New regional lottery game launched

Posted 3/16/21

What’s better than winning a prize? Knowing the buy-in benefits your state and neighbors could sweeten the victory. So could not having to wait a week to find out who won. Or the idea the odds …

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New regional lottery game launched

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What’s better than winning a prize? Knowing the buy-in benefits your state and neighbors could sweeten the victory. So could not having to wait a week to find out who won. Or the idea the odds are in your favor.

Those points and more are all hallmarks of the new 2by2 game launched March 14 by the Wyoming lottery.

The everyday draw game was originated in North Dakota, and is shared by only four states; Kansas and Nebraska are also participants, along with the Cowboy State and North Dakota. 

“We were invited to join the consortium,” said Jon Clontz, CEO of the Wyoming lottery. After researching the game and looking at figures from other states, the decision was made to accept the invitation.

“We are pretty excited about it,” Clontz said. “We are always looking for entertainment value as well as revenue to the state, counties and towns.”

Perhaps the most fun in the game is its value. Tickets are just $1, with up to $22,000 given away daily and a 65% payout. “So people who play are going to win [often]. And there are many tiers of prizes, significant prizes, smaller prizes and a whole lot in between.” Prizes can be doubled on Tuesday, and it is estimated one in four tickets win a payout of some value.

2by2 is a four number game and players can select their own numbers or choose computer generated quick picks. Tickets may be for a single play with the outcome known that night, or buyers may purchase up to 42 draws at a time. The smallest prize is either $1 or a free ticket. From there the prizes go up to $2, $5, $10, $100 and up to the top $22,000 prize.

“It is fun, with a small population. We think it will be popular,” Clontz noted.

The 2by2 is doing especially well in North Dakota, where its popularity has really soared after its introduction. It also plays well in both Kansas and Nebraska, Clontz said.

There is no plan to grow the game beyond the region, although other states have expressed interest. 

In addition to the possibility a larger jackpot has to change a winner’s life, retailers also stand to profit. The 450 sales outlets of lottery games in Wyoming receive 6% of the ticket sales back, and Clontz said some of them see up to a 10% increase in their sales margins after introducing draw game sales. 

That is in addition to the benefit to the state coffers. “It is not going to be an enormous source of income,” Clontz said. “It’s not a ton of money [to the state] but every little bit helps.”

He estimated Wyoming stands to gain about $300,000 per year, paid to the state in quarterly payments of between $75,000 and $100,000 each. Counties with higher sales of tickets will receive more of the largesse back. Evanston, in Unita County, is currently the largest recipient of lottery money, Clontz said. That may be because there are many Utah residents who come over the state line to shop, he said. 

Since Wyoming legalized lottery gaming, the lottery has paid $21 million back to the state, Clontz said.  

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