Montana Lottery Halts Millionaire Sales After Technical Failure
The state agency reported selling 12,919 tickets before pausing operations to fix a software error that inflated instant-win odds.
By Marco Ortega ·
The Montana Lottery suspended ticket sales for its Montana Millionaire game on Monday after a technical malfunction during the Sunday launch forced a pause in operations. The agency issued an update on social media on Monday to explain the error and outline the steps it is taking to restore normal service.
The primary issue involved the distribution of instant-win prizes. The system awarded these prizes at a rate higher than the game's design intended. To correct the imbalance, the lottery will add extra instant-win prizes to the pool. This adjustment aims to ensure the odds remain accurate for future players.
The Montana Lottery is working with Bally's Intralot to resolve the underlying problems. The agency stated that its top priority is to ensure the game is fair and equitable for both players and sales agents. No specific date or time has been set for the resumption of ticket sales. Once officials finalize the schedule, they will announce it through their website, social media channels, and direct communications with sales agents. The lottery promised to provide adequate notice before sales restart.
Officials confirmed that neither the Montana Millionaire nor the Quarter Million Prize drawings have taken place. Consequently, no winning tickets have been determined for the grand prize or the secondary prize tiers. The game remains in a state of suspension until the technical fixes are verified.
Tickets and instant-win prizes purchased before the postponement remain valid. Players can still redeem instant-win prizes, and retailers must scan the barcode on the instant-win coupon to properly validate the award. The lottery advised ticket holders to store their Montana Millionaire tickets in a safe place. These tickets remain eligible for both the main prize drawings and the Players Club drawing.
Before the sales halt, 12,919 tickets were sold. Of that total, 991 were $100 instant wins and 1,019 were $500 instant wins. The lottery did not report any other categories of instant wins for the initial sales period.
