Hot Lotto - Hot Lotto Jackpot To Become All Cash, "taxes-paid"

Hot Lotto Jackpot To Become All Cash, "taxes-paid"

Although membership in Hot Lotto has grown from 6 lotteries in 2002, to 15 since October 2009, the game has not seen any "permanent" changes in its more than a decade of availability, except for the addition of the Sizzler tripler in 2008.

Effective May 12, 2013 (with the first drawing under the new rules three days later), the Hot Lotto game will undergo its biggest makeover. The white ball numbers will increase from 39 to 47, although the "Hot Ball" pool will remain at 19. The jackpot odds will be 1 in about 29 million, while the overall odds of winning will be 1 in 17. The minimum jackpot will continue to be $1,000,000; however, it will become all-cash and "taxes-paid"; advertised jackpots will reflect the "after withholdings" (net) amount that top-prize winners will receive, although, for tax purposes, the actual prize will be larger (gross.) Second prize (5+0) will beome $30,000, third prize (4+1) becomes $3,000. A four-number match (3+1 or 4+0) will win $100. Matching three numbers (2+1 or 3+0) will win $6. The two lowest prize tiers will be unchanged, at $3 (1+1) and $2 ("Hot Ball" only) respectively.

The (Triple) Sizzler option will continue; a 5+0 play as such will win $90,000 instead of the current $30,000.