Texas' $85 Million Jackpot...
Some Very Interesting Tidbits

Brought to you by ...
The Lotto Report

Posted: Thursday, March 8, 2001 - 4:15 PM
Revised: Tuesday, Oct 23, 2001

If you want to see a complete financial breakdown of all the
drawings leading up to this jackpot, go to the "Money" page.
A link can be found at the bottom of this page.

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Let's Start With The Winning $85 Million Ticket ...
It Was A Quick Pick & The Winners ChoseThe Cash Value Option

The Overall Picture For The $85 Million Jackpot
- It Took 11 Drawings To Reach $85 Million -

Let's Compare It To The $77 Million Jackpot
Held On March 16, 1994 ...
To Reach $77 Million ... It Only Required 6 Draws ....

Updated Oct. 22, 2001 - VIP
On Oct. 9, 2001 during the Commissioners meeting, Linda Cloud told the
Commissioners that the TLC "under-estimated" the $85 million jackpot because it
was a "record breaking jackpot" and the TLC had nothing to compare sales with.
After reviewing the facts below, please tell me, do you agree with her statements
and her reasons for "under-estimating" this jackpot? You see, the reason this is sooo
important now is that they are trying to convince the Commissioners to allow them to
change the rules so they can pay the amount they advertise rather than the amount in the
pot - the amount in the pot is suppose to be 37.532% of sales. The $85 million winner
received $51,214,323 which was exactly 37.532% of total sales. But had this rule
been in effect, the TLC would have only paid them $48,786,362 because that's the
amount they say it would've required to bring in $85 million over a 25 year period.

As you compare, remember, 6/50 winners split 50% of sales
but 6/54 winners split 55% of sales (or are suppose to). As you can see,
the 6 of 6 percentage increased the most under the 6/54 plan. Under 6/50,
the 6 of 6 winners received 32% of total sales but under 6/54, the 6 of 6 winners
receive 37.532% of total sales. This is WHY this jackpot grew to $85 million.
Think how much more money was brought in back in 1994 during the
5 drawings after the $77 million was won and tell me, which plan appears better for
the state and the players? Mrs. Cloud called this a record. If I were in her shoes,
I'd keep my mouth shut so the critics couldn't touch her "bragging" comments.

When you add up what they paid the winners in 11 draws, it equals $72,996,784.
But 55% of sales, the amount they said they paid the winners, is $75,050,297.
What a real bummer - Where's our 55% of sales?

Did you know that the schools really don't get "extra" money from all this.
The schools receive a set budgeted amount and all lottery proceeds
go towards that figure, then the state of Texas makes up the difference
which is a huge figure. But schools do not receive "extra" money -
they only receive their budgeted amount no matter what the lottery does!

- For the $85 million drawing held on March 7, 2001 sales were $50,525,349 -
(Note: A very large percentage of sales for this drawing came from the border towns.)

Out of 50,525,349 tickets sold for the 3-7-01 Lotto Texas drawing ...
470 tickets had 5 of 6 and winners split $1,408,590 - ($2997 each)
29,614 tickets had 4 of 6 and winners split $3,464,838 - ($117 each)
620,695 tickets had 3 of 6 and winners split $3,103,475 - ($5 each)
And the TLC set aside $18,963,174 for the 6 of 6 winners portion.

Did you know that total sales for the one $77 million drawing on 3-16-94
was $51,929,357?

Out of 50,525,349 tickets sold, there were only 650,780 winning tickets?

- For the $56 million drawing held on March 3, 2001 sales were $20,327,827 -
On Oct. 18, 1997, there was a $55 million jackpot and sales were $28,311,752.
Then on May 17, 1997, there was a $50 million jackpot and sales
were $27,822,561. But for the March 3, 2001 drawing with a $56 million
jackpot, sales were only $20,327,827 million. While this is a lot of money, sales
still are not where they should be for this jackpot. You can rest assured though,
the TLC is certainly smiling because they take 45% (plus a little extra) right off
the top.

As you can see, 45% of $20 million is much better than 45% of $4
or $5 million which is why they added those 4 balls - so the jackpot
would grow and people would spend this kind of money -
even when they can't afford it.

Out of 20,327,827 tickets sold for the 3-3-01 Lotto Texas drawing ...
211 tickets had 5 of 6 and winners split $566,746 - ($2686 each)
11,731 tickets had 4 of 6 and winners split $1,395,989 - ($119 each)
252,191 tickets had 3 of 6 and winners split $1,260,955 - ($5 each)
And the TLC set aside $7,629,440 million for the 6 of 6 winners portion.

Out of 20,327,827 million tickets sold, there were only 264,133 winning tickets?

- For the $45 million drawing held on Feb. 28, 2001 sales were $13.9 million -
On July 17, 1999, when the TLC was complaining about sales being
down and working on the first proposal to add 4 balls but, the people
had no knowlegde of a possible change, the jackpot was $37 million and
sales were $14.4 million .... then on Sept. 6, 2000, with a $46 million pot,
sales were $15,271,203. And finally ... on Oct. 17, 1998 with a $50 million pot,
sales were $23.4 million. Think what it'll be like two years from now!
And remember, Texas' population has increased.

Do you realize too, they only sold one half of the total combinations
(54 balls equals 25.8 million combinations) for this drawing? To have
a winner, more combinations have to be sold and ideally, the
drawing needs to have two numbers between 1 and 12, two numbers
between 1 and 31 and two numbers between 35 - 54. Ideal birthday
numbers. With no winners, the TLC is certainly smiling now!
This is how they make "more" money.

Out of 13,939,229 tickets sold for the 2-28-01 Lotto Texas drawing ...
155 tickets had 5 of 6 and winners split $388,740 - ($2508 each)
8261 tickets had 4 of 6 and winners split $958,276 - ($116 each)
170,549 tickets had 3 of 6 and winners split $852,745 - ($5 each)
And the TLC set aside $5,231,671 for the 6 of 6 winners portion.

When you add up what they paid the winners it equals $7,431,432.
But 55% of sales, the amount they said they would pay winners is $7,666,576.
What a bummer.

- For the $36 million drawing held on Feb. 24, 2001 sales were $10.4 million -
But, on March 22, 2000, before they "officially" decided to
add 4 new balls, (there was just talk at that time) we had
a $28 Million jackpot and sales for that drawing
was $10,460,057.

Then, on Oct. 23, 1999, right after they cancelled the first plan
to add 4 balls, we had a $38 million jackpot and sales
were $14,754,335.

And finally, on Dec. 11, 1999, we had a $29 million
jackpot and sales were $10,083,191.

Let's see, since the 4 balls were added, as of 3-8-01,
there's been 67 drawings and only 10 jackpots were won. Yep,
that'll keep that jackpot figure higher and entice more play alright.

And for the record ...
on 7-7-93 with a $50 million jackpot, sales were $32.7 million
on 5-1-93 with a $50 million jackpot, sales were $37.9 million
on 3-12-94 with a $55 million jackpot, sales were $34 million
on 10-18-97 with a $55 million jackpot, sales were $28.3 million
Then they added 4 balls to our game and ...
on 9-9-00 with a $60 million jackpot, sales were approx. $24.4 million
And on 3-3-01 with a $56 million jackpot, sales were $20,327,827
Finally for the 11th drawing with still no top winner, Texas finally gets National Press ...
on 3-7-01, with a $77 million pot that increases to $85 million, sales were $50,525,349.
but on March 16, 1994, with a $77 million pot, sales were $51,929,357 - less population too!
Now go read where the sales for the 3-7-01 came from ... click here

If you want to see the complete breakdown,
for this roll or any other one, go to the Money Page

The Lotto Report
P. O. Box 495033
Garland, Texas 75049-5033
(972) 686-0660
(972) 681-1048 (Fax)