Massachusetts Lottery Rolling Out New 'Wheel of Luck' Roulette Game Alongside Keno
Jan 17, 2023
iCrowdMarketing powered by iCrowdNewswire
Regarding gambling, Massachusetts is not one of the most popular regions in the US. Nevertheless, wagering choices are plentiful in the land famous for its many renowned universities. Horse race betting got legalized in The Baked Bean State in 1934, and in 2011 commercial casinos became a thing here. Also, it is noteworthy to mention that this US territory was the third to legalize sports betting in 2022, with retail wagering kiosks launching at the end of January 2023. Before this happens, most of the betting activity in Massachusetts still will get focused on games run by the state’s Lottery Commission, headquartered in Dorchester.In December 2022, this organization made headlines by introducing the first-ever $50 scratch-off ticket named the Billion Dollar Extravaganza, offering over a billion dollars in total winnings, including the most massive instant reward in Mass. Lottery history, one of $25 million. Well, the Massachusetts Lottery is again in the news, this time on account of its debuting The Wheel of Luck, a roulette-style game available at state-wide lotto retailers starting from January 19th. It will replace All or Nothing, a gambling pick that got retired almost six years ago, and will be on hand on monitors between Keno games.
The Wheel of Luck hits the Massachusetts market mere weeks after the Billion Dollar Extravaganza, marking what will likely be Mass. Lottery’s most substantial revenue-generating year ever. If/when that happens, it will occur despite significant concerns about slumping Keno and scratch card ticket sales. Something that has caught most sector insiders by surprise, given that nationwide lotto games like Mega Millions and Powerball are going super strong.
How Does the Wheel of Luck Work?
As mentioned, this is a roulette-inspired gaming product. For those unaware of roulette and what it precisely is, it is a casino table classic based on the Italian gambling game Biribi. The name roulette comes from the French word meaning little wheel, and in this famous gaming option, players select one or more numbers from one to thirty-six, betting on the white ball landing on them, or they choose between odd/even and red/black wagers. That also happens in the Wheel of Luck, with a virtual wheel spinning and eventually resting on an arbitrary position on the multi-pocket animated wheel. As a rule of thumb, many look for the safest bets in roulette games, which get labeled – even-money wagers. These are the odd/even, red/black ones, as they feature the lowest house edge. Note that the operator advantage in roulette derives from the green/zero pocket that renders all bets void.
So, to put it bluntly, Wheel of Luck is essentially standard roulette. Gamblers can wager $1, $2, or $5 per wheel spin to try and win $25, $50, or $125, respectively, for getting a number right. As with the casino version, the chances of getting the correct number on a spin are one in thirty-six. Concerning even-money wagers, the bets available are $2, $4, and $10, and they pay $3, $6, and $15, respectively.
Unfortunately, there is no Quic Pic/Quick Pick function in the Wheel of Luck. That means gamblers cannot opt to leave their number selection to software. They must manually choose which number or even money bet they will make. Remember that participating parties in wheel rounds and anyone curious to learn how this game’s simplistic gameplay works can view active spin rounds on the Mass. Lottery’s website and dedicated app.
Given roulette’s global appeal, Massachusetts Lottery executives are hopeful that Wheel of Luck will be a home run with the state’s gambling enthusiasts. Per a statement from the interim executive director of the Massachusetts Lottery, Mark William Bracken, the organization has tested various gaming concepts with retailers over its existence, and roulette has proven super acceptable due to its ease of play and general familiarity. Bracken added - “Continuously launching new products and offering variety is important to any Lottery's success.”
National Draws Provided a Needed Boost for Mass. Lottery
In November 2022, the Massachusetts Lottery sold six times more Powerball tickets compared to the same month in 2021, an increase of $48.9 million in sales, to be precise. Mega Millions also saw an 85% jump for November 2022, with $4.3 million in tickets sold, and Keno notched a slight bump of 1.1% in the same month compared to the year prior.
According to interim Executive Director Bracken, these figures have helped offset dropping instant lotto ticket sales, which have experienced a 3% drop in November 2022 and a 5.1% yearly fall. Bracken thanks the noted famous lotto draws for keeping the organization's revenues afloat. He credits loosening interest in instant ticket games for the introduction of the Billion Dollar Extravaganza and the Wheel of Luck games. Bracken and other Massachusetts Lottery officials believe adding more diversity to the state's gambling marketplace can lead to possibly rejuvenating it. They are optimistic that spiking interest may cause short-term revenue windfalls similar to those the record Powerball jackpot sparked in late 2022.
How Is the Billion-Dollar Extravaganza Fairing?
It is too soon to tell, but initial reports from retailers are that Bay Staters are keen on the instant ticket, as it offers the best chance for the state’s gamblers to win $500 and $1,000 in the lottery’s history. A spokesperson for the organization claimed that this $50 scratcher ticket has an 82% reward payout percentage, the highest this body has ever offered to customers.
Only fifteen other markets in the US have a $50 ticket, and the minimum prize of the Billion Dollar Extravaganza is a Benjamin Franklin bill. The Massachusetts Lottery plans to sell over $1.5 billion worth of cards from this game, with more than $150 million of the money generated from the sales going to towns and cities in the state as unrestricted local aid.
It is vital to note that Billion Dollar Extravaganza losing tickets still possess winning potential via a second chance drawing that can yield money rewards up to $50,000. Ten such drawings should get held.
Tags: English