I don't remember when the Maryland Lottery first came out with their Fast Play games. The games are a cross between the number games on paper tickets and scratch offs. They come on a paper ticket like the number games Example: Cash For Life but they offer the gambler the instant win feature that comes with scratch off tickets without the scratching.
The games start at $1 and go up to $20 with the prize amount increasing as the ticket price goes up. Some of the games offer a set prize while others offer the gambler a progressive jackpot that appears to go up $1 for every losing ticket; The most expensive games that cost $20, have progressive jackpots which start at $250,000. The jackpot steadily increases until someone wins it where upon it resets to $250,000 and starts its way back up again.
There are posted odds on each game but, these odds are irrelevant. The reason I say that is because the gambler is playing against all the other gamblers that are playing their game at the same time. So, if the stated overall odds are 1 in 3, 1 ticket could go to someone in Baltimore, a second ticket could go to someone in Hagerstown and a third ticket could go to someone in Cumberland and it's pure luck who gets the winner. The only time the odds might be relevant is if the gambler is playing when a lot of others aren't. In comparison, with scratch offs, you're playing against the book. It's just a matter of time and luck until a winner shows up. Conversely, the gambler playing the Fast Play games could potentially buy 10 tickets and not get a single winner as they could go to other players in the state who were playing at the same time.
One plus of this feature of the Fast Play games is that it is also possible to get back to back winners. I've had on a number of occasions where I paid for 2 tickets and, I happen to pay for them at the right time so both came up winners. Back to back winners are rare in scratch offs.
Overall, the games are more of gamble then scratch offs because you are playing against all the other players that are playing at the same time. Still, they can offer some jackpots that the scratch offs would be hard to match. The jackpot at the time of this post for the Fast Play Diamond Mine game is over $1,000,000 and unlike the scratch offs where you would get the $1 ($20 game) or $2 million ($30 game) over 20 years, in this case you'd get it ALL barring the taxes you'd have to pay.
Ultimately, it depends on how much of a gamble the gambler wants to take. Also, some of the games offer games the scratch off don't like Blackjack ($2 play) which I particularly enjoy. I wouldn't recommend you buy a lot of these tickets because if lady luck isn't with you, you could get your clock cleaned. However, the games are worth a play for the would be gambler. Out of 2 thumbs, I give them 1 because you are playing against everyone else in the state at that time which makes it more a gamble then the scratch offs. If you want a more likely chance of winning (relatively speaking), play scratch offs.
Good luck to any gamblers out there and please remember to gamble responsibly.
