
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, March 15, 1992                   TAG: 9203160158
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: F-2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

KEEP DRAWING UNTIL GET A LOTTERY WINNER

THERE IS MUCH discussion about limiting the number of lottery tickets that can be purchased by any individual. This will prevent large bloc purchases by well-heeled investors who can afford to cover every combination and thus guarantee a win. Such a situation occurs when the prize is very large (somewhat greater than $10 million).

A simple solution that will not require any restriction on sales is to draw an additional set of six winning numbers each time there is no winner. Thus if nobody wins the first time, the next drawing will have two winning combinations.

If neither of these combinations produces a winner, the third drawing will have three winning combinations. One additional number combination will be drawn every time there is no winner of the previous lottery.

For each drawing, the first set of numbers will be the winning combination, unless that combination is not sold. In this case, the next set of numbers drawn will win, unless that combination is not sold. This will continue through the final set of numbers drawn for that particular lottery.

With this concept, there is very little chance that the jackpot will exceed $10 million, and the incentive to purchase all combinations will no longer exist. In addition, the lottery proceeds will be distributed to more players, and each player will have a better chance to win. ADELBERT E. KIRSCHNER ROANOKE

by CNB