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17. Michigan

 

53.22 points

 

 

18. South Dakota

 

51.56 points

 

Good

From survey “have some ticket checkers, will have in all locations following new equipment installation in 2008”

 

Approximately $1,000,000 annually towards problem gambling initiatives

 

Make the rather bold (for a lottery) statement: "If you lose more than you can afford to lose, you've got a problem. Call -- for confidential help

One year from draw date to claim online prizes

 

Winners of prizes greater than $10,000 the right to remain anonymous.  However, Mega Millions winners are exempt from this act.  The names and cities of residence for all Michigan Lottery Mega Millions winners (including the jackpot) are considered public record

Bad

Tickets remain on sale even if top prize is gone. Website contains top prizes remaining (tickets have a printed expiration date)

 

State tax on lottery winnings

 

“free ticket” prize

 

Good

Unclaimed prizes returned to prize pool

 

Scratch games close after announcement of top prize winner is made

 

No free ticket prizes

 

Odds for all prize levels for scratch games on web

Bad

Online games have computer generated numbers

 

Don’t have PowerBall top prize cash value amount on website

 

Video lottery generates most of the lottery’s revenue 

 

Video Lottery operation tends to be more addictive to problem gamblers, one of only 6 states to have Video Lottery

 

 

 

 

19. Maine

 

51.18 points

 

 

20. Colorado

 

51.15 points

 

Good

No “free ticket prizes

 

On back of scratch tickets "highest instant prize odds, 1:120,000 - Overall odds of winning 1:4.59 including breakeven prizes"

Bad

Subscriptions to online games offered, CAN BE PAID USING CREDIT CARD

 

Don’t have PowerBall top prize cash value amount on website

 

Just overall odds given for scratch games

 

State tax on lottery winnings, withheld for prizes over $5,000

Good

Cash Value of PowerBall jackpot shown

 

No free ticket prizes

 

From the back of a scratch ticket: "overall odds of winning are approximately 1 in 4.13 including break-even prizes"

 

 

Bad

Only overall odds of  scratch games given on the web

 

Only top level prize shown in unclaimed prize section

 

From returned survey- it depends on what percentage of tickets are still available for the game.  In general, we try to pull games as soon as the top instant prize is won.

 

Computer generated numbers