Scratch-to-win lottery launch in September

Press, 23 May 1989, Page 4

Scratch-to-win lottery launch in September

PA Auckland Winning a big Golden Kiwi or Lotto prize is hard enough — right? Then how much more difficult would it be if winners had to answer a general knowledge question before they can collect?

Punters will find out in September when the Lotteries Commission floods the country with millions of scratch-to-win Instant Kiwi tickets in an attempt to finally kill off its aging golden cousin.

The chief executive of the commission, Mr David Bale, explained that the Government was not likely to pass legislation to

cover the scratch tickets before they go on sale on September 7, so they would have to be bought under “prize competition rules.” “That means there must be elements of luck — and either, knowledge or skill,” Mr Bale said. “Our electronic validation computer system will check a ticket is a winner, then flash a question on the screen. “The purchaser must answer it correctly before getting the'prize.” Mr Bale said the questions would not be difficult and would fall into the “add two and two” or “spell cat” area. The questions would be

part of the scratch game until legislation was enacted, probably later in the year. Each $1 scratch card would have one chance in seven of collecting a prize — ranging from $2 to $lO,OOO among the 8,160,000 cards in each series. Three games with different coloured tickets would be sold at once and each would include 34 $lO,OOO prizes. Mr Bale said 50c of each $1 went toward prizes —10.4 c to the Government for GST and gaming duties, 7c to the retailer and 1c to a prize reserve for future expansion.