Lottery Unveils First Instant Games

NASHVILLE — Tennesseans anxiously waiting to play the Tennessee Lottery are getting a sneak peek at the first games before they go on sale.

Today, the Lottery unveiled designs for its first instant tickets. The colorful tickets, which will contain fields of play that players must scratch in order to win, will offer prizes ranging from a free ticket to $1 million. The first tickets will carry different themes, ranging from a tribute to regional “Tennessee Treasures” to the opportunity to be a “Tennessee Millionaire.”

“We’re offering entertaining games that are fun, easy to play and will give millions of players the opportunity to win,” said Rebecca Paul, president and CEO of the Tennessee Lottery. “These first four games start us on our mission to raise millions of dollars to fund college scholarships.” The first instant games include:

Tennessee Millionaire: Match three dollar amounts and win up to $1,000. Match three “entry” symbols, then mail in the signed ticket to be entered in one of three grand prize drawings that will give three players the chance to win $1 million each. Ticket cost: $1. Overall odds of winning: 1 in 4.

Tennessee Treasures: Match winning numbers and win up to $25,000. Tickets depict regional scenes including: Downtown Chattanooga, Knoxville’s Sunsphere, Memphis’ Beale Street, Nashville’s downtown Arena and Unicoi County’s Red Fork Falls. Ticket cost: $2. Overall odds of winning: 1 in 4.

Lucky 7’s: Find three 7’s in a row on a “tic-tac-toe” board and win up to $7,000. Ticket cost: $1. Overall odds of winning: 1 in 5.

$100,000 Jackpot: Match winning numbers and win up to $100,000. Ticket cost: $5. Overall odds of winning: 1 in 3.

Paul added the Lottery will continue introducing more instant games in the coming weeks and months: “The fun is just beginning,” she said.

The Lottery is moving down a rapid path to begin selling tickets on or before February 10. Most immediately, the Lottery is charged with raising at least $88 million by July 1 in order to fund scholarships for an estimated 65,000 students expected to attend Tennessee colleges and universities next fall.