GAME STARTS MONDAY: STATE LOTTERY GAMBLING ON `SUPER CASH'

State lottery officials are gambling that a new game to be unveiled Monday will keep more Missouri lottery money at home to fatten the state's lottery coffers.

"Super Cash," or "Pick 5," will be introduced on the sixth anniversary of implementation of the Missouri lottery. It will give players a chance to win up to $100,000 every day Mondays through Saturdays.

"Many players have expressed interest in a chance to win a prize smaller than the million-dollar Lotto but larger than a few thousand dollars and have better odds," said Judy Derks of the communications division of the Missouri Lottery in Jefferson City.

"The top prize in Super Cash $100,000 will be paid to winners in one lump sum rather than over 20 years like our Lotto and Megabucks jackpots," said Derks.

"I'm really excited by the new game," said Donnie Jordan, manager of Kwik Pantry, 1401 Independence. "I think it will increase sales, and I think it will keep some Missourians from going across the river."

Jim Sturm, manager of Del Farm National Food Store, 121 S. Sprigg, agreed. "I'm from Illinois and they have their Little Lotto (Pick 5) game there," said Sturm. "The new Missouri Super Cash is comparable, and I think Missourians will play it."

Dennis Marchi, manager of Schnucks, 19 S. Kingshighway, said he thinks sales will increase. "I think most people who buy the Illinois lottery tickets will continue to do so," he said. "With the new game, however, people will probably buy more Missouri SuperCash tickets."

Many area Missourians play the Illinois Little Lotto game, which is conducted three days a week: Monday, Wednesday and Friday. "Illinois' Little Lotto pays $200,000," said a spokesman at the Purple Crackle Club in East Cape Girardeau, where numbers are available.

Players in the Missouri game will receive two plays for $1. To play the game, players pick five numbers from 1 to 42. Officials say it offers the best odds of any "on-line" game.

"Overall, odds of winning a prize in SuperCash are one in 62," said Derks. "That includes $5, $250 and $100,000 prizes."

Odds of selecting five numbers are one in 425,334, said Derks. The odds of picking four numbers are one in 2,299 and odds for selecting three numbers are one in 64.

Missouri lottery sales have had slow growth this year, a projected $230 million this fiscal year, up from $216 million last year. Legislators have pressured lottery officials sell more tickets, but they don't want aggressive lottery advertising that emphasizes gambling.

The new game also offers smaller prizes. Players who match four of the five numbers will win a parimutuel prize averaging about $250, and players who pick three numbers will win a prize guaranteed to be at least $5.

The first Super Cash ticket can be sold at 6 a.m. Monday at sites that have "on-line" terminals. Twelve hours and 57 minutes later, the first numbers will be drawn.

"If as many as 10 players win, they each will receive $100,000," said Derks. "If more than 10 players win, they will share $1 million. The pot will not go over the million-dollar mark."

The game also comes at a time when the state has hired a new lottery director.

James R. "Jim" Scroggins, former chief of the Pennsylvania lottery, was hired as executive director of the Missouri lottery. Sroggins, one of about 330 applicants for the job, succeeds Michael H. Morris, who resigned under pressure last year. Scroggins will receive an annual salary of $73,000, the same as Morris.

Scroggins has been in the lottery business for 14 years, including seven years at the Illinois lottery - the major competitor of the Missouri lottery.