The Texas Lottery is celebrating its 20th birthday with a 20th Anniversary scratch-off game.
The new game features more than $21.5 million in prizes including nine top prizes of $250,000 and more than 100 second-tier prizes of $1,000.
Odds of winning any prize in the new game are one in 3.52.
"We continually strive to incorporate innovation into our products to provide Texans with the best games available," said Texas Lottery Commission executive director Gary Grief. "We are in constant pursuit of new technologies and games that enhance the services we provide to our customers, reduce our operating expenses and generate funds for Texas schools."
The lottery, when passed, was designed to direct funds into Texas' education system. To date, lottery officials say billions have been sent that way since 1997.
"Over the past 20 years, the Texas Lottery has generated $20 billion in revenue for the state and we are particularly proud of the $14 billion our retailers and players have helped us to contribute to public education since 1997. Those numbers are certainly something to commemorate and we look forward to another 20 years," said Grief.
Two decades ago when the Texas Lottery began, Lone Star Millions was the only game around. Now, Texans can choose from 80 scratch-off games and seven draw games, including Powerball®, Mega Millions®, Lotto Texas®, Texas Two Step®, Pick 3™, Daily 4™ and Cash Five®.
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Lottery officials added that plans are also under way for a new draw game, All or Nothing™, to be launched later this year.
Lottery facts over the last 20 years:
- $65 billion in total sales, including a record sales year of $3.8 billion in fiscal year 2011.
- Distributed more than $38 billion in prizes paid to winning players.
- Contributed $14 billion to the Foundation School Fund, which supports public education in Texas.
- Texas Lottery products are sold by nearly 17,000 retailers across the state.
- Based on calendar year 2011 sales, the Texas Lottery ranked fourth among United States lotteries and 15th among lotteries worldwide, according to La Fleur's Magazine.
