First the first-time ever, thanks to a new ruling by the NFL, The Maryland Lottery and Baltimore Ravens have teamed up to offer an exclusive Ravens-themed scratch-off ticket . This new $5 ticket, with a $1 million instant top prize, goes on sale Monday at the more than 4,000 Lottery retailers throughout the State. The ticket will also be sold at Ravens home games throughout the season, beginning August 13th when the Ravens take on the Washington Redskins during the preseason home opener at M&T Bank Stadium.
In addition to the $1 million instant prize, Ravens Cash Fantasy features an Internet promotion offering myriad football-themed prizes including season tickets for life, game-day premium seats, game-worn jerseys, training camp facility passes, an away trip with the Ravens team, autographed footballs, autographed photographs and more!
"As both the Director of the Lottery and as an avid football fan, I'm thrilled about this ticket," said Buddy Roogow. "Teaming up with the Ravens brings to fruition a collaboration that I have wanted for a very long time."
Each Ravens Cash Fantasy scratch-off features a perforated portion on the lower right hand side of the ticket labeled "EXTRA YARDS", which reveals a special 11-digit alphanumeric code and the number of "EXTRA YARDS" that the code is worth. This information is entered online at mdlottery.com/ravens along with the players contact information. Players are guaranteed to get 10 yards and could get up to 100 yards on their "EXTRA YARDS" ticket code. Prizes have different "EXTRA YARDS" values and yards may be accumulated to be entered into the various prize drawings.
Owing to the popularity of the Ravens, the ticket's Internet component, as well as the fact that this is the first time that a $5 scratch-off has a top prize of $1 million, The *Ravens Cash Fantasy *ticket is expected to generate net revenue of $3 million for the State.
We are very pleased that the Maryland Lottery will be selling a Ravens lottery ticket throughout Maryland," Ravens president **Dick Cass** said. "The Lottery generates funds that benefit so many people in Maryland, and we are proud to have this direct association with the Lottery. We will work hard with the Lottery to make this effort a success."
The partnership is a new endeavor for the National Football League following a decades-long, no-gambling policy that was recently overturned by NFL owners. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said lottery proceeds could generate money for "many important public purposes." State lotteries across the country have been discussing NFL opportunities, and new partnerships have recently been formed with the New England Patriots and Redskins. The NFL agreed to let lotteries across the country use team logos and marks directly on lottery games.
The Maryland Lottery, which is experiencing its 12th year of record-breaking sales, is also the 12th-largest lottery in the country. Revenues from Lottery sales, which were more than $529 million last fiscal year alone, are deposited into the State's General Fund and used to support such services and programs as education, public health, human resources and public safety.
In 2008, the Ravens posted an 11-5 regular season record and advanced to the AFC Championship game, where they fell to the eventual Super Bowl champions. Led by John Harbaugh, Baltimore produced 13 total victories, which set an NFL record for most wins by a first-year head coach (Harbaugh) and rookie quarterback (Joe Flacco). Baltimore's stifling defense – ranked No. 2 in the NFL – set several franchise records, while the Ravens also had five players earn Pro Bowl honors: LB Ray Lewis, S Ed Reed, ST Brendon Ayanbadejo, LB Terrell Suggs and FB **Le’Ron McClain**.
For more information about the Maryland Lottery and the Ravens, visit www.mdlottery.com and www.baltimoreravens.com, respectively.
