Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
New Mexico is giving away $10 million in prize money as a way to entice more residents to register for the COVID-19 vaccine.
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, the state’s Department of Health and the New Mexico Lottery on June 1 announced the Vax 2 the Max Sweepstakes.
Health Secretary Tracie Collins said during a health briefing Wednesday that similar lotteries have proven effective in raising COVID-19 vaccination rates in other states. She said vaccination registrations rose 53% in all age groups in rural areas in Ohio after that state instituted a vaccination lottery system.
To be eligible for the sweepstakes, New Mexico residents who receive or have received their COVID-19 vaccinations must opt in to register and verify their personal and vaccination information at vax2themaxnm.org.
Vaccinated New Mexico residents who have opted into the sweepstakes will be part of five weekly drawings beginning in mid-June.
Each weekly drawing will award one $250,000 winner from each of the state’s four public health regions for a total of $1 million in cash prizes each week.
A grand prize of $5 million will be awarded in early August at the conclusion of the sweepstakes to one winner drawn from the statewide pool of vaccinated New Mexicans who have opted in to the sweepstakes.
The New Mexico Lottery will conduct the cash sweepstakes drawings on behalf of the governor.
“I’m pleased the New Mexico Lottery can assist the state in making these prizes available to New Mexicans getting their shots,” Lottery Chief Executive David M. Barden said.
This week, New Mexicans receiving their vaccinations through providers who have partnered with the state vaccinenm.org registration system will be eligible to win assorted prizes. One also can register by calling 1-855-600-3453, then press 1 for assistance. Winners will be selected at random.
Prizes include:
• One of 18 in-state “staycation” travel packages ranging in value from $600 to $1,100, including four nights of accommodations and gift cards to local businesses and experiences;
• Fishing and hunting licenses;
• Annual day-use passes for New Mexico state parks;
• Day-use passes for New Mexico state museums and cultural sites.
The New Mexico Lottery this week also will bring 10 “prize wheels” to providers who have partnered with the state registration system; these sites will be spread across the state. New Mexico residents receiving vaccinations at these sites will be eligible for chance to win assorted prizes, including New Mexico Lottery tickets.
Winners will be required to produce their CDC COVID-19 vaccination record card upon claiming their prize.
Non-winning entries in the Vax 2 the Max Sweepstakes will carry over from one weekly drawing to the next. No one may win more than one $250,000 regional drawing. All eligible participants will be eligible for the final $5 million drawing.
To be eligible, individuals must be at least 18 years old and a resident of New Mexico. Employees of the New Mexico Lottery and the Office of the Governor, as well as any state employees appointed by the governor, and any members of these employees’ households, are not eligible.
To be entered into a drawing, eligible individuals must opt in to the sweepstakes on the Vax 2 the Max website by 6 p.m. Mountain time the evening before a drawing.