By Mary Cimaglio, Senior Instant Games Manager
At the Arizona Lottery, seasonal games have always been an integral part of our product portfolio. These games offer a unique opportunity to engage with players during key moments throughout the year—whether it’s celebrating the holiday season, embracing sports fandom, or enjoying the excitement of Halloween. As Senior Instant Games Manager, I’ve seen firsthand how these games resonate with our players and bring excitement to their experience.
Seasonal games allow us to tap into the emotions of specific times of the year. Our holiday-themed Scratchers®, for example, are filled with festive colors, symbols, and designs that capture the magic of the season. Whether players are scratching off snowflakes or holiday ornaments, these tickets are designed to evoke the joy and warmth that people feel during the holidays.
In addition to holiday tickets, we also focus on seasonal themes for other times of the year. For instance, we frequently launch Halloween and fall-themed games in August to kick off the autumn festivities. These games bring excitement with spooky symbols, vibrant colors, and fun prizes, getting players in the mood for the upcoming season.
While we don’t have specific Mother’s or Father’s Day tickets, we do offer tickets around that time that may appeal to those looking for a thoughtful gift. It’s part of how we align our games with everyday moments to ensure they connect with our players in a meaningful way.
Launching games at the right time is critical to their success. Our seasonal games are carefully timed to align with players’ interests and activities. We launch our holiday tickets in October, allowing early shoppers to find the perfect festive ticket. Similarly, summer often brings the introduction of "hot" or heat-themed tickets to reflect Arizona's summer atmosphere. By aligning our game launches with the rhythms of everyday life, we ensure that our players can engage with the lottery in a timely and relevant way.
These thoughtful design choices contribute to the games being more than just entertainment—they foster meaningful connections. Players often purchase seasonal tickets as gifts, adding another layer of significance to their lottery experience.
In addition to holiday and family-oriented games, our sports-themed Fast Play™ games offer players another way to connect with their favorite seasons. Touchdown Dollars, released during football season, and Home Run Riches, timed for baseball season, are designed to capture the excitement and enthusiasm surrounding these popular sports. These games offer players a fun way to celebrate their love for the game while enjoying the instant-win format of Fast Play tickets, no matter which team they support.
Seasonal games are designed to create urgency and excitement. Players know these tickets are only available for a limited time, driving them to engage early and often to ensure they don’t miss out. Year after year, we hear from players who eagerly await the return of their favorite holiday or seasonal games.
We also support seasonal games through our loyalty program, Arizona Lottery Players Club, which encourages repeat play and rewards players for participating. For example, we’re offering a Hawaiian Holiday Giveaway this holiday season, which ties directly into our holiday Scratchers. Players can enter winning and non-winning tickets for a chance to win an unforgettable tropical vacation.
Looking ahead, we’re excited about the opportunities for growth in the seasonal games space. We plan to launch new Fast Play tickets in 2025 to celebrate the Chinese New Year and St. Patrick’s Day, expanding our portfolio to connect with even more cultural celebrations. We’re also continuously exploring ways to integrate Arizona-specific events into our designs, making our games more personal and relevant to the communities we serve.
Seasonal games have a unique power to bring joy, excitement, and connection to our players. At Arizona Lottery, we’re committed to creating games that reflect the spirit of the season—whether that’s the festive feel of holiday Scratchers, the appeal of tickets launched around Mother’s and Father’s Day, or the adrenaline of sports-themed Fast Play games.
By continuing to innovate and tap into these key moments, we can offer players meaningful experiences beyond the chance to win. I’m proud to lead the development of these games and excited about what the future holds for seasonal offerings at Arizona Lottery.
