Background
It was election day 2004, November 2nd to be exact, that Oklahomans overwhelmingly approved a state lottery. With proceeds earmarked for the state education system, the lottery is expected to greatly benefit the state.In October of 2005, the initial scratch-off tickets went on sale, and shortly thereafter the Pick 3 followed. In January of 2006, Oklahoma will begin Powerball, a game with large jackpots that is played among a number of states.
Types of Games
Scratch-Off: Use a coin to scratch the card. There are more than 10 options to choose from including Lucky 7's, Oklahoma Gusher, $25,000 Jackpot and more.Pick 3: A simple number picking game. Numbers are available nightly at 9:10 through a link on About OKC.
Powerball: Powerball is a number picking game involving multiple states with large jackpots. Players select 5 numbers and a Powerball number. Winning numbers are available Wed. and Sat. at 10pm through a link on About OKC.
How to Play - Scratch-Off
Depending on the specific game, players are attempting to do one of a few different things:- Match the card's winning numbers
- Achieve the classic Tic-Tac-Toe formation
- Match identical prize amounts
- Or uncover a specific winning symbol
How to Play - Pick 3
The Pick 3 card has 5 columns. You can play one or all five, depending on how much you want to spend. You will pick 3 numbers and decide between four play types:Straight: Numbers in exact order
Box: Numbers in any order
Front Pair: First 2 numbers in exact order
Back Pair: Last 2 numbers in exact order
How to Play - Powerball & Cash 5
The Powerball card has 5 panels. You can play one or all five, depending on how much you want to spend. Pick 5 numbers and 1 Powerball number. Players can pick numbers themselves or allow the computer to pick. A Powerplay option costs extra but can multiply winnings by as much as 5 times.Cash 5 games are similar, only you do not pick a Powerball number. You select 5 numbers (1-36 only). Drawings are on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Cost and Odds - Scratch-Off & Pick 3
Scratch-Off: Overall odds of winning are around 1 in 4.5 and slightly better for some games. Tickets range anywhere from $1 to $5 for $25,000 Jackpot, and payouts range from $1 to $25,000.Pick 3: Each column costs $1, and each type within that column costs $1. Odds for "front pair" and "back pair" type are 1:100 and pay $50. Odds for "box" type range from 3-6:1000 and pay $80 or $160. Odds for "straight" type are 1:1000 and pay top $500 prize.
Cost and Odds - Powerball & Cash 5
Powerball: Each play is $1, and Powerplay option costs $1. 5 matches plus Powerball pays JACKPOT. Winners get from $3 (Just Powerball) up to $200,000 (5 numbers). Odds are 1:69 (Just Powerball) up to 1:146 million (Jackpot).Cash 5: Each play is $1. 5 matches pays the $25,000 (tax free) jackpot. Winners can also get a free ticket. Odds are 1:8 up to 1:375 thousand for the jackpot.
