Wyoming Lottery looks at offering statewide raffle

Mar 25, 2016, 4:33 pm (5 comments)

Wyoming Lottery

CHEYENNE, Wyo. — While seeking permission last week to add a fourth game for Wyoming lottery players this year, WyoLotto officials were also looking at offering a statewide raffle.

"Right now we're doing research and focus groups on raffles to get an idea of what people think of them," WyoLotto CEO Jon Clontz said.

Clontz said raffles could be held once or twice a year, beginning in 2017. The Wyoming Lottery Corp. board of directors would have to approve adding the raffle.

"You can give money away, but my thought would be more like a $50,000 first-class, all-expense paid vacation to Hawaii for four, or a couple of Humvees or something like that," he said.

The Wyoming Lottery board last week approved adding the Lucky for Life draw game, which offers a jackpot prize of $1,000 a day for the life of the winner. Officials plan on selling the first Lucky for Life tickets by this fall.

During the meeting, Clontz noted the research being done on offering a raffle.

Wyoming became a lottery state in 2014, but state law restricts it to draw games only. Currently, people in Wyoming can buy Powerball and Mega Millions tickets, which are two popular multistate draw games, and Cowboy Draw, an in-state draw game.

Instant win games, like scratch tickets, are prohibited.

Clontz said WyoLotto is always looking at games that might add excitement and variety.

"What we're trying to do is be as creative as we can given that we can only do draw games," he said. "The reason I like the raffle is it's a good revenue injection and people really like it and it's high entertainment value and you can give something away rather than just money all the time."

Clontz said adding games helps to improve WyoLotto earnings, which are shared with cities and towns across the state.

State law requires the first $6 million of lottery proceeds to be distributed to cities, towns and counties on a quarterly basis. Any proceeds beyond the $6 million will go to a state education fund.

Billings Gazette

Comments

Bleudog101

Sounds like they have some progressive minded people in Wyoming.  I promise not to rant on Alabama or Mississippi this time as to why they'll never have a lottery!  lol!!

music*'s avatarmusic*

Quote: Originally posted by Bleudog101 on Mar 25, 2016

Sounds like they have some progressive minded people in Wyoming.  I promise not to rant on Alabama or Mississippi this time as to why they'll never have a lottery!  lol!!

Bleudog101, Thank You for not ranting. LOL. Rant

sully16's avatarsully16

I love raffles, hope it works out for them.

OneTrickpony's avatarOneTrickpony

"it's high entertainment value and you can give something away rather than just money all the time."

 

Just money??  Uhmmmm, right here!  I'll take it!

Bleudog101

Music, 

 

Thanks for the laugh after freezing my butt off walking my rescue dog 2.7 miles in cold azz KY!

 

You notice I did not rant for the millionth time about California having para-mutuel for PB and MM and no Powerplay/Megaplier.  LOL to you my friend!!

End of comments
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