Lotto South
Encyclopedia
Lotto South was a lottery
game in Georgia, Kentucky
, and Virginia
. It resulted from the September 2001 merger of three smaller jackpot
games, one from each of the three lotteries. This was done in an attempt to create larger jackpots; oddly, the 6/49 matrix of Virginia's game was not expanded.
Drawings took place at WTVR-TV
studios in Richmond, Virginia
, on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 11:00PM EST/EDT
. Jackpots began at $2 million (annuitized); top-prize winners could choose to be paid either in 30 annual payments, or the cash option
. The game was jointly administered by the Georgia Lottery
, Kentucky Lottery
, and Virginia Lottery corporation
s.
Sales of the game began on September 9, 2001. Its first drawing (September 12) was overshadowed by the 9/11 attacks, which included the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia.
Its record jackpot was $27 million, won on December 31, 2005.
The three lotteries hoped that others in the southeastern US would be interested in joining the game. In fact, South Carolina
almost joined, which would have resulted in numbers added to the game's field of 49
. However, South Carolina was unsuccessful in having the drawing nights moved from Wednesdays and Saturdays.
The game had four prize levels; players needed to match at least three of the six numbers to win. All prizes were paid on a parimutuel basis.
In January 2006, it was announced that the game would be retired; its final drawing took place on February 25. That jackpot was not won; the lower-tier prizes doubled (instead of rolling down the entire prize pool, the latter of which lotteries often do when a jackpot game is retired.) The three lotteries kept the rest of the money.
There were plans to revive Lotto South in 2010, in North Carolina
, South Carolina, and Tennessee
, as well as in Georgia, Kentucky, Virginia, and possibly Arkansas
; however, plans were put on hold because of the cross-sell expansion of Mega Millions
and Powerball
on January 31, 2010 (each of the seven lotteries offered either game before then, joining the other on the expansion date.)
Georgia, Kentucky, and Virginia began sales of Decades of Dollars
on January 30, 2011. (Arkansas joined on May 3, 2011.) It is drawn on Mondays and Thursdays. Each game costs $2; players choose 6 numbers out of 47, winning by matching at least 2 numbers. The top prize is $250,000 yearly paid in 30 installments; a cash option ($4,000,000) is available. Other southeastern US lotteries may join Decades of Dollars.
Lottery
A lottery is a form of gambling which involves the drawing of lots for a prize.Lottery is outlawed by some governments, while others endorse it to the extent of organizing a national or state lottery. It is common to find some degree of regulation of lottery by governments...
game in Georgia, Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
, and Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
. It resulted from the September 2001 merger of three smaller jackpot
Progressive jackpot
A progressive jackpot is a jackpot for a gaming machine where the value of the jackpot increases a small amount for every game played...
games, one from each of the three lotteries. This was done in an attempt to create larger jackpots; oddly, the 6/49 matrix of Virginia's game was not expanded.
Drawings took place at WTVR-TV
WTVR-TV
WTVR-TV, virtual channel 6, is a CBS television affiliate based in Richmond, Virginia owned by Local TV, the broadcasting arm of Oak Hill Capital Partners...
studios in Richmond, Virginia
Richmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
, on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 11:00PM EST/EDT
Eastern Standard Time
Eastern Standard Time may refer to:*North American Eastern Time Zone, UTC-5*Australian Eastern Standard Time, UTC+10*An album by Hip Hop group Kooley High...
. Jackpots began at $2 million (annuitized); top-prize winners could choose to be paid either in 30 annual payments, or the cash option
Present value
Present value, also known as present discounted value, is the value on a given date of a future payment or series of future payments, discounted to reflect the time value of money and other factors such as investment risk...
. The game was jointly administered by the Georgia Lottery
Georgia Lottery
The Georgia Lottery is overseen by the government of Georgia, United States. Headquartered in Atlanta and run by the Georgia Lottery Corporation, the lottery takes in over US$1 billion yearly. By law, half of the money goes to prizes, one-third to education, and the remainder to operating and...
, Kentucky Lottery
Kentucky Lottery
The Kentucky Lottery, consisting of various games of chance, is a government-regulated form of gambling. The Lottery began in April 1989 after a November 1988 vote in which over 60% of voters cast ballots in favor of it. On April 4, 1989, ticket sales began with first day sales of over $5 million...
, and Virginia Lottery corporation
Corporation
A corporation is created under the laws of a state as a separate legal entity that has privileges and liabilities that are distinct from those of its members. There are many different forms of corporations, most of which are used to conduct business. Early corporations were established by charter...
s.
Sales of the game began on September 9, 2001. Its first drawing (September 12) was overshadowed by the 9/11 attacks, which included the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia.
Its record jackpot was $27 million, won on December 31, 2005.
The three lotteries hoped that others in the southeastern US would be interested in joining the game. In fact, South Carolina
South Carolina Education Lottery
The South Carolina Education Lottery began in 2002.South Carolina is a member of the Multi-State Lottery Association , best known for Powerball...
almost joined, which would have resulted in numbers added to the game's field of 49
49
Year 49 was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Longus and Veranius...
. However, South Carolina was unsuccessful in having the drawing nights moved from Wednesdays and Saturdays.
The game had four prize levels; players needed to match at least three of the six numbers to win. All prizes were paid on a parimutuel basis.
In January 2006, it was announced that the game would be retired; its final drawing took place on February 25. That jackpot was not won; the lower-tier prizes doubled (instead of rolling down the entire prize pool, the latter of which lotteries often do when a jackpot game is retired.) The three lotteries kept the rest of the money.
There were plans to revive Lotto South in 2010, in North Carolina
North Carolina Education Lottery
The North Carolina Education Lottery is run by the government of North Carolina. It was established after Gov. Mike Easley signed the North Carolina State Lottery Act and the 2005 Appropriations Act....
, South Carolina, and Tennessee
Tennessee Lottery
The Tennessee Lottery is run by the Tennessee Education Lottery Corporation , which was created on June 11, 2003 by the Tennessee General Assembly through the Tennessee Education Lottery Implementation Law....
, as well as in Georgia, Kentucky, Virginia, and possibly Arkansas
Arkansas Lottery
-History:On November 4, 2008, Arkansas voters approved a ballot question legalizing the sale of lottery tickets there. On July 1, 2009, Arkansas voted to join the Multi-State Lottery Association ; it was the 33rd lottery to join....
; however, plans were put on hold because of the cross-sell expansion of Mega Millions
Mega Millions
Mega Millions is a US multi-jurisdictional $1 lottery game. Since it replaced The Big Game in May 2002 , Mega Millions' advertised jackpots have started at $12 million, paid in 26 yearly installments , increasing when there is no jackpot winner...
and Powerball
Powerball
Powerball is an American lottery game sold in 44 jurisdictions as a shared jackpot game. It is coordinated by the Multi-State Lottery Association , a non-profit organization formed by an agreement with lotteries. Powerball is a game whose advertised jackpot starts at $20 million and can roll into...
on January 31, 2010 (each of the seven lotteries offered either game before then, joining the other on the expansion date.)
Georgia, Kentucky, and Virginia began sales of Decades of Dollars
Decades of Dollars
Decades of Dollars is the name of a lottery game that became available on January 30, 2011 in Georgia, Kentucky, and Virginia. The game is drawn Monday and Thursday nights, including holidays...
on January 30, 2011. (Arkansas joined on May 3, 2011.) It is drawn on Mondays and Thursdays. Each game costs $2; players choose 6 numbers out of 47, winning by matching at least 2 numbers. The top prize is $250,000 yearly paid in 30 installments; a cash option ($4,000,000) is available. Other southeastern US lotteries may join Decades of Dollars.