On 12-12-12, Illinois Lottery Prepared For Lots Of 1212 Pick 4 Tickets
Players of the Illinois lottery can no longer play the number 1-2-1-2 as a choice for the pick four game. Lottery officials say those numbers have hit the liability limit, the amount the lottery is obligated to pay to winners.
UPDATED 12/12/2012 - 10:43 p.m.
CHICAGO (CBS) -- The head of the Illinois Lottery says he's keeping a close eye on the calendar and his payout obligations.
Michael Jones says that some people consider numbers like today's date 12/12/12 to be magical and worthy of a lottery investment.
So the Illinois Lottery commissioner is expecting a heavy investment in the Pick 4 numbers 1212 during the midday and evening drawings.
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The Pick 4 payout is around $5,000 if that number is picked.
He says his liability limit, the amount he'd be obligated to pay now stands at $6.5 million if 1212 hits in the Pick Four game.
He says that limit may have to be raised, if the date picks a lot of attention.