One of the most popular US lotteries Michigan Lottery has numerous on-line and scratch-off games offering players a wide variety of prizes. Initiated under the authority of Public Act 239 (1972) the game collects funds to support Michigan’s public school system.
History
The Michigan Lottery began when the Green Ticket game started on November 13, 1972. On October 7, 1975, the first instant game ticket was purchased. Terminal-based games commenced on June 6, 1977, when the Daily 3 game was introduced. The first The Big Game ticket sales were on August 31, 1996. (The 12-member game is now called Mega Millions.) Since its commencement, the Michigan Lottery has donated more than $14.5 billion to the School Aid Fund.
Lottery Products
Michigan Lottery offers a number of games in different styles of play, including:
- “Scratch-off” games;
- Online games, where drawings are held to pick winning numbers. The latter include Mega Millions and Classic Lotto 47;
- Pull-tabs, which are similar to scratch tickets; however, players pull perforated tabs instead of "scratching off" the ticket.
Lottery tickets are offered to the public through more than 10,000 licensed Michigan Lottery retailers.
Scratch games
To play Michigan Lottery scratch games, a player scratches off a ticket; each game consists of different themes, play styles and prize structures. The Lottery averages over 70 new scratch games per year. These games priced between $1 and $20 with prizes up to $2 million.
Terminal-based games
Tickets for these games are sold from lottery terminals connected to a central system. Lottery drawings are held to determine the winning numbers. Depending on the lottery game, drawings are held every four minutes (Club Keno), twice a day (Daily 3 and Daily 4), daily (Fantasy 5 and Keno!) or twice a week (Mega Millions and Classic Lotto 47).
Mega Millions
Mega Millions is a multi-jurisdictional lottery game in the United States. Players select six numbers from two pools: five numbers from 1 through 56, and the Mega Ball number (1 through 46) for a chance to win a multi-million dollar jackpot prize.
As of 2009, Mega Millions jackpots start at US $12 million (annuity value), and increases when there is no jackpot winner. Drawings are held on Tuesdays and Fridays. Winners choose either the annuity (26 annual payments) or the cash option.
Michigan would be eligible to join Powerball if an agreement is reached between the 12 Mega Millions members and MUSL, which administers the Powerball game.
Classic Lotto 47
Introduced on May 15, 2005, Classic Lotto 47 replaced the Winfall game. Players pick 6 of 47 numbers. Classic Lotto 47 drawings are held twice weekly with jackpots starting at $1 million. Odds of hitting the jackpot are approximately 1:11 million. Unlike most Michigan Lottery games (which draw numbered balls), Classic Lotto 47 is drawn using a random number generator (RNG).
Fantasy 5
Fantasy 5 began on September 12, 2004, replacing the Rolldown game. Players select 5 of 39 numbers. Rolling jackpots begin at $100,000 with drawings held every day. Fantasy 5 jackpots increase a minimum of $5,000 per drawing if no top-prize winner.
Daily 3 & Daily 4
The Daily 3 and Daily 4 games are drawn twice daily, seven days a week. These two games have a variety of play styles. A $1 wager can win $500 in Daily 3 or $5,000 in Daily 4.
Keno!
Initiated in 1990, Keno! players select 10 numbers out of 80. During the daily drawings, 22 numbers are chosen. A player matching 10 numbers wins $250,000. Players also win money by matching 9, 8, 7, or 6 numbers. There also is a prize for matching zero numbers, which is a $1 scratch ticket (rather than a free Keno! play).
Club Games
Added in 2003, Club Games consist of the Club Keno game, and pull-tabs games, sold mostly at bars, restaurants, and bowling alleys.
In Club Keno players choose up to 10 numbers out of 80. With results displayed on television sets every four minutes, the Lottery draws 20 numbers. Wagers are $1 to $20; the top prize is $100,000 for a $1 bet.
With top prizes ranging from $50 to $500, pull-tab games are similar to “scratch-off” games. Instead of scratching off a ticket, a player pulls perforated tabs.
References
External links
Claiming lottery prizes, paying taxes from winnings and other essential facts about Michigan lottery]
