New lottery game has big price tag

The North Carolina lottery has come up with a new scratch-off ticket game offering the chance to win some very big bucks.

But you have to be ready to shell out some big bucks to play.

The lottery is starting its first $20 scratch-off ticket, the $200 Million Extravaganza. The $200 million refers to the total prize money available, not the amount a single player can win. 

Lottery Executive Director Tom Shaheen said the total prize money in play should help attract buyers for the ticket.

"You're getting a lot larger prizes and more prizes for $20," Shaheen said. 

Previously, the most expensive scratch-off game in North Carolina cost $10. Officials expect the ticket to draw new players, although frequent scratch-off ticket buyers may splurge on a $20 game.

The game features five tickets with a top prize of $3 million, and ten tickets with a $1 million prize. Those prizes would be paid in installments over 20 years.

Lottery officials say the game offers the best overall odds of winning something, even if it's only $30.

And about those odds: the chances of winning any prize on the game are 1 in 2.6. The odds of winning $3 million are 1 in 2.7 million.

Update: Post now includes comments from lottery director.