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.

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.

Maine's other online games are organized by the three northernmost lotteries within New England; these games are drawn in New Hampshire. Maine also sells scratch tickets.

An agreement was reached on October 13, 2009, for Mega Millions and Powerball to be available through every 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, 42 lotteries offer Mega Millions, and 44 offer Powerball; 41 sell tickets for both games. Since rejoining MUSL in 2004, Maine has not sold a Powerball jackpot ticket. Maine's largest lottery prize was in Lotto*America, which Maine joined in 1990; the Lottery severed ties with MUSL in 1992, when Lotto*America ended.

Pick 3

Pick 3 is drawn in New Hampshire twice daily, seven days a week. Prices, prizes, and options vary.

Pick 4

Pick 4 is drawn in conjunction with Pick 3.

Weekly Grand Extra

Weekly Grand Extra uses a 4+1 matrix (Mega Millions and Powerball each use a 5+1 matrix). Players choose from two sets of numbers; 4 out of 35 in the "white pool", and 1 of 35 in a second pool. Matching all five numbers wins $1,000-a-week for 20 years; there is a cash option available. Every wager is eligible for a $5 prize which is redeemable immediately. Including the "instant" $5 prize, Weekly Grand features fixed payouts (e.g. matching four white balls wins $5,000) except for the top prize, which is parimutuel. Drawings are Tuesdays and Fridays. Weekly Grand became "Weekly Grand Extra" on April 24, 2011. Weekly Grand Extra now includes a raffle ticket with each regular ticket purchased, for a chance to win $100 in the Friday T.G.I.F. drawing.^[1]

Megabucks Plus

As with the above games, Megabucks Plus is drawn in New Hampshire. Megabucks Plus replaced the original Megabucks on July 26, 2009. It also uses a 5+1 matrix. Megabucks Plus draws 5 of 41 balls, plus one Megaball from a pool of 6 balls. Games cost $2 each. Jackpots begin at $1 million.

Hot Lotto (multi-lottery game)

Hot Lotto is played in 15 lotteries including Maine's; it is drawn Wednesdays and Saturdays. It draws five white numbers from 1 through 39 and one orange Hot Ball from 1 through 19. Jackpots begin at $1 million, increasing by at least $50,000 if there is no top prize winner. Hot Lotto also has an option called Sizzler (similar to Powerball's PowerPlay) which triples non-jackpot prizes.

Powerball (multi-lottery game)

Since 2004, Maine has been a member of MUSL, which is best known for Powerball. Maine was a MUSL member originally from 1990 to 1992, offering Lotto*America, which preceded Powerball. Powerball's jackpots currently start at $20 million; it is drawn Wednesday and Saturday nights. The drawings air on WAGM-TV (CBS/FOX) Presque Isle, WPFO-TV (Fox) Portland, and WABI-TV (CBS) Bangor. Maine has yet to provide a jackpot-winning Powerball winner, although at least once it sold a Lotto*America top prize; Maine's biggest lottery prize came from that game.

Mega Millions (multi-lottery game)

On October 13, 2009 the Mega Millions consortium and MUSL reached an agreement in principle to cross-sell Mega Millions and Powerball in US lottery jurisdictions. Maine joined Mega Millions on May 9, 2010; most lotteries that already had either game offered both beginning January 31, 2010. Mega Millions drawings will air on WAGM-TV (CBS/Fox) Presque Isle, WPFO-TV (Fox) Portland, and WABI-TV (CBS) Bangor at 11 P.M. Tuesdays and Fridays.

References

1. ^ "Weekly Grand Extra". http://mainelottery.com/games/weekly_grand.html. 

External links

• Maine Lottery
• MUSL official site