5 Card Cash game also gets enhancements
By Todd Northrop
Kentucky Pick 3 and Pick 4 lottery players now have an option to win just by getting close the numbers drawn.
Last week, starting on July 29, the Kentucky Lottery added a new feature for the Pick 3 and Pick 4 games which allows players to win prizes if their numbers are one digit higher or lower than the winning numbers drawn.
"1-Off" is a new wager type for Pick 3 and Pick 4. A player can select the 1-Off feature at the time of purchase, with wagers starting at $1.00. If one or more of their numbers are one digit off of winning numbers, they win a cash prize. To avoid any confusion, all the possible numeric combinations that can win are printed right on the ticket.
"With this new wager, Pick 3 players now have 27 chances to win with a single ticket, and Pick 4 players have 81 chances to win," said Tom Delacenserie, president and CEO of the Kentucky Lottery. "These daily games have been popular ever since they were introduced in the Commonwealth, and these new features are definitely going to create more winners — which in turn will create more excitement."
While a player who matches all three numbers in exact order on a Pick 3 ticket with a straight wager wins the game's top prize of $600, the same win on a Pick 3 ticket with a 1-Off wager will yield $300. "However, on that ticket with a straight wager, they have one chance to win a prize. With 1-Off, they now have 27 chances on that Pick 3 ticket. We think players will enjoy their increased chances of winning with this new feature," said Delacenserie.
Players can still choose to wager in the Pick 3 and Pick 4 games the same way they always have — Straight and/or Box — but in order to win a 1-Off prize, they need to specifically purchase a 1-Off wager.
The Kentucky Lottery also made changes to its 5 Card Cash game. These changes include the addition of a Sunday drawing for the game, better chances of winning a prize, and a refreshed game logo. Players can still win up to $5000 instantly, and up to $100,000 in the nightly drawings.
5 Card Cash features two ways to win: the first is an instant-win prize at the time the ticket is purchased, and the other is in the evening drawing. The improved chances of winning a prize are in the instant-win part of the game. Instead of a minimum win of a pair of 9s or greater, players can now win with a pair of 8s or greater.
All game enhancements for the Kentucky Lottery draw games are available immediately at all lottery retailers in the state.
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Correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm sure this new pick 3 pick, pick 4 option started last Monday. They had a thing about it on Facebook. Several folks including me stated the stores still did not have the proper playslips. Their response was the vendor is getting them out as we called them out on it last Wednesday. Rarely play but wanted to give it a chance.
5 Card Cash is RNG; so no plays from me. That being said glad they upped the ante some. My nickname for this game is 5 Card Trash.
Not according to the Kentucky Lottery. They stated directly that the changes went into effect today, Aug. 6, 2018.
Hey lottery.... How about a no number option? I'll pay an extra buck when I buy my ticket. If I don't hit any numbers, I win. How's that!!!!
NY Lottery had that for a while. It was called "close enough"
It paid different amounts if you were one number away (higher or lower) and it applied to each digit on both pick 3 and pick 4 games only.
It was around for a while and then discontinued.
Thank you Todd. That being said I don't understand why on their FB page when folks complained (like me) that the play slips weren't up to date and others complained the clerks did not know how to ring them up that they didn't just say the correct date. All they would tell you is sorry, we're working with our vendors to get the slips out AND to watch a video to learn how to play. I'm going to see if I can find that link!
Todd, for what it is worth I found the FB post. It specifically stated that it would start July 29th, 2018. Am wondering if there was some kind of glitch causing them to move it up a week? Will call IGT in RI in a bit to ask just out of curiosity.
IGT agreed with me, starting date was July 29th. I made mention that it did not go smoothly IMO. Have yet to play.
I'm not sure what to say, other than the Kentucky Lottery is putting out mixed signals about availability then. I am holding a press release with today's date (Aug. 6) that states "Several enhancements are taking place today for popular Kentucky Lottery draw games," and then goes on to state the changes.
I really don't see it as a big deal either way, but I'm going with what I have, and if the Kentucky Lottery wishes, they can certainly comment here to clarify the situation.
The whole thing is elementary because no matter if the changes went into effect today or last week, they are most certainly in effect right now.
I'll say they didn't post anything about the 5 Card Cash changes anywhere that I've seen.
Thanks again Todd; doesn't matter one way or the other since I don't play the 5 Card Cash and once in a blue moon one Pick 4. I prefer Cashball 225, MM, PB, L4L. We're lucky for such a small state to have as many lottery choices here.
Missouri has had 1-Off for a while.
I wish Illinois did, an occasional bone would be nice.
I bought a couple pick-4 "1 off" tickets for the Sunday evening drawing and after reading this I had to dig them out of the trash to make sure they were for Sunday and they were. I only found one place with the new pick-3 and pick-4 play slips so that might be why their statement is confusing.
Interesting game to say the least.
I believe the 5 Card Cash changes went into effect today. They lowered it to 8s or better for a free ticket, $3 for two pair, have all the payoff on the front of the ticket, and will have Sunday drawings. The 1-off gamed tickets show all possible winning numbers and their payoffs.
The payouts are identical to Missouri, $4, $9, $29, or $300.
That works in keno if you pick enough spots (not every keno pay table does that, but I have seen it). It won't work with just 3 or 4 numbers because it's too likely.
With pick 3, the probability of not hitting any of them (as a straight ticket) is 9/10*9/10*9/10 which is 73%. So your $1 wager would win a whopping 69 cents (using the same house edge). LOL
Pick 4 is slightly better, winning 76 cents.
This is why catch 0 wins in keno usually start with 10 spots, since hitting 0 of 10 is fairly unlikely (4.579%).