The Maryland Lottery moved away from televised lottery drawings to a computer system that will pick the winning numbers.Lottery players may be used to seeing Maryland Lottery drawings live on WBAL-TV. But that changed on Dec. 19, 2022."No more rolling machines out of a secure vault into a TV studio. No more placing ping-pong balls one by one and counting them endlessly. Now, it's a computer," said Patrick Morton, who has managed drawings for 20 years for the Maryland Lottery.The computer is called Random Number Generator."RNG is not a new technology. We've been using it for several years in quick picks, on our draw games, as well as Keno and Racetrax," said John Martin, director of the Maryland State Lottery and Gaming Control Agency. "It is quick, efficient, cost effective and extremely secure."The Maryland Lottery uses the RNG system for the Pick 3, Pick 4, Pick 5, Bonus Match 5 and Multi-Match drawings."From your player's perspective, not much changes. (It's still the) same familiar games, same prize payouts, same draw times, but they won't be available on television," Martin said. "The RNG system will provide animated videos that will be on display on our 'Watch the Drawings' page on our website at mdlottery.com."Watch the winning lottery numbers drawn online hereThe RNG operations take place in a secure room where drawing officials will work in pairs. The room has surveillance cameras, and the machines are under lock and key."Each case has two locks requiring two keys from two lottery drawing officials for access," Martin said.While it's a different system, Morton said it will produce the same, fair results for players."The drawings are as fair and random as they ever have been -- more even now because the security is so much better. The player's end of the deal is a $1 or $2 ticket, and we give them a fair, random, perfect drawing every time," Morton said.The switch to RNG drawings does not impact Cash4Life, Mega Millions or the Powerball because those drawings are conducted by other state lotteries that will continue using numbered balls and mechanical drawing machines.How to get the Maryland Lottery's winning numbersGo to mdlottery.com/drawingsDownload the Maryland Lottery appCall the winning numbers line at 410-230-8830 | See the winning numbers hereStatement from the Maryland Lottery: "The Maryland Lottery is launching a new digital drawings system that will be used to conduct all drawings of Pick 3, Pick 4, Pick 5, Bonus Match 5 and Multi-Match."The system uses a Random Number Generator (RNG), a computer program that will randomly generate the winning numbers. It modernizes the lottery by replacing the numbered lottery balls and mechanical drawing machines."Thirty other lotteries across the U.S. and Canada have shifted to RNG systems for their drawings because they are more efficient and more cost-effective than using balls and drawing machines. "The system is extremely secure. It is not connected to the internet and can't be accessed remotely. The area where the system is located is under 24/7 video surveillance, and two drawing officials with separate access cards and keys must be present to enter the room and unlock the system's cabinet. The system was built by Smartplay International Lottery Systems, a New Jersey company that supplies similar systems to lotteries around the world."
BALTIMORE —
The Maryland Lottery moved away from televised lottery drawings to a computer system that will pick the winning numbers.
Lottery players may be used to seeing Maryland Lottery drawings live on WBAL-TV. But that changed on Dec. 19, 2022.
"No more rolling machines out of a secure vault into a TV studio. No more placing ping-pong balls one by one and counting them endlessly. Now, it's a computer," said Patrick Morton, who has managed drawings for 20 years for the Maryland Lottery.
The computer is called Random Number Generator.
"RNG is not a new technology. We've been using it for several years in quick picks, on our draw games, as well as Keno and Racetrax," said John Martin, director of the Maryland State Lottery and Gaming Control Agency. "It is quick, efficient, cost effective and extremely secure."
The Maryland Lottery uses the RNG system for the Pick 3, Pick 4, Pick 5, Bonus Match 5 and Multi-Match drawings.
"From your player's perspective, not much changes. (It's still the) same familiar games, same prize payouts, same draw times, but they won't be available on television," Martin said. "The RNG system will provide animated videos that will be on display on our 'Watch the Drawings' page on our website at mdlottery.com."
The RNG operations take place in a secure room where drawing officials will work in pairs. The room has surveillance cameras, and the machines are under lock and key.
"Each case has two locks requiring two keys from two lottery drawing officials for access," Martin said.
While it's a different system, Morton said it will produce the same, fair results for players.
"The drawings are as fair and random as they ever have been -- more even now because the security is so much better. The player's end of the deal is a $1 or $2 ticket, and we give them a fair, random, perfect drawing every time," Morton said.
The switch to RNG drawings does not impact Cash4Life, Mega Millions or the Powerball because those drawings are conducted by other state lotteries that will continue using numbered balls and mechanical drawing machines.
How to get the Maryland Lottery's winning numbers
- Go to mdlottery.com/drawings
- Download the Maryland Lottery app
- Call the winning numbers line at 410-230-8830 | See the winning numbers here
Statement from the Maryland Lottery: "The Maryland Lottery is launching a new digital drawings system that will be used to conduct all drawings of Pick 3, Pick 4, Pick 5, Bonus Match 5 and Multi-Match.
"The system uses a Random Number Generator (RNG), a computer program that will randomly generate the winning numbers. It modernizes the lottery by replacing the numbered lottery balls and mechanical drawing machines.
"Thirty other lotteries across the U.S. and Canada have shifted to RNG systems for their drawings because they are more efficient and more cost-effective than using balls and drawing machines.
"The system is extremely secure. It is not connected to the internet and can't be accessed remotely. The area where the system is located is under 24/7 video surveillance, and two drawing officials with separate access cards and keys must be present to enter the room and unlock the system's cabinet. The system was built by Smartplay International Lottery Systems, a New Jersey company that supplies similar systems to lotteries around the world."
