Texas Lottery Pre-Tests
The Texas Lottery performs pre-tests, or unofficial drawings, prior to each live draw. A pre-test ensures the draw machine and ball set are working correctly and the balls are drawn randomly. Here's the pre-test procedure performed by the lottery for each draw game.
Lotto Texas
There are a minimum of six pre-tests conducted before each Lotto Texas draw.
To pass the pre-tests, the same ball within a set must be drawn fewer than five times. If the same ball is selected five times, an extra pre-test is held. If a ball is drawn six times, the whole ball set is removed and a new set is used. Additional pre-tests are then conducted to test the new ball set.
Two Step
There are a minimum of four pre-tests prior to each Two Step draw.
To pass the pre-tests, the same white ball must be drawn fewer than four times and the same red Bonus Ball must be drawn fewer than four times. If any ball is drawn five times, the whole ball set fails and the alternate set is used instead. More pre-tests are performed to test the alternate set.
Cash Five
The Lottery conducts at least four pre-tests ahead of every Cash Five draw.
To pass the pre-tests, the same ball must be drawn fewer than four times. If any ball is drawn five times, the entire ball set is removed and replaced with a new ball set. Additional pre-tests are held to test the alternate ball set.
Pick 3
The Lottery holds at least four pre-tests prior to each Pick 3 draw. Three ball sets are used in the Pick 3 drawing machine, one for each winning number. Each ball set is tested in a separate chamber of the machine, and each ball set is assessed independently of the others.
If any ball is selected four times in the same chamber, a new pre-test is held. If any ball that was drawn four times in the same chamber is picked a fifth time in the same chamber, then the whole ball set is withdrawn and replaced with an alternate set. Additional pre-tests are performed to test the new set.
Pick 3 Fireball
A minimum of four pre-tests are conducted before every Pick 3 Fireball draw. One ball set is used in the drawing machine. If the same Pick 3 Fireball number is selected four times, an extra pre-test is held. If the same ball is then drawn again, the ball set fails the pre-tests, and the alternate ball set is used instead. Additional pre-tests are used to assess the new ball set.
Daily 4
The Lottery holds at least four pre-tests prior to each Daily 4 draw. Four different ball sets are used in the drawing machine, one for each winning number. Pre-tests are performed on each ball set in a separate chamber of the machine, and each ball set passes or fails the assessments separately.
If any ball is drawn four times in the same chamber, an additional pre-test is conducted. If any ball that was selected four times in the same chamber is drawn again in the same chamber, then the whole ball set in that chamber is replaced with a new set. Extra pre-tests are held to assess the new set.
Daily 4 Fireball
A minimum of four pre-tests are conducted ahead of every Daily 4 Fireball draw. One ball set is used in the drawing machine. If the same ball is selected four times, an additional pre-test is performed. If the ball is drawn again, the entire ball set fails the tests and is replaced with the alternate set. More pre-tests are held to assess the new set.
All or Nothing
The Lottery holds four or more pre-tests before every All or Nothing draw. Out of the total of 12 balls, the same five balls must not be drawn more than three times. If the same five balls are selected four times, a fifth pre-test is held. If the same balls are chosen again, the whole ball set is withdrawn from the machine and the alternate ball set is used instead. Additional pre-tests are then used to assess the new equipment.