Player Question: Is A Ticket The Same As A Play? Hmmm … Maybe.

Here’s an inside-baseball question we got from a player this week that’s really interesting: Is a ticket the same thing as a play? The answer varies: Yes. No. Maybe. Sometimes? Here’s why.

In a lotto game, a play is the line of numbers on a ticket that you as the player have purchased for an upcoming drawing. Let’s take Mega Millions® as an example.

In the image shown here, you see a Mega Millions ticket that has one play on it. In this instance, the ticket is technically the document (the piece of paper) on which the play is printed. But sometimes, more than one play is printed on a ticket if you buy multiple plays at a time.

For our other products – InstaPlay, scratch, and pull-tab games – each ticket is a play in the game.

I think that’s why the two terms are used interchangeably. I don’t think you’re wrong if you use one reference or the other. It’s just interesting to see the details involved for the different games!

Comments

[Mary Neubauer]

Hi, Jackie. We've been sharing the news about that change in the Lotto America game for a few months now. Lotto America now has drawings three nights per week, on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays. The first Monday drawing in Lotto America was held on July 18.

[Jackie Reynolds]

make sure you watch he dates on your lottery tickets. My husband went to kwik shop on Monday the 8th to buy our tickts for the week. we play 3 days for powervall, 2 for mega million and 2 for lotto america. Well this week after checking Wednesday lotto america I noticed that the first date on the ticket was 7/18 which was Monday. I don't know how that happened since lotto america isn't played on Monday.

[juli]

This is why it's best to fill out a play slip and hand it to the retailer to get the correct tickets and number of plays and draws.

[Doug Tyrrell]

IF there is a second chance game for say, powerball, 5 plays on one ticket = 1 second chance entry. where as: buy 5 plays on separate tickets = 1 play per ticket would give you 5 entries.

[Mary Neubauer]

Another really good point about lottery terms, George! Plays are the bets you place for the drawings. The drawings -- or draws -- determine the winners from among the bets placed/plays purchased!