Sagging NJ Lottery will have new Quick Draw game every 5 minutes

TRENTON — The New Jersey Lottery began the process on Tuesday to change game rules to allow the introduction of a new game with drawings held every five minutes.

The new game was announced as the lottery sales continue to drop for the third straight year since the game was privatized in 2013, according to NorthJersey.com.

Quick Draw is scheduled to make its debut in August at 200 bars, restaurants, bowling alleys, with more locations to be added. The Lottery Commission, which has had rules allowing this type of game in place since 2005, will need to approve rule changes to make them compliant with today’s business technology and practice.

Eighteen other states, including New York, offer the keno-style game. Players will choose 10 numbers from a field of 80 with new numbers drawn every 5 minutes. The winning numbers are displayed on large TV screens for all to see.

“It has been a long-standing and much anticipated goal of the Lottery to offer this new and exciting game to the public. It will attract new participants and generate greater opportunities for the people of New Jersey," New Jersey Lottery Executive Director Carole Hedinger said.

The lottery anticipated the game to bring in about $20 million, which was already included in the proposed fiscal year 2018 budget.

Contact reporter Dan Alexander at Dan.Alexander@townsquaremedia.com.

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