Cash4Life
Cash4Life is a lottery game that began in New York and New Jersey in June 2014. Currently, it is offered in six states; Cash4Life added Pennsylvania on April 7, 2015, Virginia on May 3, 2015, Tennessee on November 1, 2015, and Maryland on January 26, 2016).[1] Cash4Life is drawn Mondays and Thursdays.[2] (An unrelated multi-state game, also known as Cash4Life, was offered from 1998 to 2000; see below.)
Each game costs $2. Players choose (or have the terminal select the numbers, which is known as "quick pick" in Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee; and "easy pick" in Virginia) 5 of 60 numbers in the main field, and 1 of 4 (hence the game's name) green "Cash Ball" numbers in a second field. Matching all six numbers wins, or shares ("split-prize liability"), the equivalent of $1,000-per-day-for-life, or $7,000,000 cash, at the winner's option. Second prize, however, can have multiple winners of $1,000-per-week-for-life and/or $1,000,000 cash. (New Jersey Lottery regulations require that a player choose cash or annuity when playing; a "cash" ticket is binding, while an "annuity" ticket can be changed to cash after winning.)[3]
Virginia's entry in Cash4Life replaced Decades of Dollars, which at most was offered by four lotteries; it ended as a Virginia-only game.
Prizes
- Match 5+1: $1,000/day for life†°
- Match 5+0: $1,000/week for life†
- Match 4+1: $2,500†
- Match 4+0: $500
- Match 3+1: $100
- Match 3+0: $25
- Match 2+1: $10
- Match 2+0: $4
- Match 1+1: $2
†The top three prize tiers each have a liability limit. If there are an excessive number of winners of a "lifetime" prize tier, such prizes will automatically be paid in cash to each winner.[3] Cash option values (which can change periodically) are $7,000,000 for the top prize, and $1,000,000 for second prize.
°The top prize is "split-prize liability"; in essence, a non-progressive jackpot.
The prize pool is 55 percent of sales.[4]
Cash4Life winnings are subject to state and Federal taxes, except for tickets sold in Pennsylvania to its residents; however, a bill introduced in May 2015 would tax Pennsylvania Lottery winnings of $600 or more regardless of residence.
Maryland's entry in Cash4Life on January 26, 2016 brings Cash4Life membership to six contiguous states.
1998–2000 MUSL game
Cash4Life also was the name of a significantly different game offered from March 30, 1998 to September 7, 2000 by the Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL). The top prize, $1,000-per-week-for-life (no cash option), was won if the player's primary set of two-digit numbers (00 through 99) matched those drawn. It was offered in Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, South Dakota, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia.[5]
See also
- Lucky for Life, a similar game that began in Connecticut (as Lucky4Life) in 2009; currently available in 19 states and the District of Columbia
References
- ↑ https://www.lotterypost.com/news/293289
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. (press release)
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Cash4Life Game Rules
- ↑ New Jersey Cash 4 Life Game Rules
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
