Pennsylvania Lottery launches midday game

MIDDLETOWN, Pennsylvania -– (PRESS RELEASE) -- Tickets go on sale next week for the Pennsylvania Lottery's new, animated, midday numbers game: Treasure Hunt.

"The Treasure Hunt game animation that will be featured on the Lottery's Web site will make this drawing experience different from any other the Lottery currently offers," said Lottery Executive Director Ed Trees. "The screen opens to a treasure map with an 'X' marking the spot where the hidden treasure is buried. Treasure chests open to reveal the winning lottery numbers."

Treasure Hunt tickets go on sale Tuesday, May 8, and the first drawing will take place that afternoon. The game will be drawn seven days a week in addition to the Daily Number and BIG 4 midday games.

Each Treasure Hunt play costs $1. Players select five numbers from 1 to 30 or may elect to have the five numbers quick picked by computer selection.

Treasure Hunt will use animation to display winning numbers on the Lottery Web site. Each number is assigned to a square on a grid featuring all 30 numbers. The grid symbolizes an area of sand where treasure is hidden, and players pick grid squares and corresponding numbers based on where they believe treasure chests of gold will rise through the sand during the animation of winning numbers.

Treasure Hunt winning numbers will be selected using a Random Number Generator consisting of secure, computerized systems, just as midday winning numbers for The Daily Number and BIG 4 games are selected.

The numbers will be generated shortly after 1 p.m. each day, and then they will be placed into animation -- computerized renderings produced by an Animated Digital Draw System -- so that they may be viewed on the Lottery Web site after 1:35 p.m. each day. Winning numbers will also be available from the Lottery's toll-free, midday winning numbers hotline, (877) 282-4639.

Players win by matching two or more numbers. Treasure Hunt offers four different prize categories: match two numbers to win $1; match three numbers for $6; match four numbers for $100; and match all five numbers to win the jackpot. Treasure Hunt cash jackpots will start at $10,000, and the jackpot will continue to grow until a jackpot-winning ticket matches all five numbers drawn for a drawing.

Treasure Hunt tickets may be purchased up to seven draws (one week) in advance. Odds of winning a Treasure Hunt jackpot are 1-in-142,506; overall odds of winning any prize from the game are 1-in-5.45.