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The first of two editorials by George Kuempel, the front page of the Dallas Morning News
had a story titled "Changing the Game," on Friday, August 27, 1999.
Basically the story said that the Texas Lottery Commission was planning to propose changes for our Lotto Texas game to the Commissioners. (The Lotto Texas game is the 6 of 6 game where one chooses numbers from 1 to 50 for a payout in the millions.) The story said the Commissioners were going to hear the proposal on Saturday, August 28 in Austin. The newspaper article explained the proposal in depth.
A brief summary of his story:
(My comments are in blue or bold)
- Add 4 more balls (numbers) to Lotto Texas.
You would chose from 1 thru 54 instead of 1 thru 50.
- Odds would jump from 15,890,700 to 25.8 million to one.
- The idea is to "lower the number of jackpot winners". Lotto jackpots would be higher because, naturally, there would be more rollovers!
(Gimme a break! Who wants higher odds and fewer winners?)
- That larger jackpots would attract more players.
- Linda Cloud said, "What we've been hearing is that the players want more money on the lower prizes." With this plan, a 3 of 6 winner will now pay $5 instead of $3. (Come on Linda, do you really think we care about a $2 raise compared to the odds. Have you forgotten that the odds of winning a 3 of 6 will be much greater too which means fewer winners? Also, why has it taken you 7 years to address this issue? )
- Add a 7th bonus ball - strictly for the smaller prizes. So now, under the proposed changes, if you pick 2 of 6 and if you pick the bonus number (this phrase "pick the bonus number" is misleading. Sounds like you are literally picking a specific bonus number) too, you will win $5. (Whoopee! Under the proposed change, if you pick 5 of the FIRST 6 numbers and have the bonus (7th) number too, one will win $10,000. Let's see now, doesn't that still equal 6 numbers for only $10,000? Shoot, I'd rather play the Cash 5 - I'd win more and have much better odds. 575,757 to one to be exact!
)
After reading this article, I sat down and wrote a letter to The Texas Lottery Commission.
I was hoping the Commissioners would see it prior to their meeting and maybe a light would
come on and the idea would be shot down before it got to first base.
But now that I've had time to think about it, I realize the
Commissioners had to back the proposal because Pam Udall,
the person who researches the games, spent entirely too much time
concocting this plan
so they had to let it go for public opinion!!
To read the letter I wrote, click here.
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On Sunday, August 29. The Dallas Morning News ran a story
with news of the outcome of the Commissioners meeting.
Below are excerpts from this story that ran and again my comments.
Let me warn you, my comments are sarcastic but I'm MAD!
A Brief Summary of the Story
- Headline reads "Panel Backs Changes to Lotto Texas. Plan would boost jackpot amounts and lesser prizes in hopes of better sales" (What a riot ..... does the state really think we're that dumb! )
- "The new game would raise the average jackpot to $16 million from $9.5." (I'm confused on this one. What does 'average jackpot' mean? Does this mean that they sell $9.5 million for each drawing and the jackpots are 50% of this amount. )
- "It can be really, really be exciting," said Pam Udall. "I think it will be really very successful." (Hey Pam, weren't these your exact words about the Texas Million game too? Tell me, how can making games impossible to win be more exciting for the players? )
- "The worst thing that can happen to this game is confusion," said Commission Chairwoman Harriet Miers of Dallas. (Harriet, didn't you partake in the budget approval when the Texas Lottery expected an increase in sales each and every year. There was never a thought given that sales would decline and level off when the newness wore off. Why not? Lets see, I think this is when the payoffs on the scratch off tickets were reduced so the state could make their budgeted quotas anyway. That certainly wasn't fair to the people of Texas. Surely you realize these are your customers your taking advantage of?)
- "Commissioner Anthony Sadberry of Cypress said he believes the change is worth a gamble. 'Even with that risk, I feel it would be good for the state and the lottery commission to go forward.'" (Hey Anthony, I suppose you're right. It is in the best interest of the state to make more money. Sure, lets take advantage of the players, lets bring in the dough for the state. I suppose we'll play the games anyway - and we certainly won't win as often - so the jackpot will grow each time and so will sales. You'll get your 50% right off the top after each drawing no matter what!)
- "Lotto sales have fallen more than 10 percent in each of the last two fiscal years." (Isn't this in the time span where it was announced that scratch off ticket payouts were being lowered so the state could make their budgeted quotas and didn't the Texas Million game start in this time frame as well. Again I say, players only have so much money to spend. Of course your sales dropped - ya'll were putting the screws to us and you ran off players. I would be willing to venture a bet that sales will die if this change is made too.)
- "Mrs. Udall said the current game has become too predictable,
and players are especially unhappy with the lower-tier prizes starting at $3." This statement was taken directly out of the newspaper. And this one is the one that tells the story. My response to this comment. And YES, I will post a response!
Mrs. Udall, please elaborate on this statement.
What do
YOU mean "current game has
become too predictable?"
Does this mean that players are able to
predict what numbers
will be drawn?
And, do you honestly believe players want
a $2 increase in the payout for picking 3 of 6
numbers or 3 of 7 numbers as you propose?
Do you honestly believe that players will be happy
to win $10,000 dollars playing Lotto Texas for picking
5 of the 6 numbers then having the 7th number too.
This is still equivalent to choosing 6 numbers in the Lotto.
I thought that "larger
payouts" was the
reason
the Cash 5 and Texas Million were created.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but can't players
win more than $10,000 by picking 5
numbers
out of 39 numbers playing the Cash5? Or perhaps
the truth
is that by having more games, you think
sales will increase?
But "larger payouts" sure
is a good excuse for change!
Do you people need a vacation at the funny farm?
I think the biggest problem the players of Texas face is
the fact that the people who run our games are NOT
gamblers and have no knowledge of how we think or
what we believe. Now, how on earth can we overcome
this one? They are just like the non-players who tell
us we throw away our money buying those tickets! And if
the Texas Lottery Commission continues to take
away from
the players, then I'm liable to be one of
those people too!
Perhaps ya'll should go to
Gamblers Anonymous to hire -
at least he or she would know how to entice games
rather than to destroy them.
Dawn Nettles
The Lotto Report
P. O. Box 495033
Garland, Texas75049-5033
(972) 681-1048 Fax
(972) 686-0660 Office
e-mail:
lottoreport@lottoreport.com
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