Lottery could be your ticket to TV appearance

January 19, 1997

By LISA GRAYBEAL

Staff Writer, Waynesboro

WAYNESBORO, Pa. - Playing the lottery could be your ticket to a television appearance.

The Pennsylvania Lottery is hosting its first televised game show on Saturday, March 8, at 7 p.m. to commemorate its 25th anniversary. The half hour show will be telecast on channels throughout the state that carry the nightly lottery drawing. A "well-known celebrity entertainer," whose name has not be released, will host the show, said Cris Oblack, deputy press secretary at lottery headquarters in Middletown, Pa.

"It's the first time we've ever aired a TV game show," Oblack said, adding that the lottery's anniversary committee came up with the idea after seeing similar lottery shows in other states.

From the entry coupons received, lottery officials will pick 279 names. Of those names, 25 will be selected as in-studio contestants, Oblack said. Each finalist will receive a minimum cash prize of $2,500. Three of the 25 finalists will be selected as game show contestants to play in three separate games with minimum winnings of $120,000, Oblack said.

"It's not going to be like `Jeopardy.' They're just random, chance games," she said.

The remaining 254 players will be selected to win $250 each. Four players will be chosen to win $25,000 each. The names of the winners will be broadcast during the game show.

Anyone in or out of state is eligible to participate in the game by filling out a game show entry coupon with the purchase of a $5 block of Wild Card Lotto tickets. The tickets must be purchased by Jan. 31 and all entries must be received by Feb. 10. Entries must be mailed in the special 25th anniversary game show envelopes available at lottery outlets. Participants may enter as many times as they wish, but each envelope may contain only one entry coupon, Oblack said.

Participants must be 18 years of age or older.

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