Tuesday, June 30, 2015

Maryland Lottery's Amazing 8's Scratch Off Game

Another new game the Maryland Lottery introduced on June 22, 2015 was their Amazing 8's scratch off game. The game costs $5 a ticket and offers a top prize of $50,000. Odds of winning overall are 1 in 3.71 (per the lottery ticket I got on my own). Remember those are the overall odds i.e. you can do better and you can do WORSE.

The game offers 2 instant win chances. On the left of the ticket, if you scratch a single $ symbol in that box/spot, you win instantly win $8. On the right of the ticket, there is another box where if you scratch a double $$ symbol, you win $88. Below the instant win boxes, you get 4 numbers and 16 chances to match them 1 to 4 of them. If you match any of the numbers, you win the prize below the matching number.

Note: Considering the name of the game, I would've thought they would had a instant win where you scratched an 8, you would've won the prize below it BUT, they didn't do that for some reason.

Prizes run from $5 to $50,000 with six $50,000 (see note about first big winner below) prizes, eighteen $8,888 prizes and thirty $1,000 prizes out there (at the time of this post).

One couple in Frederick, Maryland according to the Maryland Lottery website became the first big winners on this game when they hit a $50,000. They claimed their prize on June 29th.

Losing tickets do qualify for Lottery Reward points. The tickets have a prize check box for those that don't want to have to scratch the whole ticket.

Overall, I'm not wiped out with this game. The only thing really good I can say about it is it is cheap relatively to play i.e. $5 a pop. Personally, I'd rather spend the $20 and play for a million dollars (for 4 times the money, 20 times the cash). Anyway, good luck to any Maryland Lottery players who read this latest post.

Sunday, June 28, 2015

Maryland Lottery's Hit It Big Scratch Off Game

On June 22, 2015, Maryland Lottery launched it's newest $1 million dollar prize scratch off game. The game is called Hit It BIG. The game offers 3 $1 million dollar prizes (the $1 million dollar prize is paid over 20 years in an annuity, a lump sum payment is available BUT the winner will receive less than $1 million dollars in that case) as well as prizes of $50,000, $10,000, $5,000, $1,000 and lesser amounts. At the time of this posting, all the big prizes are up for grabs i.e. none have been claimed.

The game features 2 different games on each ticket. In the first game, you have the standard 6 numbers where you try to match any or all of them in the 21 numbers beneath them. There is an instant win chance. When you see the word BIG, you win the prize below it. In the second game, you have 7 dice rolls. If your dice add up to 7 or 11, you win the prize below them. This game also has an instant win chance on it. If you see on any of the dice the symbol DBL, you win double the prize below it.

The odds of winning in this game are 1 in 2.97. Please remember, this is the OVERALL odds. You can do better and, you can do WORSE. I've personally seen both.

The game is eligible for lottery reward points. There isn't any kind of 2nd chance drawing with this game.

Overall, it's an all right game. Personally, I like the Instant Millionaire game better as you can find out a lot faster if you won something (see my review on that game).

Do remember to gamble responsibly. The odds are not in your favor of hitting it rich.

Lastly, all information for the review came from the game ticket I bought with my OWN money and the game page on the Maryland Lottery website. I don't have any connection with the Maryland Lottery and any opinions on this review are my own. Good luck!

Wednesday, June 03, 2015

Review of Toby's 1776 The Musical Show

This past Sunday, I went to Toby's of Columbia (there's one in Baltimore too) to see their production of 1776 The Musical. I've never this musical before so, I had to no idea what to expect barring that it was about the founding fathers of the United States.

Before the show began, Toby's serves a fine meal included with the price. For my matinee show, it cost $53.00. My server's name was Coleen who worked on the lighting for the show. One of the really neat things about Toby's is that your waiter or waitress will have some part in the show be it performing or handling sound or lights. Coleen did a fine job of serving ensuring my ice tea never went empty.

Food wise, Toby's started with a fine salad bar then went to the main course. As this was a matinee show, there were a number of breakfast items like sausage, bacon and eggs as well as some lunch or dinner items like ham, roast turkey breast and roast beef. For dessert, they had a make your own sundae bar.

Show wise, the show had some nice songs as well as funny jokes. It also made a serious point that our founding fathers while great men were men all the same with faults. Many would suffer during the Revolutionary War. It was no joke when they pledged their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor. Those that signed the Declaration of Independence knew if caught, they could be tried and hung for treason, something the show hit upon.

Overall, Toby's version of 1776 was a very enjoyable experience. It you're into the history of the American Revolutionary War, you should enjoy this show. The show runs through July 5, 2015. Toby's of Columbia is located right next to Merriweather Post Pavilion.