The Lotto Matrix: MUSL Making Plans, Spam Texts Deliver Big Prize, And More

Welcome to this week’s “Lotto Matrix,” a weekly Friday compilation of the lottery industry’s most significant, interesting, or absurd happenings.

MUSL has big plans

Bringing in new leadership to the Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL) is paying off, with an ambitious schedule for product development in the works. Drew Svitko, the executive director of the Pennsylvania Lottery, was recently appointed as the new board president and is now leading this new phase of development.

Svitko brings considerable experience to the role, having previously chaired the Powerball Product Group and the Development Committee. He played a key role in introducing the third weekly Powerball drawing and the Double Play add-on feature.

The MUSL listed in a news release key product launches on the horizon:

• September 2024: Jackpot USA fast play game
• Fall 2025: NFL national game
• Spring 2026: National for Life game
• Fall 2026: Possible Powerball enhancement

For the second consecutive year, the MUSL has set a record for fiscal year sales, with total sales reaching $11.7 billion. Double Play, Powerball, and Power Play all reported record sales for the fiscal year 2024.

To support future development, MUSL has completed its first Powerball brand research, exploring the game at the state, regional, and national levels. Iowa Lottery CEO Matt Strawn is now leading the Powerball Product Group and plans to use the research findings to enhance the game. Strawn highlighted that the brand research will help optimize everything from marketing strategies to future partnerships.

Impromptu road trip pays off

A road trip to visit family turned out to be the trip of a lifetime for a man from Roanoke, Virginia, after he decided to pick up an energy drink and spend a little extra on $10 lottery tickets. Nicholas Foxx ended up winning $1 million, the top prize in the “20X The Money” scratch-off game, a triumph announced by the Virginia Lottery, which just celebrated its 36th birthday.

This marks the fourth time the top prize in the “20X The Money” game has been claimed, leaving two top prizes still available. The game offers prize amounts ranging from $10 to $1 million. The odds of winning the top prize are 1 in 1,958,400, while the overall odds of winning any prize are 1 in 3.65.

Foxx was given the option to either receive the full $1 million spread out over 30 years or opt for a lump sum payment of $625,000 before taxes, and he chose the lump sum.

Turning garbage into gold

A man from Maryland, overwhelmed by spam text messages, turned the situation to his advantage by using the numbers from those texts to win $50,000 in the lottery.

After receiving numerous messages from solicitors asking for money, the man decided to use the scammer’s phone number to play the lottery, which led him to win a $50,000 Pick 5 prize. Known as the “Persistent Player,” this anonymous winner plays the lottery daily, often selecting numbers based on everyday constants like birthdays and license plates.

Recently, however, he found a new source of inspiration. He told the Maryland Lottery that after receiving so many texts from the same number, the digits became ingrained in his memory. He decided to include them in his regular number rotation.

“They kept calling and texting, so I figured I’d use that scammer to my advantage,” he told lottery officials with a smile.

On July 20, while at a store in Salisbury, he placed a $1 straight bet for the evening Pick 5 drawing, using the numbers 3-4-2-6-8. These numbers won him the top prize. The odds of matching all five numbers in exact order to win the top prize in Pick 5 are 1 in 100,000.

Best of the rest

Back-to-back wins: Two in a row: Another Michigan Lottery player wins $25,000 a year for life playing Lucky for Life

Living the dream: Baltimore man’s dream about a Powerball win comes true

Recognizing outstanding performance: Texas Lottery receives pair of prestigious lottery industry awards

Friendly reminder: Webster city woman realizes she won big after message from best friend

Check the prize box and see you next week!