Cross Tripler #1791 Tops Revised Rating Method

In my never ending pursuit of evaluating Instant Games I have implemented a new method. I have been swayed by those whose priority is plentiful smaller prizes. At the same time, I can't entirely forsake imbalances in the availability of Grand Prizes. The new method rates two factors:

1. I take the percentage of top prizes (all those listed on the outstanding prize list) that remain available and compare that to the percentage of prize money remaining as compared to what it was at the beginning of the game. All games begin with a ratio of 1. If Grand Prizes are claimed at a rate faster than the total prizes reported, the number will fall below 1. If a positive imbalance develops the number will grow to be greater than 1.

2. The percentage of revenue returned to players who win prizes greater than the cost of the ticket and less than $100. This number represents the volume of smaller prizes in any game.

I combine the two numbers in the following formula ( First Factor x 100 + 2 x Second Factor). I'm pleased with the initial results but we'll see how it goes. This is my third method since I began this blog. Lets hope it lasts. Comments are always welcome.

The first top rated game in the new method is Cross Tripler #1791. The game has 13% of its tickets left and 23% of the top prize revenue left. 47.8 percent of its total revenue is allocated to prizes greater than $5 and less than $100. All I have to do now is find some.

Note: This is the orange version of the game.

Top Rated Games

1. $5 Cross Tripler #1791 - 4 $100,000 prizes left and only 1 million tickets. 
2. $4 Bonus Cash For Life #1168 - only 1 Grand Prize left and 11% of the float.
3. $5 20XLucky #1808 - 50% of top money and 36% of top prizes left. 
4. $3 Scrabble #1821 - 2 of 3 Grand Prizes left and only 17% of the float.
5. $10 Cadillac Riches - positive ratio by 24% but prizes a bit low at 41.3%.

Games to Avoid

1. $3 More Lucky Lines #1794 - can it be true that it has reached its deactivation date?
2. $1 Lucky Lines #1770 - Has been horrible since it arrived. 
3. $10 Bejewelled #1786 - One poster loves this game. Only 3 Grand Prizes left and 74% of float.
4. $20 Extraordinary #1742 - The game is becoming an albatross. 
5. $3 Keno #1415 - - 26% on the ratio but a good number of small prizes. 

$1 - $2 Game Update

Wild 8's is the pick in this area. 

$3 Game Update

If you can't find Scrabble, Cashingo Crossword and Super Bingo are all reasonable choices.

$4 - $5 Game Update

Three of the top five games come from this group. Stick to them. 

$10 - $20 Game Update

Avoid Bejewelled and Extraordinary.

Comings and Goings

It was a Stalinistic purge with seven games being retired from play. All the Holiday games were included including one of Shelley's favourites - Holly Jolly. Cash For Life #1161 and Crossword #3206 were caught up in the housecleaning. I'm sorry to see Holiday Spectacular go as it was a very well rated game but it was a Holiday Game and I have to agree that their time was up. 

No new games were introduced. 

Personal Play

A rare positive week as I struck for a $20 prize in both 20X Lucky and Bonus Cash For Life. A further $5 produced a $45 return on a $32 investment. 

To Conclude

Two posts ago I mentioned the problem with the new Double Cash for Life Game. The game sheet indicates that 69% of the revenue is returned to players whereas when you work out the math the total comes to 64%. The 64% is more in the range of $3 games and 69% is the normal range for $10 games. Bonus Cash For Life was a notable exception with a 69% return thus justifying its name. 

The OLG called me about the matter offering the explanation that the difference was based upon the outcomes for people who may take the $2000/wk for life instead of the lump sum. That answer did not make any sense as the 5% discrepancy amounts to $2 million and they would have no idea what the difference is in outcomes for winners who take one option over another as almost all of those cases are still playing themselves out. I was told that they would get back to me. 

A second call informed me that the lump sum payout for the game is $1,850,000. That answers makes sense but is surprising nonetheless. The $2 version of the popular game has a lump sum option of $67,500, the regular $4 version $675,000 and one would have thought that the Double Cash For Life would have paid $1,350,000. In fact, I called the OLG when the game launched and confirmed that fact. Now I'm told that the lump sum for the game is fully $500,000 more than double the normal game. The answer works but it seems a little strange. Might it have something to do with the fact that the ten year bond pays a scant 1.7% requiring the OLG to put more cash aside to pay the annuity if someone takes the $2000/week? I'm scratching my head but that is an outstanding prize for a $4 investment. The money allotted to the four Grand Prize winners represents 18.5% of the total revenue for the game. That is the highest such figure by far for any game that I have seen. 

I signed up for www.playolg.ca this week and quickly burned through my free $10. More on the new site next week. 

Good Luck to All. 

Doug