 prize; the second draw is for a jackpot which starts at $20,000. To win, players must match at least 2 of the 5 numbers picked in either drawing. The jackpot amount for draw 2 grows, based on sales, until it is won.All prizes in both drawings are pari-mutuel.
Wild Card 2 (multi-lottery game)
Wild Card 2 is played in Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota. It is drawn Wednesdays and Saturdays. Players get two games for each $1 wagered. Wild Card 2 is played in a similar fashion as Powerball; in each drawing, five numbers from 1 through 31 are selected. The sixth "number" is actually one of 16 playing cards; either a JackJack (playing card)
A Jack, also Knave, is a playing card with a picture of a man on it. The usual rank of a jack, within its suit, is as if it were an 11 ....
, Queen
Queen (playing card)
The Queen is a playing card with a picture of a queen on it. The usual rank of a queen is as if it were 12 ....
, King
King (playing card)
The king is a playing card with a picture of a king on it. The usual rank of a king is as if it were a 13; that is, above the queen. In some games, the king is the highest-ranked card; in others, the ace is higher...
, or the Ace
Ace
An ace is a playing card. In the standard French deck, an ace has a single suit symbol located in the middle of the card, sometimes large and decorated, especially in the case of the Ace of Spades...
of any of the four suits (Clubs, Diamonds, Hearts, Spades).
Hot Lotto (multi-lottery game)
Hot Lotto is available in 15 lotteries including Idaho's. It also is drawn Wednesdays and Saturdays. Hot Lotto draws 5 white numbers from 1 to 39 and 1 orange "hot ball" from 1 to 19. The jackpots begin at $1 million, increasing by at least $50,000 if there is no top prize winner. Hot Lotto also has an option called Sizzler (which is similar to Powerball's PowerPlay) which triples non-jackpot prizes.Powerball (multi-lottery game)
Since 1990, the Idaho Lottery has been a member of MUSL. Powerball began in 1992. Its jackpots currently start at $20 million; it is drawn Wednesday and Saturday nights.Mega Millions (multi-lottery game)
On October 13, 2009 the Mega Millions consortium and MUSL reached an agreement in principle to cross-sell Mega MillionsMega Millions
Mega Millions is a US multi-jurisdictional $1 lottery game. Since it replaced The Big Game in May 2002 , Mega Millions' advertised jackpots have started at $12 million, paid in 26 yearly installments , increasing when there is no jackpot winner...
and Powerball
Powerball
Powerball is an American lottery game sold in 44 jurisdictions as a shared jackpot game. It is coordinated by the Multi-State Lottery Association , a non-profit organization formed by an agreement with lotteries. Powerball is a game whose advertised jackpot starts at $20 million and can roll into...
in US lottery jurisdictions. Idaho began selling Mega Millions
Mega Millions
Mega Millions is a US multi-jurisdictional $1 lottery game. Since it replaced The Big Game in May 2002 , Mega Millions' advertised jackpots have started at $12 million, paid in 26 yearly installments , increasing when there is no jackpot winner...
tickets on January 31, 2010.
2009 fiscal year
In FY 2009, the Idaho Lottery set a sales record, grossing nearly $140 million. It also set a dividend record by returning a profit of $35 million to the people of Idaho – the sixth consecutive year for returning a record dividend. Players received a record $84.9 million in prizes, and retailers received a record $8.3 in commissions.FY 2009 sales by product for the Idaho Lottery are as follows:
| Game | Revenues |
|---|---|
| Powerball | $36,787,378 |
| Hot Lotto§ | $4,132,812 |
| Wild Card 2 | $3,152,691 |
| Idaho Pick 3 | $1,883,839 |
| Double Play Daily | $360,806 |
| Idaho $1,000,000 Raffle | $2,500,000 |
| Instant Scratch Tickets | $88,425,049 |
| Pulltabs | $2,406,606 |
| Total Sales | $139,649,181 |
Where the money goes
The largest share of Idaho Lottery dollars is returned to players in the form of prizes. This amount in FY 2009 was approximately 60%. The next largest share of revenue is the annual dividend, which by statute is split equally between Idaho’s public schools and permanent buildings, including college campuses. Approximately 25% of all Idaho Lottery revenue was returned to the people of Idaho in FY 2009. The approximately 900 Idaho Lottery retailers received 6% of all revenue while game support utilizes 4%, administration costs were 3% and the smallest portion, 2%, was used for advertising.Technology
The Idaho Lottery changed the on-line provider to INTRALOT, USA in February 2007. This required the installation of satellites and terminals across Idaho. The new terminals and software capabilities allow the Lottery to perform specialized and unique game promotions.The Lottery also changed its instant ticket vendor to Scientific Games, Inc. in July 2007. This combination of companies has allowed the Lottery to offer unique game promotions where players have the opportunity to enter second-chance draws through either the internet or via tele-entry using a regular touch-tone telephone.
In July 2007, the Lottery debuted a North American industry first when it offered their VIP Club members the opportunity to earn rewards for making game purchases (excluding instant tickets.) For each $1 spent on Powerball, Mega Millions, Double Play Daily, Hot Lotto, Wild Card 2, Pick 3, and/or Raffle tickets, players receive one point. Points may be redeemed through the Lottery’s VIP Club website for merchandise, including I-pods, DVD players, bicycles, and watches.
In August 2008, the Lottery offered another North American first – the ability for players to donate part of their winnings from scratch tickets to an international non-profit organization. The Lottery offered a $1 ScratchTM game to help financially support the 2009 Special Olympic World Winter Games to be held in Idaho that February. Using creative game technology, winning players were asked to donate 25%, 50% or 100% of their win to support the international event.