Washington Lottery makes new changes to its oldest game

Aug 11, 2020, 5:07 pm (6 comments)

Washington Lottery

After 36 years, the last "Daily Game" draw will occur on August 29, 2020

By Kate Northrop

OLYMPIA, Wa. — The Washington Lottery is making new changes to its longest-running game of 36 years, with the final drawing under the name "Daily Game" to occur on August 29, 2020 at 8:00 pm.

The draw game was initially released in 1984 under the name "Triple Choice" but then changed to "Daily Game" in 1987. 13,000 drawings later, it will be going through a rebranding once more.

Starting August 30, the "Daily Game" will be known as "Pick 3." Additionally, the Lottery is expanding the number of advance purchases a player can make. The rules themselves will not change, only that a player can buy 25 consecutive drawings instead of seven.

Between now and then, the Lottery is encouraging players to get their final plays in before the last three numbers are drawn under the historic name. They also hope to invoke a sense of nostalgia for the '80s, during which the game was released.

"Daily Game is a core part of our heritage here at Washington's Lottery and was one of the games that got us started," Washington's Lottery Director Marcus Glasper said in a news release. "It remains a popular game today, and many people have a sense of nostalgia when thinking about it and the mid-1980's when it started, so before we change to Pick 3, we want to give our players a few last chances to enjoy Daily Game as they know it."

The very first numbers to ever be drawn for the Daily Game were 4, 5, and 3. When the game had its debut on Wednesday, January 18, 1984, players might remember a time when Ronald Reagan was president, gas was $1.10 a gallon, and Apple began its ascent upon the release of the first Macintosh computer.

"While many things have changed since its introduction, one thing has remained constant — players' love of their daily chance to win playing Washington's Lottery," Glasper stated. "That said, now is the right time to make the name change. Pick 3 better describes the actual rules of the game, making it more approachable to new players, and also aligns well with our other games like Match 4 and Hit 5."

In the rebranded game, players will still pick three numbers from 0 to 9, decide on a Play Type combination, and choose a bet amount. Quick Picks will still be an option, which is when the player allows the computer to automatically choose three numbers to play for them. Drawings will continue to be held at the usual time, 8:00 pm PT, and lottery tickets can be purchased at prices ranging from $0.50 to $6 depending on the selected play style. Players have the chance to win prizes starting at $25 up to $500.

Before moving on to the new Pick 3 game, Washington's Lottery is taking to social media to highlight the era during which the Daily Game was released with some '80s- and Lottery-themed trivia. Those who are interested can check out what they have to offer on their Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter at @walottery.

Lottery Post Staff

Comments

music*'s avatarmusic*

Congratulations and the best of luck to all the players in Washington State. "Pick 3" easy to play and a very timely. Lottery Post has so many Pick 3 players across this land. 

billybucks

 The name daily game was confusing to anyone outside of Washington state. Not that anyone outside of the border cared unless they lived near the border. Their 500.00 maximum payout for a 1000-1 chance is the lowest (tied) in the industry.  So the only change is the name (warranted) and the fact you can advance play for 25 draws instead of 7 (insignificant) although it could hurt retailers since traffic may diminish. For 35 years the state has been cheating players with that paltry payout structure and they must have a belly laugh when going over the handle for this every day. Don't players in Wa have a clue that they are being fleeced on this game and probably others.

Bleudog101

Long overdue for pick 4!

Just skimmed through and may have missed it...is this a RNG game?

Stack47

Quote: Originally posted by billybucks on Aug 12, 2020

 The name daily game was confusing to anyone outside of Washington state. Not that anyone outside of the border cared unless they lived near the border. Their 500.00 maximum payout for a 1000-1 chance is the lowest (tied) in the industry.  So the only change is the name (warranted) and the fact you can advance play for 25 draws instead of 7 (insignificant) although it could hurt retailers since traffic may diminish. For 35 years the state has been cheating players with that paltry payout structure and they must have a belly laugh when going over the handle for this every day. Don't players in Wa have a clue that they are being fleeced on this game and probably others.

"The name daily game was confusing to anyone outside of Washington state."

Bet you think California's "Daily 3" game is confusing players too. I'm pretty sure most the people playing these games everyday know exactly what they are playing and those that don't can ask a store clerk or read a "how to play" pamphlet.

Apparently someone in the Washington State Lottery thought changing the name of the game was necessary, but it's still the same game.

"Their 500.00 maximum payout for a 1000-1 chance is the lowest (tied) in the industry."

There are state lotteries using pari-mutuel pick-3 game payouts and NJ and California are two of them. So it possible to get a pick-3 $1 straight payout much lower than $500 on one drawing and much higher in another in both states.

Fun fact: almost all state lottery pick-3 straight payout are $500 for $1 with a handful of exceptions (NJ, Cali, and KY and possibly others).

LottoBux's avatarLottoBux

Quote: Originally posted by Stack47 on Aug 13, 2020

"The name daily game was confusing to anyone outside of Washington state."

Bet you think California's "Daily 3" game is confusing players too. I'm pretty sure most the people playing these games everyday know exactly what they are playing and those that don't can ask a store clerk or read a "how to play" pamphlet.

Apparently someone in the Washington State Lottery thought changing the name of the game was necessary, but it's still the same game.

"Their 500.00 maximum payout for a 1000-1 chance is the lowest (tied) in the industry."

There are state lotteries using pari-mutuel pick-3 game payouts and NJ and California are two of them. So it possible to get a pick-3 $1 straight payout much lower than $500 on one drawing and much higher in another in both states.

Fun fact: almost all state lottery pick-3 straight payout are $500 for $1 with a handful of exceptions (NJ, Cali, and KY and possibly others).

I Think Missouri Pays Out $600 As Well.

Ontario Pick 3 Has Parimutuel Payout But Thankfully, The Pick 4 Is A Regular Payout.

Waste Of Time Playing Pick3 Triples As The Payouts Are Always Under $500.

Stack47

Quote: Originally posted by LottoBux on Aug 14, 2020

I Think Missouri Pays Out $600 As Well.

Ontario Pick 3 Has Parimutuel Payout But Thankfully, The Pick 4 Is A Regular Payout.

Waste Of Time Playing Pick3 Triples As The Payouts Are Always Under $500.

Didn't know Missouri paid $600 too as all lotteries should. Way way back in the day, bookies paid $600 for the same winning combo state lotteries paid $500. Never thought of the effect on triples pari-mutuel payoffs, but players probably justify it because there is no box payoffs.

"Name change on Washington Lottery's oldest game"?

*edited to add: the KY Lottery drew 1111 today and will payout $1.9 million.

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