Texas Lottery
Encyclopedia
The Texas Lottery is the government-operated lottery
available throughout Texas
. It is operated by the Texas Lottery Commission, headquartered in downtown
Austin
.
in November 1991 authorizing lottery sales in Texas.
The Texas Lottery Commission created an unusual contest for the Lottery logo – designs from a contracted ad agency were pitted against designs from the general public. One logo from each source was placed in head to head competition, and the winning logo – a cowboy hat thrown high in celebration (still in current use) – was the public design (the winner was Susan Holten, from Carrollton
).
The Lottery's first game was the scratch-off ticket Lone Star Millions, with the first ticket sold to then Gov. Ann Richards
at Polk's Feed Store in Oak Hill
. First-day sales of 23.2 million tickets set a then-world record, with first-week sales (ending June 5, 1992) also setting a world record.
Lotto Texas began sales on November 7, 1992, with the first drawing on November 14, 1992 and the first jackpot (from Schulenburg) won on November 28, 1992. By November 1993, Texas Lottery sales would exceed $1 billion, breaking the Florida Lottery
's record set in 1989.
The Texas Lottery Commission was formed via legislation in 1993 to take over management of the Lottery from the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts
; the legislation also gives the Commission oversight of charitable bingo games (moving that duty from the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission
).
Texas joined the Mega Millions
consortium in 2003, with sales beginning December 3 and the first drawing to include Texas was two days later. Though no Texas ticket won the jackpot, one Texas-bought ticket matched the first five numbers for $175,000. The first Texas jackpot winner of Mega Millions was not until the drawing of October 4, 2004; a Carrollton player took home the $101 million (annuity value) prize.
As part of the cross-selling arrangement between the operators of Mega Millions and Powerball
, the Texas Lottery Commission agreed to begin selling Powerball tickets on January 31, 2010; the first drawing including Texas was three days later.
In 1997 a major scandal rocked the Texas Lottery. Accusations of fixed contracts with the company that manages the lottery surfaced. The scandal went away when the director simply appointed the previously accused management company as the winning bid after a different company had already been chosen.
Winning tickets must be claimed within 180 days or the prize is forfeited. For scratch-off tickets, the time limit begins when a game is closed by the Commission; for drawings the time limit begins the date of the drawing.
According to the Texas Lottery Commission, the allocation of lottery sales is as follows:
--69.92.25.116 (talk) 05:41, 24 October 2011 (UTC)Texas two step current jackpot it is $ 1.3 Ml on oct 24 2011 hit jackpot by son nguyen
Instant tickets, most changing frequently, cost $1 to $50 each. Texas is the only state lottery to offer $50 scratch off tickets.
Prizes have included not only cash (from $1 to the millions), and free tickets (which can be used to purchase any Texas drawing game), but also trucks, tickets to sports events, and tours of Cowboys Stadium.
Initially sold as an annuity game with no cash option, and the purchaser having to pick numbers, and the drawings held only on Saturdays, Lotto Texas later added the "Quick Pick" option (random selection of numbers, added on May 29, 1993, the Lottery's first anniversary), the "Cash Value" option, and changed the drawings to twice weekly, adding Wednesdays.
Among notable winners was Thomas "Hollywood" Henderson, the former Dallas Cowboys
linebacker, who claimed a winning jackpot in excess of $14 million in 2000.
The current format utilizes 54 balls; players choose 6 numbers. The jackpot is paid either in 25 annual payments, or in lump sum (discussed further below). Non-jackpot payments are in lump sum. Each game costs $1, the minimum jackpot is $4 million, and drawings are held at 10:12 PM Central time on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
Overall odds of winning are 1:71.
The current format utilizes a 4+1 matrix using two sets of numbers 1 through 35). Players choose five numbers; four from the first set of 35 white balls, and the fifth Bonus Ball from a set of 35 red balls. All payments, including the jackpot, are in lump sum. Each game is $1, the minimum jackpot is $200,000, and drawings are held at 10:12 PM on Mondays and Thursdays.
Overall odds of winning are 1:32.
Texas Two-Step's jackpot is always paid in lump sum; as such, it is the only Texas Lottery jackpot game not to require players to choose cash or annuity when playing (see below.)
The current format utilizes one set of 37 balls; players choose five numbers. All payments are in lump sum. Each game costs $1; and drawings are held at 10:12 PM Central time Mondays through Saturdays.
Overall odds of winning are 1:8.
The current format utilizes three sets of digits 0 through 9. Players choose: exact order (all three digits), any order (two or three digits), exact and any order (two or three digits), combo (two or three digits; combo two is the same as two exact order plays while combo three is the same as three or six exact order plays) and Sum It Up (the arithmetic sum of the numbers played is the same as the arithmetic sum of the numbers drawn; the numbers drawn do not have to be the same as the numbers played).
All payments are in lump sum. Exact or any order bets cost $0.50 or $1; exact and any order for $1, combo (two digits cost $1.50 or $3; three digits cost $3 or $6), and Sum It Up for an additional $0.50. The prizes are guaranteed amounts, and drawings are held twice a day, at 12:27 PM and 10:12 PM Central time Mondays through Saturdays.
For exact odds of winning see this link: How to Play Pick 3
Daily 4 is played as in Pick 3, except there are 4 digits. Players can select: Straight (all four digits in exact order), Box (all four digits in any order), Straight/Box (all four digits), Pairs [two of the four digits in exact order, which can be: front pair (first two digits), middle pair (middle digits), or back pair (last two digits)], Combo [which can be: 4-way (three of the four digits drawn are identical, such as 1112), 6-way (the digits drawn are two pairs, such as 1122), 12-way (two of the four digits drawn are identical, such as 1123), or 24-way (all four digits are different, such as 1234)] and "Sum It Up" (see Pick 3.)
All payments are in lump sum. Players can select Straight or Box for either $0.50 or $1; Straight/Box for $1; Pairs for $0.50 or $1; Combo (4-way for $2 or $4; 6-way for $3 or $6; 12-way for $6 or $12; or 24-way for $12 or $24), and Sum It Up for an additional $0.50. The prizes are guaranteed amounts, and drawings are held at 12:27 PM and 10:12 PM Central time Mondays through Saturdays.
For exact odds of winning see: How to Play Daily 4
consortium.
The current format utilizes one set of 56 white balls, and a second set, of 46 yellow balls (the "Mega Ball"). Players choose six numbers; five white ball numbers, and the "Mega Ball" from the second set. Jackpots are paid in either 26 annual payments or in cash; see below on jackpot choices. Non-jackpot payments are in lump sum. Each game costs $1, the minimum jackpot is $12 million, and drawings are held at 10:12 PM Central time on Tuesdays and Fridays.
Texas, as in most Mega Millions jurisdictions, offers an option, called Megaplier feature (similar to Powerball's PowerPlay; see below) which multiplies non-jackpot prizes by either 2, 3, or 4.
, the other major US lottery game) reached an agreement in principle for lotteries, at their option, to cross-sell Mega Millions and Powerball; the earliest date agreed on was January 31, 2010.
The Texas Lottery Commission elected to participate in the agreement; on November 17, 2009 voted to publish Powerball rules for public comment. On December 14, 2009 the Commission held a public hearing, receiving comments on the proposal to join Powerball.
On January 6, 2010, the Commission voted 3-0 to join Powerball. Texas sales for the game began on January 31, 2010, with the first drawing including Texas was conducted three days later.
Lottery
A lottery is a form of gambling which involves the drawing of lots for a prize.Lottery is outlawed by some governments, while others endorse it to the extent of organizing a national or state lottery. It is common to find some degree of regulation of lottery by governments...
available throughout Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. It is operated by the Texas Lottery Commission, headquartered in downtown
Downtown Austin
Downtown Austin is the central business district of Austin, Texas. Downtown is located on the north bank of the Colorado River. The approximate borders of Downtown include Lamar Boulevard to the west, 11th Street and sometimes Martin Luther King, Jr...
Austin
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
.
History
The voters of Texas approved an amendment to the Texas ConstitutionTexas Constitution
The Constitution of the State of Texas is the document that describes the structure and function of the government of the U.S. State of Texas.Texas has had seven constitutions: the constitution of Coahuila y Tejas, the 1836 Constitution of the Republic of Texas, the state constitutions of 1845,...
in November 1991 authorizing lottery sales in Texas.
The Texas Lottery Commission created an unusual contest for the Lottery logo – designs from a contracted ad agency were pitted against designs from the general public. One logo from each source was placed in head to head competition, and the winning logo – a cowboy hat thrown high in celebration (still in current use) – was the public design (the winner was Susan Holten, from Carrollton
Carrollton, Texas
-Climate:*On average, the warmest month is July.*The highest recorded temperature was 112°F in 1980.*The average coolest month is January.*The lowest recorded temperature was 1°F in 1989.*The most precipitation on average occurs in May....
).
The Lottery's first game was the scratch-off ticket Lone Star Millions, with the first ticket sold to then Gov. Ann Richards
Ann Richards
Dorothy Ann Willis Richards was an American politician from Texas. She first came to national attention as the state treasurer of Texas, when she delivered the keynote address at the 1988 Democratic National Convention. Richards served as the 45th Governor of Texas from 1991 to 1995 and was...
at Polk's Feed Store in Oak Hill
Oak Hill, Texas
Oak Hill is a community in southwest Austin, Texas, United States that was formerly a distinct unincorporated area in southwestern Travis County. Originally called Live Oak Springs, Oak Hill is located on U.S. Highway 290 and Williamson Creek, eight miles south of Downtown Austin.-History:An 1865...
. First-day sales of 23.2 million tickets set a then-world record, with first-week sales (ending June 5, 1992) also setting a world record.
Lotto Texas began sales on November 7, 1992, with the first drawing on November 14, 1992 and the first jackpot (from Schulenburg) won on November 28, 1992. By November 1993, Texas Lottery sales would exceed $1 billion, breaking the Florida Lottery
Florida Lottery
The Florida Lottery is a government-run organization in Florida, USA. With numerous on-line and scratch-off games available, players have a wide variety of prize levels to choose from. Since it began, the Florida Lottery has continued to add variety to its portfolio of games...
's record set in 1989.
The Texas Lottery Commission was formed via legislation in 1993 to take over management of the Lottery from the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts
Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts
The Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts is an executive branch position created by the Texas Constitution. As with nearly every other executive branch head, the Comptroller is popularly elected every four years concurrently with the Governor and the other elected executive branch positions...
; the legislation also gives the Commission oversight of charitable bingo games (moving that duty from the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission
Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission
The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission was created in 1935. The TABC has the task of inspecting, supervising and regulating every phase of business related to alcoholic beverages...
).
Texas joined the 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...
consortium in 2003, with sales beginning December 3 and the first drawing to include Texas was two days later. Though no Texas ticket won the jackpot, one Texas-bought ticket matched the first five numbers for $175,000. The first Texas jackpot winner of Mega Millions was not until the drawing of October 4, 2004; a Carrollton player took home the $101 million (annuity value) prize.
As part of the cross-selling arrangement between the operators of Mega Millions 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...
, the Texas Lottery Commission agreed to begin selling Powerball tickets on January 31, 2010; the first drawing including Texas was three days later.
In 1997 a major scandal rocked the Texas Lottery. Accusations of fixed contracts with the company that manages the lottery surfaced. The scandal went away when the director simply appointed the previously accused management company as the winning bid after a different company had already been chosen.
General rules
As with most US lotteries, players must be at least 18 years of age.Winning tickets must be claimed within 180 days or the prize is forfeited. For scratch-off tickets, the time limit begins when a game is closed by the Commission; for drawings the time limit begins the date of the drawing.
According to the Texas Lottery Commission, the allocation of lottery sales is as follows:
- 62 percent is paid out in prizes
- 27 percent is paid to the Foundation School Fund, which is used to support state public education
- 5 percent is paid to retailer commissions
- 5 percent is retained to cover lottery administration costs
- Approximately 1 percent (specifically, the value of unclaimed prizes) is transferred to the Texas Legislature for allocation to other state programs
--69.92.25.116 (talk) 05:41, 24 October 2011 (UTC)Texas two step current jackpot it is $ 1.3 Ml on oct 24 2011 hit jackpot by son nguyen
Current Lottery games
Scratch-off tickets
The Texas Lottery began operations on May 29, 1992 with sales of Lone Star Millions. By the game's end on February 1, 2004, it set a world record for first-day sales (23.2 million tickets) and first-week sales (102.4 million tickets), There were 6 prizes of $1 million (annuity-only) and 479 of $10,000 each.Instant tickets, most changing frequently, cost $1 to $50 each. Texas is the only state lottery to offer $50 scratch off tickets.
Prizes have included not only cash (from $1 to the millions), and free tickets (which can be used to purchase any Texas drawing game), but also trucks, tickets to sports events, and tours of Cowboys Stadium.
Lotto Texas
Lotto Texas was the first Texas in-house drawing game offered, with sales beginning on November 7, 1992; its first drawing on November 14, 1992, and the first jackpot won on November 28, 1992. By its first anniversary, the Texas Lottery sold over $1 billion in tickets.Initially sold as an annuity game with no cash option, and the purchaser having to pick numbers, and the drawings held only on Saturdays, Lotto Texas later added the "Quick Pick" option (random selection of numbers, added on May 29, 1993, the Lottery's first anniversary), the "Cash Value" option, and changed the drawings to twice weekly, adding Wednesdays.
Among notable winners was Thomas "Hollywood" Henderson, the former Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
linebacker, who claimed a winning jackpot in excess of $14 million in 2000.
The current format utilizes 54 balls; players choose 6 numbers. The jackpot is paid either in 25 annual payments, or in lump sum (discussed further below). Non-jackpot payments are in lump sum. Each game costs $1, the minimum jackpot is $4 million, and drawings are held at 10:12 PM Central time on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
| Matches | Prize | Current probability of winning |
|---|---|---|
| 3 of 6 numbers | $ 3 (guaranteed) | 1:75 |
| 4 of 6 numbers | $ 50 (estimated) | 1:1,526 |
| 5 of 6 numbers | $ 2,000 (estimated) | 1:89,678 |
| All 6 numbers | 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... |
1:25,827,165 |
Overall odds of winning are 1:71.
Texas Two Step
Texas Two Step is the other twice-weekly in-house game in Texas. Sales for Texas Two Step began on May 13, 2001.The current format utilizes a 4+1 matrix using two sets of numbers 1 through 35). Players choose five numbers; four from the first set of 35 white balls, and the fifth Bonus Ball from a set of 35 red balls. All payments, including the jackpot, are in lump sum. Each game is $1, the minimum jackpot is $200,000, and drawings are held at 10:12 PM on Mondays and Thursdays.
| Matches | Prize | Current probability of winning |
|---|---|---|
| Zero numbers, plus Bonus Ball | $ 5 (guaranteed) | 1:58 |
| 1 number, plus Bonus Ball | $ 7 (guaranteed) | 1:102 |
| 2 numbers, plus Bonus Ball | $ 20 (estimated) | 1:657 |
| 3 numbers, no Bonus Ball | $ 20 (estimated) | 1:435 |
| 3 numbers, plus Bonus Ball | $ 50 | 1:14,779 |
| 4 numbers, no Bonus Ball | $ 1,501 | 1:53,900 |
| All 4 numbers, plus Bonus Ball | Jackpot Jackpot -Comics:* Jackpot , the name of several comic book characters* Jackpot Comics, a 1941 American comic book from MLJ Publications* Jackpot , a 1979–1982 British comic book-Film and television:* The Jackpot, a 1950 comedy... |
1:1,832,600 |
Overall odds of winning are 1:32.
Texas Two-Step's jackpot is always paid in lump sum; as such, it is the only Texas Lottery jackpot game not to require players to choose cash or annuity when playing (see below.)
Cash Five
Cash Five is a daily-draw game. Sales for this game (which replaced a similarly named game, Cash 5) began on July 29, 2002.The current format utilizes one set of 37 balls; players choose five numbers. All payments are in lump sum. Each game costs $1; and drawings are held at 10:12 PM Central time Mondays through Saturdays.
| Matches | Prize | Current probability of winning |
|---|---|---|
| 2 of 5 numbers | $ 2 (guaranteed) | 1:9 |
| 3 of 5 numbers | $ 11 (estimated) | 1:88 |
| 4 of 5 numbers | $ 123 (estimated if no Top Prize) / $395 (estimated if Top Prize) | 1:2,724 |
| All 5 numbers | Top Prize | 1:435,897 |
Overall odds of winning are 1:8.
Pick 3
Pick 3 is a twice-daily draw game. It began on October 25, 1993.The current format utilizes three sets of digits 0 through 9. Players choose: exact order (all three digits), any order (two or three digits), exact and any order (two or three digits), combo (two or three digits; combo two is the same as two exact order plays while combo three is the same as three or six exact order plays) and Sum It Up (the arithmetic sum of the numbers played is the same as the arithmetic sum of the numbers drawn; the numbers drawn do not have to be the same as the numbers played).
All payments are in lump sum. Exact or any order bets cost $0.50 or $1; exact and any order for $1, combo (two digits cost $1.50 or $3; three digits cost $3 or $6), and Sum It Up for an additional $0.50. The prizes are guaranteed amounts, and drawings are held twice a day, at 12:27 PM and 10:12 PM Central time Mondays through Saturdays.
For exact odds of winning see this link: How to Play Pick 3
Daily 4
Daily 4 also is drawn 12 times weekly. Sales began on September 30, 2007.Daily 4 is played as in Pick 3, except there are 4 digits. Players can select: Straight (all four digits in exact order), Box (all four digits in any order), Straight/Box (all four digits), Pairs [two of the four digits in exact order, which can be: front pair (first two digits), middle pair (middle digits), or back pair (last two digits)], Combo [which can be: 4-way (three of the four digits drawn are identical, such as 1112), 6-way (the digits drawn are two pairs, such as 1122), 12-way (two of the four digits drawn are identical, such as 1123), or 24-way (all four digits are different, such as 1234)] and "Sum It Up" (see Pick 3.)
All payments are in lump sum. Players can select Straight or Box for either $0.50 or $1; Straight/Box for $1; Pairs for $0.50 or $1; Combo (4-way for $2 or $4; 6-way for $3 or $6; 12-way for $6 or $12; or 24-way for $12 or $24), and Sum It Up for an additional $0.50. The prizes are guaranteed amounts, and drawings are held at 12:27 PM and 10:12 PM Central time Mondays through Saturdays.
For exact odds of winning see: How to Play Daily 4
Mega Millions
In 2003, the Texas Lottery joined the 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...
consortium.
The current format utilizes one set of 56 white balls, and a second set, of 46 yellow balls (the "Mega Ball"). Players choose six numbers; five white ball numbers, and the "Mega Ball" from the second set. Jackpots are paid in either 26 annual payments or in cash; see below on jackpot choices. Non-jackpot payments are in lump sum. Each game costs $1, the minimum jackpot is $12 million, and drawings are held at 10:12 PM Central time on Tuesdays and Fridays.
Texas, as in most Mega Millions jurisdictions, offers an option, called Megaplier feature (similar to Powerball's PowerPlay; see below) which multiplies non-jackpot prizes by either 2, 3, or 4.
Powerball
On October 13, 2009, the Mega Millions consortium and MUSL (the operator of PowerballPowerball
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...
, the other major US lottery game) reached an agreement in principle for lotteries, at their option, to cross-sell Mega Millions and Powerball; the earliest date agreed on was January 31, 2010.
The Texas Lottery Commission elected to participate in the agreement; on November 17, 2009 voted to publish Powerball rules for public comment. On December 14, 2009 the Commission held a public hearing, receiving comments on the proposal to join Powerball.
On January 6, 2010, the Commission voted 3-0 to join Powerball. Texas sales for the game began on January 31, 2010, with the first drawing including Texas was conducted three days later.