Scratchcards have caught on with pro football teams

U.S. National Football League owners in May this year approved a rule that allows its pro teams to partner with local lotteries on scratchcard betting activities. The scheme has clearly appealed to the teams, with Cincinnati, Dallas, Green Bay, Houston, Washington, Seattle and the New York Jets joining other NFL teams to offer instant lottery games in collaboration with regional lotteries.

In the latest deal, the Massachusetts state lottery signed it's third sports team to a scratchcard deal when it reached an agreement with the New England Patriots.

Neither Patriot officials nor lottery officials offered an estimate on how much money the team will receive because the deal is based on sales, but Massachusetts State Treasurer Tim Cahill said the Patriots will realize “millions of dollars” if all 30 million tickets are sold.

The Massachusetts lottery, which already had deals with the Red Sox and Celtics, has sold $777 million in sports-themed tickets.

The New England Patriots deal announced Tuesday could generate $20 million for cities and towns across the state. The lottery hopes to sell 30 million of the $5 tickets. If all tickets are sold, the game will gross $151 million and return $116 million in prizes, including 10 instant tickets each worth $1 million, 4 250 Patriot VIP ticket packages and team merchandise.

The game also features second-chance drawings for five pairs of Patriots season tickets for life.

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