People stand a good chance to win prizes in the state's new lottery game that starts Thursday, but the prizes won't make them filthy rich like some games.

The odds of winning the new game, 2by2, range from 1-in-8 to win a free ticket, to 1-in-105,600 for the $20,000 jackpot.

The game involves choosing two red numbers between 1 and 26 and two white numbers from 1 and 26.

Matching one number wins the ticket holder a free ticket, while matching all four numbers wins the jackpot. Matching three numbers wins $100 and matching two numbers wins $3. Tickets cost $1 apiece.

Rep. RaeAnn Kelsch, R-Mandan, who also is the chairwoman of the Lottery Advisory Commission, said she thinks the game will be popular.

"When you win more frequently, even if you are not a big winner, people feel that it's a good game,"Kelsch said.

In addition to having better odds, drawings for the game will be held six nights a week, Monday through Saturday.

Chuck Keller, director of the Lottery Division, is optimistic about the game.

"Players have been asking for a game with more chances to win and better odds, even if the prize is smaller," Keller said.

The game is currently being played in Kansas and Nebraska.

2by2 will be the fourth lottery game since Powerball first started on March 25, 2004.

Kelsch said she hopes the new game will be as successful as others.

Lottery ticket sales in the first 15 months of its existence totalled $25.3 million, which was more than double the original projection of $11 million.

"Ithink that shows that the people of North Dakota were serious about getting the lottery in North Dakota," Kelsch said.

In 2002, approximately 63.5 percent of voters approved the lottery.

The Lottery Division will be hosting celebrations in Bismarck, Mandan and Fargo to start the new game on Thursday.

(Reach reporter Tom Rafferty at 223-8482 or tom.rafferty@;bismarcktribune.com.)