Montana Millionaire sales paused after system failure
The Montana Lottery has postponed Montana Millionaire ticket sales after technical problems disrupted its November 1 launch and awarded instant prizes more frequently than intended. The lottery said tickets already purchased remain valid and that sales will restart only after system issues are resolved and game data is validated.
The disruption involves the central gaming system operated by Bally’s Intralot. Lottery staff and the vendor have been working to identify the cause and restore reliable processing. The agency’s announcement does not provide a confirmed replacement sales date, saying that notice will follow once the necessary checks are complete.
A total of 12,919 Montana Millionaire tickets were sold before the postponement, the lottery told local reporters. Instant-win coupons issued during that period can still be redeemed through sales agents. Customers who bought raffle tickets were instructed to retain them because they will remain part of the prize pool when sales resume.
Lottery preserves tickets while vendor checks data
The game combines instant-win prizes with entry into later drawings. The excessive instant awards are therefore distinct from the main raffle prizes, which had not been drawn when the lottery issued its guidance. Officials said sales agents must scan coupon barcodes so that the redemptions are properly recorded.
Reporting attributed to Lottery Director Bob Brown identified 2,010 instant winners among the tickets sold before the interruption. Those awards comprised 991 prizes of $100 and 1,019 prizes of $500. The lottery has committed to honoring the winning tickets rather than canceling awards because of the system problem.
The lottery also reported performance problems during simultaneous transaction demand and incorrect information appearing on its website and mobile services. The annual launch had begun at 5:30 a.m., with customers lining up before sales opened. Sales were subsequently postponed while staff reconciled ticket activity and investigated the instant-prize distribution.
The agency said it would announce a new sales date through its website, social channels, and sales-agent communications. Its November 1 notice ties that announcement to resolution of the technical issues and validation of sales and game records. Previously sold tickets remain eligible, and the guidance continues to distinguish redeemable instant coupons from the raffle drawings still to come.
