FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                        

Monday, October 1, 2007        

 

CONTACT: David Workman

 (208) 334-2600

 

Lottery Launches Hot Lotto; Director Guarantees Million Dollar Ticket

 

Boise – Today, the Idaho Lottery introduced Hot Lotto, a new Lotto-style game with jackpots at $1 million and higher, its first such introduction since Idaho Pick 3 debuted in June of 2000.

 

“We feel strongly that Idaho needs a Lotto game with jackpots that fit between Wild Card and Powerball, in the $1 million to $20 million range,” stated Jeff Anderson, Idaho Lottery Director. “Hot Lotto fills this need and is another opportunity for Idahoans to play for millions of dollars.”

 

Hot Lotto is played in similar fashion to Powerball and Wild Card.  Players select five numbers from 1 to 39 (white balls) and one “Hot Ball” number (an orange ball) from 1 to 19. The drawings are held twice a week on Wednesday and Saturday nights, just like Powerball and Wild Card. Tickets cost $1 per play. Players can purchase a multi-draw ticket for up to 10 draws at a time.

 

Hot Lotto is a multi-state game like Powerball and only played in 10 other states across the United States.  To win the jackpot, players must match all five numbers and the Hot Ball.  Matching five numbers but not the Hot Ball wins $10,000 and matching four numbers and the Hot Ball wins $500. Any time a player matches the Hot Ball they win $2 with other prizes ranging between $3 and $50. The overall odds of winning any prize are 1 in 16. Player instructions and overall odds are available at http://idaholottery.com/HLnumb.asp.

 

The jackpot prize can be paid out either as a 24 year, 25-payment annuity, or as a single lump sum in cash.  The two biggest jackpots for Hot Lotto have both been in 2007, one worth $19.9 million in January and the other worth $12.9 million in July.

 

“Within the entire suite of our Lottery products, I’m confident the Idaho Lottery will have a million dollar winning ticket before January 1^st,” declared Anderson. “In fact, I guarantee it.”

 

The jackpot for Wednesday night’s game, the first draw in Idaho, is worth $3.8 million.

 

Art work and logos of the game are available.

 

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