Rhode Island Lottery
The Rhode Island Lottery (or The Lot) is run by the government of Rhode Island. It is a charter member of the Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL). Rhode Island Lottery games include Mega Millions, Powerball, Wild Money, keno, and scratch tickets. Rhode Island also offers video lottery, which includes the multi-jurisdictional MegaHits game.
The minimum age to play the Rhode Island Lottery is 18.
Rhode Island-only games
The Numbers Game
Begun in 1976, it was the first Rhode Island Lottery game where players could select their numbers. Nightly, four sets of balls numbered 0 through 9 are drawn. Prices, prizes, and options vary. Rhode Island, unusually, does not draw a three-digit number separately; however, players can choose "first three" or "last three".
"Midday" drawings for The Numbers Game soon will be added.
Wild Money
Wild Money is drawn Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. It draws 5 balls numbered 1-35, with an "Extra Ball" drawn from the remaining 30. The "Extra Ball" is used to determine some of the prizes, but not the jackpot, which starts at $20,000. Games are $1.
Keno (limited availability)
Keno is played at retailers equipped with a special monitor. Drawings are four minutes apart during Keno hours. Prices, prizes, and options vary.
Multi-jurisdictional games
Mega Millions
Rhode Island joined Mega Millions on January 31, 2010; it was part of the cross-sell expansion that took place on that date. (Most U.S. lotteries with either Mega Millions or Powerball joined the other on that date; the agreement was finalized on October 13, 2009.)
Mega Millions is drawn Tuesdays and Fridays; its starting jackpot is $15 million. Games are $1 each, or $2 if the "Megaplier" multiplier is activated.
Powerball
Rhode Island was among the seven founding members of MUSL, formed in 1987. Its best-known game, Powerball, began in 1992. Games are $2 each; a PowerPlay game is $3. The "PowerPlay" option began in 2001. Jackpots start at $40 million; it is drawn Wednesdays and Saturdays.
Powerball has undergone several format changes. The first was in 1997, which introduced its cash option. On January 15, 2012, Powerball was changed again, to its current format. Power Play winnings again are determined by a random multiplier.
Rhode Island's largest lottery prize was $336,400,000 (annuity value) for the February 11, 2012 drawing; the cash option was chosen.
MegaHits (video lottery)
Rhode Island's two lottery-run casinos (Twin River in Lincoln and Newport Grand in Newport) are among the nine venues that offer MegaHits, MUSL's second video lottery terminal (VLT) progressive jackpot game. MegaHits began in 2011; it replaced Cashola. (Delaware and West Virginia also offer MegaHits.) MegaHits features five jackpots; the top progressive's minimum is $100,000. All MegaHits jackots are paid in cash. The maximum wager must be made to be eligible for any of the progressives. (All MegaHits wagers feed the top progressive level; however, the other progressives are fed by MegaHits wagers within that lottery's jurisdiction.)
Lucky For Life
In 2009, the Connecticut Lottery began an in-state game called Lucky4Life. It was replaced three years later by a regional game with a modified name: Lucky for Life (LFL), adding Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Rhode Island.
The current LFL, which began on September 17, 2013, costs $2 per play. Players pick 5 of 43 white balls, and 1 of 43 green "Lucky Balls." First and second prizes are "lifetime" annuities: $1,000 per day for a perfect match (5+1), or $25,000 per year for a 5+0 match. A winner of either lifetime annuity can choose cash instead of the periodic payments.
On January 27, 2015, LFL will add 10 states and the District of Columbia.
Former games
Lot-O-Bucks
Lot-O-Bucks was the Rhode Island Lottery's first terminal-based jackpot game. It ended in 1995. Lot-O-Bucks used several different number matrixes, most recently a pick-5-of-40.
Cashola
The first MUSL video lottery progressive, Cashola, began in July 2006; it ended when its 37th jackpot was won, on May 15, 2011. Cashola's jackpot was its only progressive level.
External links
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