Maine Lottery
The Maine Lottery is run by the government of Maine. It is a member of the Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL), whose flagship game is Powerball. It was founded in 1974 after being approved through a voter referendum.
Maine originally joined MUSL in 1990, before the Iowa-based organization began Powerball; Maine pulled out two years later, when Powerball was introduced. Maine did not rejoin MUSL until 2004. (Powerball drawings moved to Florida in 2009, although MUSL headquarters remain in Iowa). MUSL's smaller jackpot game Hot Lotto is Maine's first continuing draw game to have its winning numbers drawn via random number generator (RNG) instead of using traditional lottery balls.
An agreement was reached on October 13, 2009, for Mega Millions and Powerball to be available through any US lottery. Maine began sales of Mega Millions on May 9, 2010, after most lotteries began offering both games on January 31, 2010. The Portland Press Herald, on March 31, 2010, reported that the Supplemental Budget had passed; it included a provision to require Maine to join Mega Millions on May 9, 2010. WCSH-TV (NBC) in Portland reported that Gov. Baldacci signed the Supplemental Budget on March 31, 2010.
Currently, 46 lotteries offer Mega Millions and Powerball. Since rejoining MUSL in 2004, Maine has not sold a Powerball jackpot ticket; it also has yet to produce a Mega Millions jackpot winner. Maine's largest lottery prize was from Lotto*America during its first incarnation with MUSL.
All of Maine's draw games are shared with other lotteries; its "smallest" online games are those offered by the Tri-State Lottery; whose drawing games, also available in Vermont and New Hampshire, are always drawn in New Hampshire. Maine also offers scratch tickets.
Draw games
Mega Millions
Maine joined Mega Millions on May 9, 2010, several months after lotteries, which initially could offer either Mega Millions or Powerball, could add the other game. Mega Millions plays are $1 each; with Megaplier, $2. Jackpots begin at $15 million.
Mega Millions' most recent format change was in October 2013.
Powerball
Powerball jackpots begin at $40 million (annuitized), and increase by at least $10 million if not won. Games cost $2 each; with Power Play, $3. There are nine prize levels; second prize is $1,000,000 (cash) in a $2 game; if Power Play was selected, $2,000,000.
Maine had been a MUSL member from 1990 to 1992, offering Lotto*America; Maine opted out of MUSL when Lotto*America was replaced by Powerball.
Hot Lotto
Hot Lotto is played the same as Mega Millions or Powerball, except players choose 5 of 47 "white ball" numbers, and 1 of 19 "Hot Ball" numbers. Games are $1 each; if the Sizzler option is activated (its games are $2 each) non-jackpot prizes are tripled. (The Sizzler option was added in 2008.) Maine, which joined Hot Lotto in 2009, was its newest member until Tennessee joined in 2013 (see below.) Jackpots are all-cash, and "taxes-paid" (although winners are subject to income taxes.)
Begun as a six-member game in 2002, Hot Lotto initially drew from 39 "white ball" numbers; its jackpots were annuitized with a cash option. Currently, 15 lotteries offer Hot Lotto, including the District of Columbia.
Lucky for Life
Connecticut's in-state draw game Lucky4Lìfe, which began in 2009, became a regional game three years later. Now called Lucky for Life, it replaced the Tri-State game Weekly Grand Extra.
The third version of the game began on September 17, 2013. As with the first multi-state Lucky for Life, first prize is $1000-per-day-for-life (split by multiple winners); this version had a second prize of $25,000-per-year-for-life. For the first time, a winner of a "lifetime" (first- or second prize) has the option of choosing cash.
The current version, which began on January 27, 2015, is offered by 15 lotteries, including in the District of Columbia. Players choose 5 of 48 white balls, and a "Lucky Ball" from 18 green balls in the second machine.
Tri-State games
Drawings for these games, played in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont, are held in New Hampshire:
Megabucks Plus
Megabucks Plus has a similar format as Hot Lotto, Mega Millions, and Powerball. As Megabucks, begun in 1985, it was a "classic"-style six-number game until July 2009. Every Wednesday and Saturday, five "regular' numbers are drawn from a pool of 41, and one from a second pool, of six. Games are $2 each; the minimum jackpot is $1,000,000.
A new version of Megabucks Plus is expected to begin in March 2013.
Pick 3
Pick 3 is drawn twice daily, including Sundays. Prices, prizes, and options vary.
Pick 4
Pick 4 is drawn in conjunction with Pick 3.
Keno
Maine offers an in-state Keno game that began in May 2015.
Maine Lottery drawings on TV
Maine Lottery drawings air on WAGM-TV (CBS/FOX) Presque Isle, WPFO-TV (Fox) Portland, and WABI-TV (CBS) Bangor.
References
External links
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