PITTSBURGH — Did you know that players won more than $2 billion in Pennsylvania Lottery games last year?
Since WPXI-TV is proud to be your home for the Pennsylvania Lottery, Channel 11's Brittny McGraw got a behind-the-scenes look at how lottery officials protect the integrity of the games.
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According to Pennsylvania Lottery officials, players spent more than $3 billion this past fiscal year on lottery games, and won more than $2 billion in prizes.
Both of those figures are lottery records!
Although it only takes about 90 seconds to do the lottery drawings each night, it takes about two hours of preparations to make sure those numbers get on TV.
“Players count on us giving them a fair chance to win the prize,” said Pennsylvania Lottery Executive Director Drew Svitko.
Svitko was quick to point out that integrity is the name of the game.
“It’s, like I said, a fascinating process, and complex, and it’s all intended to provide a fair and honest result to our players,” Svitko said.
Lottery machines and ball sets are kept under lock and key, as well as 24-hour surveillance at the WITF studios in Harrisburg.
Lottery staff, two independent auditors and two non-employee witnesses keep a close eye on the entire process.
Witnesses even pick which machines and ball sets will be used to make sure it’s random.
“There’s so much security involved. That’s what fascinated me about it,” said witness Pete Barber.
The balls are weighed, counted and then all of the equipment is rolled into the studio for nine pre-broadcast tests. There are then three full rehearsals before the actual live drawing at 7 p.m.
- CLICK HERE to visit the official website of the Pennsylvania Lottery
Security measures continue even after the live show wraps up with post-broadcast tests to make sure there’s nothing out of the ordinary statistically.
“We have a very serious job, but we have an awful lot of fun doing it,” Svitko said.
Proceeds from the lottery go to programs that help seniors right here in Pennsylvania.