2001
January
o On January 15, the Kentucky Lottery launches its first ever Internet-based promotion with the Elvis scratch-off ticket. Players can enter tickets for a grand prize of a two night vacation for two to Elvis Presley’s Graceland in Memphis.
March
o
On March 3, the final Cash 5 drawing takes place.
o
On March 4, the Kentucky Lottery launches a new five-number online
game called Kentucky Cash Ball. The $1 game offers eight ways to win a prize and the game is
similar to a mini-Powerball. The game’s top prize is $200,000 and drawings are held three
days per week, on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. The new game is kicked off with a
statewide promotional tour.
April
o
On April 16, the Kentucky Lottery teamed up with Pepsi Bottlers to
offer more ways to win on a scratch-off ticket. Cold Cash, a new $2 ticket, offers a chance to
win cash prizes as well as Pepsi products. Every ticket wins a prize! If the ticket is
not a cash winner, it will offer a free 20-ounce Pepsi product.
o
On April 16, Steve Bugg of Harrodsburg becomes the first winner of
the $200,000 Kentucky Cash Ball top prize.
o
On April 30, the Kentucky Lottery introduces FASTCASH, a $3
scratch-off game that features five different NASCAR drivers, including the late Dale Earnhardt,
Sr. The game also features four other drivers - Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Jeff Burton, Matt
Kenseth, and Mark Martin. The game offers a top prize of $30,000 and a chance for players to
win a trip to any official race of the 2001-2002 racing season.
May
o
On May 7, the Kentucky Lottery introduces its second $10 scratch-off
ticket, Kentucky Road Trip. It features eight different games that are all associated
with Kentucky. The game offers a top prize of $250,000 and 20 chances to
win.
o
On May 21, the KLC achieves the highest form of recognition in the
area of governmental accounting and finance reporting for the seventh straight year. They
received the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Government
Finance Officers Association (GFOA) of the United States and Canada.
o
On May 31, the Kentucky Lottery announces its plan to restructure
the sales organization. As a result of extensive analysis of its field services delivery
structure, the plan calls for closing two of the seven regional offices, effective August
1. The changes are expected to save the Kentucky Lottery $500,000 annually. The two
offices closing are located in Florence and Ashland.
June
o
On June 15, the Kentucky Lottery introduces the first ever “Fun
Card.” The “Fun Card” is a small card, looking much like a credit card. It has four
peel-off coupons on the back that can be redeemed at any Kentucky Lottery retailer. Once the
coupons have been redeemed, players can mail in the card for a chance to win a seven-night Carnival
Cruise for two.
o
On June 30, the Kentucky Lottery decides to end the Player’s Choice
probability games. While the innovative product showed promise, it did not meet sales
expectations.
o
On June 30, Fiscal Year 2001 ended with a bang! The Kentucky
Lottery set a then- sales record with $590.85 million for the fiscal year! And record sales
also meant then- record commissions to retailers. For FY ‘01, Kentucky Lottery retailers
earned $36.34 million! Kentucky Lottery players also set a record for the time, cashing in
$349.82 million in prizes for FY ‘01. In addition, the citizens of Kentucky benefited from the $159.1 million provided by Lottery
proceeds.
August
o
David Edwards of Westwood, KY claimed one of four jackpot-winning tickets from a then-record
Powerball jackpot of $295 million. Edwards received $41.5 million in cash.
September
o
On September 9, the Kentucky Lottery introduced a new online game,
Lotto South. It replaced Lotto Kentucky, the flagship game since 1989. Lotto South is a multi-state
game played with Virginia and Georgia. Jackpots start at $2 million. The first Lotto
South drawing was on September 12.
November
o
The Kentucky Lottery launches a new Powerball marketing campaign
featuring the legendary musician and vocalist Ray Charles.
December
o
On December 4, the Kentucky Lottery launches a new, redesigned web
site. Among the features of the new site are the ability to view drawings online, a scrolling
message bar, and a large promotional window that tells players about the newest promotion, tickets,
etc. The new site has bright colors, and is fun and easy to navigate.
