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California Lottery Commission Adopts New Generation of SuperLotto

"This new generation of Lotto will be more attractive to current players and generate more revenue for schools -- about $200 million more a year," commented Dave Rosenberg, chairman of the Lottery Commission. "The Commission weighed all aspects of the extensive research that's been conducted over the past two years to develop this exciting new concept and we feel it will greatly enhance our premier game."

The changes adopted are designed to increase the number of large jackpots, create more winners and award higher prize amounts for matching four or five numbers. Changes include more ways to win (nine compared to the current four prize levels); nearly three times as many winners in every draw (overall odds of winning some prizes improve to 1 in 23 compared to the current 1 in 60); and bigger starting jackpots ($7 million compared to the current $4 million). To offer these player benefits, the new version of SuperLotto calls for higher jackpot odds than in the current game (1 in 41 million compared to the current 1 in 18 million.)

This would make California's game more similar to the "Powerball" and "Big Game" formats offered in other states. The changes to the SuperLotto game have undergone a thorough development process -- including consumer testing among regular players -- and are designed help stimulate waning SuperLotto sales.

"As you would expect with a nearly 10-year-old product, players have lost some interest in SuperLotto," noted Melissa Meith, the Lottery's executive officer. "The revenue generated for education will diminish without changes in the game."

While overall Lottery revenues have increased each year since 1997, SuperLotto revenues have declined from $1.1 billion in the 1995/96 fiscal year to around $975 million anticipated in the current fiscal year. Thirty-four percent of the Lottery's revenues go to public education in California, with 52.5 percent going to prizes and the remainder going to retailer commissions, game costs, and administrative expenses.

Education is expected to receive an average of over $1 billion annually in the first three years of the new game. This will be about $200 million a year more than if the game were not changed. Californians can expect to play the new game to be called SuperLotto Plus at more than 19,000 Lottery retailers beginning June 2000.

More information on SuperLotto changes and on the Lottery can be found at www.calottery.com/media.html.

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