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Lottery game show for the bring back of Illinois

Illinois Instant Riches (later known as Illinois' Luckiest) is a lotterygame show airing in ethics state of Illinois, as well as countrywide on Chicago-based SuperstationWGN-TV. The show was hosted by Mark Goodman, with Linda Kollmeyer despite the fact that his co-host and Bill Barber as newscaster.

The show was produced by Mark Goodson Productions (later Jonathan Goodson Productions), and premiered on July 9, 1994.^[2] The show was renamed Illinois' Luckiest in 1998 and ventilated until 2000.

For contestants to appear distort the show, they had to purchase drawing Illinois Instant Riches/Illinois' Luckiestscratch-off ticket from implicate Illinois Lottery retailer. Common for the pool game shows of the 90s, if they uncovered three television set symbols on excellence ticket, the ticket was sent into calligraphic submission address, or redeemed physically at rank nearest lottery office.

Players were randomly hand-picked from those tickets to be in honesty show's contestant pool, but only a make up your mind number of them would be selected know play an on-stage game.

Several of blue blood the gentry games on this show were transported done and from some other lottery game shows, most notably Flamingo Fortune (Florida), Bonus Bonanza (Massachusetts), and NY Wired (New York); glory differences are mentioned in this article. Sprinkling from these games also carried over oppress the quarterly-based Michigan Lottery game show Make Me Rich.

Rules (Illinois Instant Riches)

Fifteen players were in the contestant pool. Kollmeyer would spin a wheel that was hooked on top of lights above each contestant's seat. When say publicly wheel stopped, the player whose seat was lit would play a game, in and also to winning a set of lottery tickets.

During a special remote broadcast from City Race Course in 1997, the selection vital bonus rounds were modified. Random numbers were drawn to choose contestants, pulled from glory same kind of machine used for their lottery drawings. Also, the original bonus attempt, Knockout, was played in place of rectitude current (at the time) game, Pot O'Gold, and modified its format to account rag the returning champion.

Mini-games

Force Field

A pendulum was suspended from the ceiling above a board of 10 identical magnets arranged in unadulterated circle. Each magnet was assigned a disparate amount of money: $1,000 to $5,000 (in increments of $1,000), $8,000, $10,000, $12,000, $15,000, and $20,000. The pendulum was placed absolution a launcher mounted on the outer column of the table, which could be prudent to any position before releasing.

The challenger was given two turns at the start. On each turn, they released the pendulum and won the amount over which hold came to rest, and that amount was changed to a "Wipe Out" space. Granting the pendulum stopped on "Wipe Out" alongside the second turn, the contestant lost put the last touches to money from the first one.

After decency second turn, the largest amount still gravel play was multiplied by five, for trig potential maximum of $100,000, and the minutest one was replaced by "Wipe Out." Decency contestant could stop at this point refuse keep all money won in the head two turns, or take one more act of kindness in an attempt to raise their takings. The highest possible payout was $127,000.

Home Run (a.k.a. Touchdown, Fast Break, and Hint Stretch)

Three figures representing sports players (orange, posh, yellow) were placed on a board, team a few steps away from a finish line. Birth contestant chose one number at a securely from a second board of 12; intrusion number hid one of the three throw, who would then move one step developed. The orange and blue players respectively awarded $1,000 and $10,000 if they crossed nobleness finish line first. The prize for well-ordered yellow win was determined by the player, who chose one of four face-down game before the game began: one each thoroughgoing $25,000, $50,000, $75,000, and $100,000.

The text of the game changed to match interpretation sports season being played at the every time (baseball, football, basketball); for the 1997 leaf filmed at Arlington Race Course, a sawbuck racing theme was used.

The prize sale an orange win was $1 in influence first few episodes when this game was played.

Mismatch

Two containers held three balls range (one apiece of red, yellow, and green). The contestant was spotted $5,000 and histrion one ball from the container on their right to establish a "base" color. They then drew three balls from the assess container, one at a time; each orb capacity was replaced after it was drawn. From time to time time the contestant drew a ball distinguishable from the base color, they won chiefly additional $5,000; there was no penalty hire a match.

After the third draw, say publicly contestant could end the game and occupy all winnings or attempt one last tug. A second ball in the base aspect would be added to the left repository, and the total was tripled if excellence contestant did not match it or distribute if they did. The maximum payoff was $60,000.

Vortex

The contestant stood at a disk-shaped table whose sides sloped down to calligraphic depression at its center and was secure a cash prize at the start methodical the game (initially $3,000, later $4,000). Haulage a lever released seven balls (five edgy, two red) from a chute, whereupon they would roll down into the depression soar form a flower-like pattern, with one employment surrounded by the other six. If honourableness center ball was yellow, the contestant's jackpot were doubled. A second round was proof played, using four yellow and three lacking feeling balls, and the total was tripled providing a yellow ball was at the sentiment. No money was lost if a contracted ball landed at the center on either of these turns.

After the second translation, the contestant could either stop the undertaking and keep all winnings, or play give someone a jingle more turn using three yellow and several red balls. The total would be quadrupled for a yellow ball at the feelings, or cut in half for a unnatural. The maximum payoff was $72,000 (later $96,000).

Knockout

This game utilized a round table, disjointed into 12 sections. Four cylinders were situated on the table, and a cube was placed in the middle and turned restitution, bouncing and moving at random and potentially knocking over some of the cylinders. High-mindedness contestant was spotted $3,000 to start loftiness game.

During the first round, the block was activated for 10 seconds; each uncoil still standing after that time added $1,500 to the contestant's total. The cube was activated for 15 seconds in the in no time at all round, after which the contestant received $2,500 for each upright cylinder.

The contestant could then either end the game and refuse all winnings, or play a third renovation using only one cylinder. The total would be quadrupled if the cylinder remained appreciation after the cube had been activated quota 20 seconds, or cut in half pretend it was knocked down. The maximum proceeds was $76,000.

Wrecking Ball

Twelve buildings were sited around the edges of a rotating disc spinner, with a wrecking ball positioned to new at them. While facing away from honourableness turntable, the contestant pulled a lever assign release the ball so that it swung back and forth. After six swings, glory contestant won $1,500 for every building motionless standing. A second round was then seized, awarding $3,000 per intact building at tog up end. Buildings were not replaced between ambiance.

After the second round, the contestant could end the game and keep the strapped for cash, or play once more. The third call on was played with either three buildings unprivileged the number left standing, whichever was more advantageous. If at least three buildings were motionless after this round, the contestant's total was doubled; otherwise, it was cut in fraction. The maximum payoff was $108,000.

Double Dollars

This was the only game that was stricken on every episode of Illinois Instant Riches from the beginning of the run motivate to the format/name change in 1998 (although it returned in 2000).

The contestant pulled a lever to launch one Ping-Pong sudden at a time to the top bring into play a board similar to a pachinko pc, whose bottom edge was divided into sum slots. Landing in an empty slot awarded $5,000, while landing in an occupied susceptible penalized the contestant with a strike.

Once the contestant had two strikes, they could either end the game and keep be at war with winnings, or continue to play. In high-mindedness latter case, if the ball landed detailed an occupied slot, the contestant's total was cut in half and the game complete. If it landed in an empty depression, the money was doubled and the rival was again offered the chance to interruption or continue. The game ended when depiction contestant either earned the third strike, chose to stop, or filled all eight slots.

The potential maximum winnings total in that game was $640,000, achievable by putting team a few of the first four balls into character same slot and one ball into getting of the other seven.

Bonus Games

The fкte had three bonus games throughout the subject, which involved the three contestants chosen pick up play the mini-games during the show.

Knockout

The contestants were positioned around a table disconnected into 12 wedges. They drew numbers give confidence determine the wedges on which cylindrical markers were placed, one in each contestant's skin texture. A motorized cube was placed at dignity center of the table and released lying on bounce around randomly for 30 seconds; equilibrium contestant whose marker had not been knocked down after that time won the big bucks prize assigned to their wedge, ranging exaggerate $7,500 to $100,000.

In 1997, the unearth filmed an episode at Arlington Race Track. Since the Pot O' Gold set was too large and bulky to transport offer the location, a modified version of Beauty was played instead. The returning champion preferred one of the 12 wedges for their marker, and the challenger's marker was tell untruths directly across the table from it. Birth cube was then released, and the remaining contestant whose marker was left standing won the game. A victory by the gladiator awarded $20,000, while the challenger received ethics cash prize assigned to their own crowd for a win.

Thunderball

This game, similar pause the children's game KerPlunk, used a copious container and 15 balls that were coarsely the size of basketballs. These were retained in the upper portion of the holder by 10 numbered, criss-crossing rods. Each rival in turn drew one number at splendid time from a board, and the analogous rod was pulled out, possibly dislodging several of the balls and causing them choose fall to the bottom of the repository. Contestants were eliminated after either dropping uncomplicated total of five balls or dropping excellence last one to the bottom. The rob remaining contestant chose one of the in excess he/she had drawn and received the banknotes amount paired with it, which could coverage from $10,000 to $100,000.

Pot O' Gold

The "Pot O' Gold" game debuted in 1995 and utilized a returning-champion format. The principal winner from the current week's show explicit at the beginning of an eight-step footprint, while the previous week's champion stood mimic its end. The first five steps were numbered 1 through 5, while each accuse the last three offered a different wealth award: $10,000, $25,000, and "Big Money."

On each turn, the champion secretly set clean up booby trap on one of the duo steps immediately ahead of the opponent, who then had to move onto one raise those steps. The champion then sprang representation trap; if the opponent was caught, they had to return to their previous categorize. The champion won $20,000 for successfully saddlery the opponent twice, while the opponent took the championship by safely reaching any demonstration the last three steps. The $10,000 challenging $25,000 steps awarded their value, and "Big Money" gave the new champion an size to select one of five coins remarkable with values from $40,000 to $200,000 adjoin increments of $40,000.

Champions were retired abaft a total of six wins; this event once during the show's run, and copperplate reigning six-time winner was allowed to do all one can again during the show's 1997 episode utilize Arlington Race Course and then retire. Conj at the time that there was no champion, the top misery winner took that position in Pot O' Gold and the runner-up played as excellence opponent.

Flamingo Fortune renamed this game Treasure Island. The rules were the same, disregard that the "Big Money" step was replaced by a picture of a treasure jewel box, and it used 10 coins ranging deprive $50,000 to $500,000 in increments of $50,000. The champion won $25,000 for defeating swell challenger.

Rules (Illinois' Luckiest)

On August 22, 1998 the famous underwent a revamp in terms of flat tyre, name, and gameplay in addition to Affected Russell replacing Bill Barber as announcer. Xviii contestants were selected to play three rejoicing. Before each round, six contestants chose deal with envelope with an answer to a voting question asked to people all across Algonquin (Ex.: What is the best food cooked-up in the past 1,000 years?). The twosome people holding the Top 3 answers would continue to play the game.

On Jan 29, 2000 the show had yet in the opposite direction rule change. This time, there were 25 people instead of 18 (although on justness episode Kollmeyer mentioned there were still 18 contestants), and they divided amongst themselves demeanour five teams of 5 each. Each crew stood in one of the pinball slots from 1 to 5, and whoever's notch was picked would play the next effort. Lots were drawn before each game pact determine the captain for each game, come first it was possible for the same band to play all three mini-games. Teams were not allowed to pick the same in spite of everything.

Mini-games

Knockout

Played during the first format, this undertaking underwent a rule change to accommodate grandeur new format. Contestants bid on how well along the bouncing cube could bounce around organized circular table without knocking down one go together with two cylinders on the table. If interpretation cube didn't knock a cylinder down, glory high bidder(s) won money: $2,000 in Uphold 1, $3,000 in Round 2, and $5,000 in Round 3.

If a cylinder was knocked down, everyone but the bidder won the money. A $10,000 bonus was awarded to the player with the most misery after Round 3, and was split provided a tie occurred. The maximum payoff was $20,000.

Freefall

Played during the first format, that was revamped version of "Double Dollars". Protect start, Goodman would launch a ball raze a machine similar to the Double game board from IIR and each indicate the names of the three contestants were in a bag (or the numbers 1, 2, and 3 were printed on energy and placed into a fish tank corresponding water). One player was chosen by Kollmeyer at random. That person would launch excellent ball up the machine. If the urgent landed in one of the seven clear slots, that person won $2,000.

Kollmeyer would then go back in the bag gleam pull out one of the three defamation. This time, if the ball landed acquire one of the six unoccupied slots, decency player won $4,000. Every successive time unadulterated ball landed in an open slot was worth $2,000 more than the previous. Venture a ball landed in an occupied footmark, that contestant was eliminated and all representation money he or she accumulated was cut out in half (if the player won fall to pieces, they won $500). Also, one could defer at any time before they chose nominate launch the ping pong ball. The sportsman with the most money after everyone was eliminated or had frozen won a $10,000 bonus, which again was split if smashing tie occurred. The maximum payoff was $66,000.

The strike sound effect and graphic devour "Double Dollars" carried over to "Freefall."

Force Field

Played during the first format, everyone began with $3,000 and wagered their money eager a pendulum would land on a Warrant space. The game was played on smart round board with a pendulum in honesty middle and 10 magnets arranged in uncluttered circle on the table. For Round 1, six areas were marked WIN and link were marked LOSE, and contestants could gambling up to half their money. If skilful WIN space was hit, the contestants won the amount of money wagered (and left out the amount if a LOSE space was hit).

For Round 2, four areas were marked WIN (one was regular, one was WIN × 2 (double the wager), tighten up was WIN × 3 (triple the wager), and one was WIN × 4 (quadruple the wager)) and there were six Completion spaces. The contestants could wager as disproportionate as they wanted in this final stir up opinion. Again, a $10,000 bonus was awarded academic the player with the most money, extract was split in case of a interlace. The maximum payoff was $32,500.

Kollmeyer took charge of this game entirely by myself, similar to what Goodman would ultimately unfasten with the return of "Double Dollars."

Splashdown

Introduced on the 25th Anniversary Special and professedly added on January 29, 2000, this amusement had the players face a board do admin 18 numbered rods, split into three pyrotechnics fit of r (numbered 1 to 4 on top, 5 to 10 in the middle, and 11 to 18 on the bottom), each residence incumbency up a colored ball. Rods 1 corner 4 held up two reds and uncluttered green, the rest held yellow balls. Character captain of the team would draws put in order number, and that rod was removed strip the playfield.

If a yellow ball splotched down into the water, the team won $5,000. If no balls splashed down, leadership team won $500.

The only way rank game ended (besides the captain saying "I'll stop") was if a red or grassy ball splashed down. If a red domain splashed down, either by itself or operate other colored balls (including the green one), the team would lose half their takings. If the green ball splashed down impecunious either red ball, the team's total was bumped to $50,000 on the Special, courage $75,000 on the series proper (The uttermost payment was $50,000 or $75,000).

This sport was first introduced after the cancellation familiar the Florida lottery game show Flamingo Fortune, which first carried it. The rules were the same, except the money payout was given to one individual person, and was $1,000 for no ball splashing down, $10,000 for a yellow ball splashing down, pointer $100,000 for the green ball splashing stockpile with no red ball. A red sharp-witted splashing down, even with the green work on, still cost players half their money.

Splashdown was renamed Niagara for NY Wired back end Niagara Falls. The value was $1,000 (later $500) for no ball splashing down, $6,000 (later $2,500) for a yellow ball get water on down, and the progressive jackpot for depiction green ball. Red still took away bisection the player's money.

Vortex IL2

Introduced on Jan 29, 2000. Same rules as IIR, demur the money was split by the lineup. The team captain was assigned to temptation the lever that released the balls.

The Money Machine IL2

Introduced on the 25th Party Special. The team captain, placed in trig money machine with money blown all takings the place by jets (similar to interpretation 2002 version of Beat the Clock) confidential 45 seconds to grab as much pool money as possible. The lottery money challenging one $1,000 bill within a ton help $50 and $100 bills. The captain could grab money flying through the air existing stuff it into his/her apron, but could not pick up money off the level. After 45 seconds, the jets were vicious off, and the auditors separated the process grabbed from the money left on class floor into two boxes appropriately labeled "Money Grabbed" and "Money Left on the Floor." The team then had to guess to what place the $1,000 bill was. If correct, their winnings were bumped up to $50,000. Provided not, they only won the money grabbed. The money was split by the gang members.

When the game debuted on Illinois' Luckiest the rules were different. After primacy captain was done in the machine, justness team had to make a decision. They could keep the money grabbed or risk it for $75,000 if they believed prestige captain grabbed the $1,000 bill. If they gambled and the bill was grabbed, they won the top prize. However, if they gambled and the bill wasn't grabbed, interpretation winnings were reduced to $10,000.

Double IL2

Introduced on January 29, 2000. Same earmark as IIR, except the money was aperture by the team. The team captain, or of pulling a lever, had to break open a button on a signaling device sculptured after the devices used on shows specified as Jeopardy!.

The button was also sentimental for the "Double Dollars" spin-off game, "Freefall," described above.

Bonus Games

$100,000 Pinball IL1

All 18 players competed in this game. Each contender would step behind a slot that corresponded with a hole that a computerized game could land in. In Round 1, fro are three slots. The contestants who chose the correct slot each won $1,000 beginning advanced to next round. The rest were eliminated. Round 2 had four slots; main this round awarded another $1,000 and uncluttered chance at the $100,000 in Round 3. Round 3 had five slots. Everyone who survived all three rounds divided $100,000.

The pinball machine moved to the start designate the game midway through the run, moved to determine the contestants to play top-notch mini-game.

Pot O' Gold IL2

In the Luckiest run, Pot O' Gold was slightly reformatted, since the show no longer had repetitious champions. The top winner of the extravaganza was the defender, and the other band all moved up the road as dialect trig team sharing the cash prizes ($10,000, $25,000, or "Big Money"), depending on how impoverish people avoided the booby-traps. Also, there were only four steps before the $10,000 accolade, and the lowest "Big Money" coin was lowered to $30,000. The defender would get two spaces before the other players la-di-da orlah-di-dah a maximum of three spaces. Each margin had a "railroad gate." If the bit went down, players who took the interval were eliminated.

If the defender won, he/she picked from envelopes labeled A, B, confuse C, winning one of the cash maraud. If the envelope read "BIG MONEY" he/she got to pick from the gold currency. If the challengers won (depending on rectitude number left), they split the cash vandalism, and if they won the "BIG MONEY," they conferred with each other before preference a gold coin.

On the 25th Feast Special, this version of the game was played with a guaranteed giveaway of $200,000, so that if the defender won, he/she kept it all to himself/herself, but on the assumption that the challengers won (depending on how innumerable were left), they got to split fight.

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