Sunday, March 29, 2015

Maryland Lottery's Instant Millionaire Scratch Off Game

Here the entry for the 2nd game I tried today at Friendship Liquors (12800 State Route 144, West Friendship, Maryland).

Maryland Lottery's Instant Millionaire scratch off game is their latest million dollar prize scratch off game. The game offers players the chance to win prizes between $20 and $1,000,000. The ticket has two instant hit games - one for $50 and one for $100 which are located at the top of the game ticket.

What is particularly noteworthy about this game is that it has 5 main games on the single page ticket (their Lucky 7 Game Book game had multiple pages). The games are lined up in columns with the winning number at the top and 5 numbers you try to match below it. I don't know if you can win prizes in more than 1 of the games though I would GUESS so. Odds of winning OVERALL i.e. you can do better and you can do worse are 1 in 2.96 which isn't the best I've seen among the million dollar prize scratch offs (the Double Dollar Fortune game has 1 in 2.71 and Money Multiplier offered odds of 1 in 2.88). At the time of this post, all 3 one million dollar prizes were still available.

There aren't any prize doubler or instant win symbols in this game.

Overall, I thought this was an ok game. I did find it interesting that is has 5 main games. The way they did that makes this a very easy game to play. You only to look over 5 numbers for each game vice having to re-check all the numbers below the winning numbers (some games have a lot of numbers example: the Lucky Millionaire game has 30 numbers you have to check). Good luck.

Please remember to gamble responsibly. Remember, the odds aren't in your favor. The Maryland Lottery exists to make the state of Maryland money and, they do a very good job of it (I remember one year, they supposedly made/turned over $800 million to the state general fund!).

Maryland Lottery Harley Davidson Scratch Off Game

I haven't written any reviews on the Maryland Lottery's various scratch off games in a while so today, I bought tickets for 2 new games they have - their Harley Davidson game and their Instant Millionaire game (which I'll review in a separate blog entry).

The Harley Davidson game is simple enough. You get 4 numbers which you try to match among 15 numbers below. If you match 1 or more of the numbers, you win the prize(s) shown below the number(s). Also, if you see a Harley Davidson symbol, you win double the prize shown. Prizes range from $5 to $50,000 (3 of these). Odds of winning something are 1 in 3.69 (per the ticket I bought)

What is particularly special about this game in my opinion are the two second chance drawings they're having. When you enter your losing ticket, you're automatically entered in a second chance drawing for a chance to win a Harley Davidson breakout motorcycle with a gift pack that includes a $100 Harley Davidson gift card, duffle bag. neon clock and bucket with pint glasses. The first second chance drawing will be held on June 29th. The second second chance drawing will be held later (the date hasn't been announced at the time of this post). (Source: http://www.mdlottery.com/enter-to-win-a-harley-davidson-breakout-motorcycle/)

Lastly, Maryland Lottery Rewards is offering double reward points on this game until May 17th as another incentive to play.

For Harley Davidson fans, this might be their ticket to a sweet motorcycle. Game wise, it's an ok game with some sweet second chance prizes. Good luck to all.

Do remember to gamble responsibly. Odds of winning are odds overall. You can do better and you can do worse (I've seen that personally).

New Paradise Island Monastery Ruins Pictures







Here are the promised new photos I took of the French monastery ruins on Paradise Island, Bahamas. The place is really pretty. I was told it was very popular for weddings and, I can definitely understand why. The photos were taken with my Sony Cybershot RX 100 II pocket digital SLR. The camera was ideal in this case since it's so small and much easier to carry that my Canon Rebel XTi camera though I can't get as fancy with the Sony camera as I can with the Canon camera (I have a Canon.EFS 55-255mm lense which gives me great telephoto pictures).

Monday, March 16, 2015

Paradise Island Ferry



Here is a promised picture of one the ferry boats I took over to Paradise Island, Bahamas. The ferry was very reasonably priced. It cost $4 each way and took about 10 minutes. They had a booth in the shopping area by the cruise ship terminal exit where you would buy your ticket(s). The boat was located a little further on. They were supposed to run every 30 minutes but, I found they didn't. They ran when they got as many people as they thought they could get.

The ferry would tie up under one of the bridges that like Paradise Island to New Providence. You can see one of the bridge's concrete spans in the first picture. There were a few small shops at the pier.

Coming back, I took the second picture. Ironically, two of the ships in the picture decided to leave at the time my ferry was going back to the cruise ship area. One of the ships actually honked their horn at my ferry warning it off and causing it to turn around and wait for it to pass. This caused me problems with my Aunt Marge. My aunt, uncle, my some time travel friend Harvey and I were supposed to get together around 5:30 p.m. and go to one of our ship's bars for a pre-dinner drink. If my ferry had run on time, I would've made it in time. However, because they didn't stick to the 30 minute schedule and, the delay caused by the two departing cruise ships, I ended being serious late getting back to the ship. As I hadn't told any one of my decision to go to Paradise Island, my aunt was very concerned about my disappearance. I apologized and explained what had happened. I would still recommend these ferries if you want a cheap way to get to Paradise Island from the cruise ship area.

Sunday, March 15, 2015

New Atlantis Pictures






Here are some photos I took during my 2nd cruise with my totally awesome Aunt Marge and very cool Uncle Dave (Mr. Spiffy). Sadly, the two of them didn't get to see this famous and impressive resort. This was my 2nd trip there and, it ended up being a bit of a misadventure as I took a cheap ferry over to Paradise Island and found out I had no idea where I was going and, I didn't have a map. Thankfully, after taking these pictures as well as new ones of the ruined French monastery which I'll post later, I was able to find my way back to the ferry landing and eventually made it back to our ship Majesty of the Seas.

The resort is impressive and, I think they did a great job of the Atlantis theme. I believe I posted pictures previously of my first visit if you want to see pictures of the aquarium part of Atlantis. The open aquarium is supposedly the largest in the Caribbean. Also, the resort has an impressive water park though I've never seen it. Water parks aren't my thing. Lastly, the resort has the 10th most expensive hotel room in the world - the Michael Jackson suite. I don't know if it's actually named after him but, people call it that after he stayed there 13 straight nights! Michael definitely had money as the suite costs $25,000 a night!