 Midwest Millions is a scratchcard game that debuted on September 7, 2007 in the US states of Iowa and Kansas. (In Kansas, it originally became available at the State Fair in Hutchinson, and will be available statewide on Thursday, September 13, 2007). It is the nation's first multi-state scratch game since the Powerball scratch ticket in the early 2000s. Depending on the success of the game, other states may be added.
Top prize in the $10 game itself is $50,000; the two states will individually hold one drawing each for a $500,000 cash prize, and 50 of $1000 each. Overall odds on the Midwest Millions instant ticket are 1 in 2.84.
Iowa and Kansas are members of the Multi-State Lottery Association, best known for Powerball, Hot Lotto, etc. MUSL will also administer this instant game.
Multi-State Lottery Association
The Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL) is a "non-profit, government-benefit association owned and operated by its member lotteries."
It was formed in 1987 by six states and the D.C. Lottery. Its first game was launched the next year. Slowly, more states joined MUSL. After the original game ended in favor of Powerball (whose first drawing was held on April 22, 1992), US lotteries were more eager to join. Powerball (as of June 2007) is played in 29 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. All MUSL members offer Powerball. MUSL additionally runs several smaller games, including Hot Lotto, and Cashola, a video lottery jackpot game. MUSL also has retired several games, including Daily Millions, Rolldown, and the Powerball scratchcard game.
In September 2007, MUSL will launch Midwest Millions, a scratch ticket game, in Iowa, and Kansas.
Unlike Mega Millions, which is more loosely organized, the rules of MUSL games are virtually the same in all jurisdictions. The only major differences are: the minimum age to purchase tickets (which usually is 18, but is 19 in one state, and 21 in three others), and the period to claim winning tickets, which ranges from 90 days to one year.
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