Bigger Powerball jackpots coming this fall

August 2015
Volume 26
Issue 7
Bigger Powerball jackpots coming this fall
JUST GOT
The cost of a Powerball ticket will remain at $2, plus
an extra $1 for Power Play. The retailer bonus will not
change—$50,000 for selling a winning Powerball jackpot
ticket and $5,000 for selling a winning Match 5 ticket.
Jackpots will continue to start at $40 million and the
Powerball drawings will be held on Wednesdays and
Saturdays.
BET TER!
Research has shown that the majority of players play
Powerball® when the jackpot is “big,” and the definition
of a big jackpot has changed since the game started in
1992. Back then, the jackpot started at $2 million, which
isn’t a big jackpot by today’s standards.
To create bigger jackpots faster and to lower the
overall odds to win a prize, the pool of numbers
is changing on Oct. 4 for the drawings starting
on Oct. 7. Players will select 5 white balls from
1 to 69 and a Powerball from 1 to 26. The prize
for matching 4 numbers plus the Powerball will
increase to $50,000 (currently $10,000)—all other
prizes will remain the same.
For those players who add Power Play® to their
ticket, a 10X will be added periodically. All prizes
(except the Match 5 and jackpot prizes) will
be multiplied by 10 when the 10X multiplier is
randomly selected.
Because of the upcoming game change, the number of
drawings for which players can buy Powerball tickets in
advance will be reduced after 9 p.m. on Aug.19.
PRIZE AND ODDS CHANGES
Current Prize
Levels
Current Odds
(approx.)
New Prize
Levels
New Prize Odds
(approx.)
5 of 5 plus Powerball
JACKPOT
5 of 5 numbers
$1,000,000
1 in 175,223,510
JACKPOT
1 in 292,201,338
1 in 5,153,633
$1,000,000
1 in 11,688,054
$10,000
1 in 648,976
$50,000
1 in 913,129
4 of 5 numbers
$100
1 in 19,088
$100
1 in 36,525
3 of 5 plus Powerball
$100
1 in 12,245
$100
1 in 14,494
3 of 5 numbers
$7
1 in 360
$7
1 in 580
2 of 5 plus Powerball
$7
1 in 706
$7
1 in 701
1 of 5 plus Powerball
$4
1 in 111
$4
1 in 92
Powerball ONLY
$4
1 in 55
$4
Match
4 of 5 plus Powerball
OVERALL
1 in 31.85
1 in 38
1 in 24.87
Win cash and prizes in first yearly retailer incentive
The Lottery has implemented an
innovative retailer incentive to reward
the top fiscal year sales leaders with
cash and prizes!
State sales manager Amy Jaeger says
the pilot program was introduced as a
way to recognize retailers that strive to
be a top seller. “It’s a great opportunity
to provide annual recognition to
outstanding performers while
motivating staff to grow lottery sales
throughout the entire year,” she said.
Here’s how the program works: The
retailers with the highest scratch sales
increase and the highest lotto game
sales increase (FY16 over FY15) in each
Lottery sales representative’s territory
(a total of 60 winners) will receive:
•
$2,000 cash (EFT credit)
•
Ten $25 Visa gift cards
•
Prize box filled with a variety of
premium items such as T-shirts,
tumbler sets, golf balls and
blankets
•
Framed certificate
•
Recognition in the LINK newsletter
What can you do to increase your
chance of winning? Jaeger says the most
effective thing a retailer can do is ask
for the sale. “That is so powerful that
even a Powerball jackpot of $40 million
shows huge increases by simply asking
for the sale. It’s such a simple thing that
any store can do,” she said.
Another option, that takes no effort
by the sales clerk, is highlighting the
scratch game of the week in a separate
on-counter dispenser.
Jaeger also suggests utilizing
merchandising tools such as
LottoVision®, window signage, game
stickers and counter stickers. “They can
really help to push game sales.”
From clerk incentives to play days, there
are all sorts of fun things you can do to
boost your lottery sales. For more ideas,
contact your Lottery sales rep.
1
Lottery sales top $500 million
for fifth straight year
The preliminary fiscal year 2015 numbers are in, and your efforts
selling lottery products resulted in $546.9 million in sales, the
second highest sales year on record! This is the fifth straight year
that sales have topped $500 million.
The Lottery’s Top Sellers recognizes retailers for exceptional sales
performance. Each of the businesses that made this month’s Top Sellers
will receive $50 in free scratch tickets.
Fourth quarter sales results for fiscal year 2015 compared to
fiscal year 2014 (among retailers selling in both quarters):
It’s no surprise that scratch tickets were the biggest seller, coming
in at a record $376.2 million. Lotto sales reached $164.2 million due
to a lack of big jackpots, while sales of Progressive Print-N-Play®
were $6.5 million.
Lotto percentage increase:
Scratch percentage increase:
Kwik Trip #250, Austin
El Buen Vino, Rochester
Players won more than $335.7 million in prizes and $1.9 million was
provided for problem gambling treatment and prevention efforts.
Railway Bar & Grill,
Sleepy Eye
Bacchus Wine & Spirits,
Shoreview
Joseph’s Liquor, Mankato
Antler Lake Store & Motel,
Bigfork
Retailers were paid $33 million, which is up from last year. Each
business earned an average of $10,794 in commissions and
incentives.
Thank you for your contributions to these fantastic numbers.
Together we can set more records in FY16!
2
Lottery’s State Fair exposure
creates win for retailers
There is no better way to celebrate the final days of Minnesota’s
summer than by spending a day at the Great Minnesota GetTogether. The Lottery is proud to be a part of the tradition and
excitement of the State Fair again this year.
“It’s a great opportunity to create new customers for our retailers,”
explained Vicki Holets, the Lottery’s promotions manager. With over
1.8 million attendees last year, the Fair draws thousands of potential
players. “There are so many people who have never played the
lottery before or don’t know how to play and this is a place where we
have time to educate them,” she said. “Our goal is to reach as many
Minnesotans as possible and to show potential players all the
good that the Lottery does for the state of Minnesota.”
Customers who visit the Lottery’s booth, located on the corner
of Judson and Nelson, will be able to purchase tickets, pick a
gift with every $10 purchase and enter second-chance drawings
for the chance to win a stand up paddle board. The Lottery will
also be highlighting some of Minnesota’s lakes that have
benefited from lottery proceeds through the Environment and
Natural Resources Trust Fund.
“It’s a win-win for the Lottery and for our retailer partners,”
added Holets.
Lunds & Byerly’s,
Maple Grove
Route 65 Discount Liquor,
East Bethel
American Legion Post #259,
Shorewood
Raceway Square, Brainerd
Seven-Eights Liquor,
Bloomington
Dragon Star Supermarket,
Brooklyn Park
Sharif Hot Market,
Columbia Heights
Kwik Trip #250, Austin
Place to Be, Donnelly
Clearview General Store,
Lutsen
Tobacco and Mas,
Minneapolis
Cenex Convenience Store,
Edgerton
Corral Saloon & Eatery,
Nelson
Double “R” Bar & Grill,
Grey Eagle
Lotto dollar increase:
Scratch dollar increase:
Cub Foods, Maple Grove
M & H Gas, Moorhead
Cub Foods (Lake Street),
Minneapolis
Cub Foods (Lake Street),
Minneapolis
Micky’s Liquor Store,
Minneapolis
Kwik Trip #250, Austin
SuperAmerica #4021,
Minneapolis
Two Amigos Bazar,
Minneapolis
Cub Foods #6690,
Bloomington
Holiday Stationstores,
Bloomington
Family Fare #107, Moorhead
Kwik Trip #250, Austin
Clark on Rice, St. Paul
Barkalow Grain Exchange,
Minneapolis
Holiday Stationstores,
North St. Paul
Jeff’s Little Store, Rochester
Gas-N-Go, Little Canada
Country Store & Deli, Kimball
Medina Mobil, Medina
Cub Foods (Sun Ray), St. Paul
From the director
by Executive Director Ed Van Petten
I guess we are now on the backside of
summer. I don’t know where the time
goes, but it seems to keep going fast.
It has been a good summer for the
Minnesota Lottery, with record profits,
and that means more money to the state
and especially for the Environment and
Natural Resources Trust Fund.
We continue to have some information
on our website about the good things
that are accomplished with Trust Fund
proceeds, or you can see the projects
that are funded through the Trust Fund
by going to the Legislative-Citizen
Commission on Minnesota Resources
(LCCMR) website (lccmr.leg.mn/).
We are very proud to be associated
with this group and their many great
accomplishments.
Retailer t
Spotligh
You probably read about the Powerball
changes coming this fall. The game
has been modified eight times since its
inception in 1992—each time to allow
bigger and bigger jackpots, because
that is what gets people interested. With
this latest change the chance of winning
a prize is better. The third level prize
increases from $10,000 to $50,000.
Also, a 10X will be added to the Power
Play mix periodically. If the 10X is
randomly selected, players could win
$500,000! I know that many of your
players will not like the longer odds,
but we hope the jackpots bring them
back. Also, remind them that the odds
are much better with the lower jackpot
games, and they still have a hefty payout.
We’re continuing to develop some games
that we hope are of particular interest
to Minnesotans, and perhaps some of
your younger customers. I know that the
Lottery creates foot traffic to your stores
and we want to appeal to an even wider
demographic.
If you have thoughts and ideas, or
hear someone talk about something
they would like to see, let your Lottery
sales representative know about it. We
continue to think of our lottery as one
of the most progressive, and want to
develop new content in our games.
I hope that all of you have a safe and
profitable summer. Thank you for all that
you do for the Minnesota Lottery.
Lac Qui Parle Co-op in Dawson
When customers pull up
to Lac Qui Parle Co-op in
Dawson, the first thing they
notice are the bright lottery
window signs, spanning
two sides of the building.
The window signs highlight
all of the good that the lottery does for
Minnesota with beneficiary messaging,
while encouraging players to take a
chance and get in on the fun.
Lottery sales representative Darla
Zimmerman says the signage catches
customers’ attention before they even
walk in the door. “They create so much
lottery awareness and visibility,” she
explained. “It keeps lottery tickets topof-mind with customers. Sales have been
consistently up since the window signs
have been displayed.”
Store clerk Wanda Sis says she’s been
very impressed with the signs over the
years. “We get a lot of nice compliments
on them,” she said. “Just the other day I
had a gentleman out there admiring the
signs. When he came in he said they look
really nice and asked more about where
the money goes so the messaging is
working—it really is!”
Zimmerman says Lac Qui Parle Co-op is a
great lottery retailer all around. “They are
really good at asking customers to play
and reminding them to buy tickets.
“Wanda and her crew are a lot of fun,”
she continued. “People want to come
into that store because they have fun
with everything and they love helping
customers. Friendly and personable
attitudes make a huge difference. Wanda
is really good at kidding around with her
customers and they love that!”
In addition to great customer service, Sis
says a huge draw for customers is their
full service island that’s staffed from
6 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day. “We have
a gentleman come out and pump gas,
wash windows, check the tire pressure
and oil. You don’t find this type of service
at very many places anymore,” she
said. “It’s very popular among our older
clientele but you would also be amazed
at how many younger customers use it
too.”
Store clerk Wanda Sis in front of the attention-grabbing window signage.
3
Top prize winning ticket bonus
Star Mart in Mahnomen,
$5,000
Pelican Square in Pequot
Lakes, $5,000
Edina Market & Deli in Edina,
$270
Oasis C-Store in Moorhead,
$1,000
Cub Foods (60th & Nicollet) in
Minneapolis, $1,000
Rainbow Foods in Richfield,
$1,000
Sunshine Oil Co. in Blaine,
$335
Northstar Bar in Rochester,
$3,000
Kenyon Motor Mart in
Kenyon, $260
Clark on Rice in St. Paul,
$527
PRESORTED
STANDARD
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
DETROIT LAKES, MN
PERMIT NO. 14
Minnesota State Lottery
2645 Long Lake Road
Roseville, Minnesota 55113
mnlottery.com
Debbie Hoffmann, executive editor
Emily Frost, managing editor
Marie Hinton, editor
Stacey Kanarski, graphic designer
This publication is available in alternative
formats to individuals with disabilities by
calling (651) 635-8273, (888) 568-8379.
4
New Games
Aug. 18, 2015:
#556 — Daily Crossword ($3/$25,000)
#557 — $100,000 Hold ’Em Night ($5/$100,000)
#558 — Extreme Crossword ($10/$150,000)
#559 — Double Win ($2/$10,000)
Sept. 8, 2015:
#560 — Hunt for Big Cash ($5/$100,000)
#561 — Bearded Bucks ($2/$10,000)
#562 — Super Triple 777 ($10/$177,777)
#563 — Crossword Doubler ($3/$20,000)