lottery launches megabucks doubler

Improved game promises to deliver higher jackpots and more winners

The Massachusetts State Lottery enters a new era on Saturday with the inaugural drawing for Megabucks Doubler, an exciting revamp of its oldest jackpot game. Designed in the image of Megabucks, the improved game will create much bigger jackpots and higher lower-tier prizes.

“Megabucks Doubler promises to create a great deal of excitement with higher jackpots and significantly more winners,” Executive Director Mark Cavanagh said. “The improved game represents a real opportunity for our players and a fun way to raise more revenue for our 351 cities and towns.”

Megabucks Doubler will be a far superior game with a number of new attributes:

• Jackpots on average will be twice as high in the new game
• Overall prize payout will grow from 50 percent to 55 percent
• Players will have the option to take a lump sum payout for jackpots
• Starting jackpots will be increased from $400,000 to $500,000
• One-in-10 tickets will be a “Doubler ticket that would double non-jackpot prizes
• Doubler tickets are issued at no extra cost to players
• Lower-tier prizes for matching 3, 4, or 5 numbers all dramatically increase
• Match 5-of-6 jumps from $1,500 to $2,500, $5,000 with “Doubler ticket
• Match 4-of-6 jumps from $75 to $100, $200 with “Doubler ticket
• Match 3-of-6 jumps from free bet to $2, $4 with “Doubler ticket

Megabucks, which began in 1982, had sales of $40.5 million last fiscal year or about 1 percent of total Lottery sales. But sales for Megabucks dwindled over the years as other games gained in popularity. In 1986 for example, Megabucks sold more than $473 million in tickets or about 43 percent of Lottery sales.

“Our players will enjoy this game more than the original, Cavanagh said. “The game preserves the best of the old and adds a bold, freshness to our portfolio.

Sales for Megabucks Doubler will begin Thursday, April 30 for the inaugural drawing on Saturday, May 2. Megabucks Doubler drawings will be held every Wednesday and Saturday and aired on WCVB-TV Channel 5 at 11:24 p.m.