Pennsylvania Lotto Game Drawing Nights Change

MIDDLETOWN, Pennsylvania – (PRESS RELEASE) -- Beginning in August, the Pennsylvania Lottery's Lucky for Life Lotto game will move from its current drawing nights of Wednesday and Saturday to Monday and Thursday. The final LUCKY FOR LIFE drawing under the current schedule will be Wednesday, July 27, 2005. LUCKY FOR LIFE's new drawing schedule will begin Monday, August 1, 2005.

Pennsylvania Lottery officials said the schedule change responds to requests made by Lottery players and retailers for a jackpot game on Monday and Thursday.

"Retailers tell us that players come in, purchase their regular daily games - The Daily Number, BIG 4 and CASH 5 - and then ask for a 'ticket for tonight's jackpot game,'" said Lottery Executive Director Ed Mahlman. "Currently, the Lottery does not offer a jackpot game on Monday or Thursday."

As part of this move, it will be necessary to step-down the game's advance-play feature. Lucky for Life tickets may be purchased up to 13 weeks (26 draws) in advance. Beginning with the May 4 drawing, there no longer will be 26 draws remaining in the Wednesday and Saturday slot. The last opportunity to purchase 13 weeks (26 draws) of Lucky for Life for its current Wednesday and Saturday drawing schedule will be Wednesday, April 27, 2005. The number of advance draws available for purchase will continue to decrease by one until only one drawing in the current schedule remains.

Lucky for Life tickets will be on sale for the new drawing schedule beginning Thursday, July 28. At that time, players again will be able to purchase up to 13 weeks (26 draws) of advance-play tickets.

"As with all of the Pennsylvania Lottery's games, Lucky for Life helps us to continue supporting a broad range of programs that benefit older residents, including expanded prescription drug benefits through PACE and PACENET," said Mahlman.

Lucky for Life is the online jackpot game with a 'life' prize, much like the Lottery's popular 'Win $1,000 A Week For Life' instant ticket game. In addition to the lifetime prize, Lucky for Life offers an instant-play feature. LUCKY FOR LIFE LOTTO debuted September 30, 2004. The Pennsylvania Lottery currently offers two jackpot games in addition to Lucky for Life Lotto: MATCH 6 lotto is drawn on Tuesday and Friday, and Powerball(R) is drawn on Wednesday and Saturday.

How to play Lucky for Life: Players receive one play for $2. Players select six numbers from 1 to 38, or they may elect the quick-pick, computer- selection method. With each $2 purchase, players have a chance to win the jackpot annuity prize of $3,000 a month for life, $1 million guaranteed, paid in annual installments of $36,000 per year less appropriate federal withholding, by matching all 6-of-6 winning numbers drawn. Prizes are set for matching 5-, 4- and 3-of-6 winning numbers. Odds of winning the LUCKY FOR LIFE jackpot prize are 1-in-2,760,681. Odds of winning any prize are 1-in-11.5.

Players also can win $10 instantly for each $2 Lucky for Life purchase. The instant-play portion at the bottom of each ticket will either indicate "Instant Winner $10" or "No Instant Win, Try Again." The odds of winning $10 instantly are 1-in-20 statewide. A Random Number Generator determines instant-play prizes; the six winning Lucky for Life numbers are drawn during the Lottery's live Wednesday and Saturday nightly drawing show along with Daily Number, BIG 4 and CASH 5 drawings.

Instant wins can be paid to the player at the time of purchase. The player will then be issued an exchange ticket with the online Lucky for Life portion of the ticket intact. Winning instant tickets can be redeemed up to one year after the purchase.