The Massachusetts Lottery was established in 1971, following the legalization of gambling by the Massachusetts General Court, the legislature of the Commonwealth. The Lottery is administered by a commission of five members, who include the Treasurer and Receiver-General (who serves as chairperson); the Secretary of the Massachusetts Department of Public Safety; and the Comptroller, who serve on an ex officio basis. The Governor appoints the other two members.
The Lottery is unusual in withholding 5 percent on prizes over $600, instead of only over $5,000 (the Federal level.) The withholding on prizes of at least $5,000 is 30 percent.
The Lottery had come under criticism for not offering a cash option for many of its annuitized games. In 2004, then-94-year-old Massachusetts resident Louise Outing sparked controversy after she failed to win a lawsuit to have her $5.4 million Megabucks jackpot prize paid as a lump sum. (Outing died in 2006.) In May 2009, Megabucks was replaced by Megabucks Doubler, which has a cash option; beginning in June 2009, winners of annuity prizes in scratch games, including lifetime payouts, were allowed to receive a lump sum. However, there is no cash option in the New England-wide Lucky for Life, which is an expanded version of a Connecticut game; its drawings remain in Hartford.
In Megabucks Doubler, every 10th ticket is eligible for a doubled non-jackpot prize. The payout percentage in this game is 55%.
Famous quotes containing the word lottery:
“I think people really marry far too much; it is such a lottery after all, and for a poor woman a very doubtful happiness.”
—Victoria (1819–1901)