3/21/2011 - 10:51 AM

More Than 117,000 Millionaire Bonus Raffle Tickets Already Sold in Time for First Bonus Drawing

Besides offering the best odds of winning $1 million in the May 12 finale drawing, the Louisiana Lottery's newest $10 raffle game, Millionaire Bonus Raffle, is giving players five more chances to win $20,000 if they purchase their tickets before midnight March 23. Already, more than 117,210 raffle tickets have been sold and will be entered into all five of the game's preliminary bonus drawings as well as the finale drawing.

"In celebration of our 20th anniversary, the Lottery is excited to pump up our raffle game with bonus drawings to reward our loyal players," explained Lottery President Rose Hudson. "With Millionaire Bonus Raffle, it's true that the early bird gets the worm - with five additional chances to win!"

The previous two raffle games conducted by the Lottery sold out. The Lottery is expecting the same success with Millionaire Bonus Raffle because of the bonus drawings.

Like a traditional raffle game, only 300,000 tickets were available for sale starting Feb. 28. As of 10:00 a.m. March 21, 39 percent of those had been sold.

Preliminary bonus drawings for $20,000 each will be held on March 24, March 31, April 7, April 14 and April 21. Tickets purchased before midnight the day before these drawings will be eligible for that drawing and all subsequent Millionaire Bonus Raffle drawings, including the finale drawing on May 12. In the finale drawing, one $1 million winning raffle number will be drawn from those sold, along with 20 numbers worth $20,000 each. In all, 26 players will win $1.5 million in cash prizes.

Unique raffle numbers are generated in sequential order from 000001 to 300000. Players can purchase more than one raffle ticket at $10 each, but each number will print on a separate ticket. 

"For security purposes, we strongly suggest that players sign the back of their tickets immediately after purchasing and treat all tickets like cash, securing them until all drawings have been held," advised Hudson.

Raffle prizes must be claimed within 180 days of the drawing in which the prize is won.  Bonus drawing winners can claim their prizes immediately after the drawing at any Lottery office, where they will be given an Exchange Ticket good for any remaining raffle drawings. All Millionaire Bonus Raffle prizes are subject to state and federal tax withholdings.

If all 300,000 tickets are sold for the finale drawing, the odds of winning the $1 million prize are 1 in 300,000, and the odds of winning any prize are 1 in 14,286.  For bonus drawings, the odds of winning $20,000 are dependent upon the number of tickets sold by each drawing deadline, as only those raffle numbers sold by the deadline will be included in the drawing.  

Millionaire Bonus Raffle tickets may be purchased legally only from an authorized Louisiana Lottery retailer and only by those age 21 and older. 

Complete game rules are available by clicking here. Drawing results will also be available on the Lottery's website and from Lottery retailers following each drawing.

As with all of its games, 35 percent of raffle sales is transferred to the state to fund K-12 public education. The Lottery cautions players to play responsibly and to know that help is available to those who may have a gambling problem by calling toll-free, 1-877-770-7867.