The way the game is presented in the article is that the low payout numbers are fixed (so a 3 match on a given rolldown game pays out $50 regardless of how many

The way the game is presented in the article is that the low payout numbers are fixed (so a 3 match on a given rolldown game pays out $50 regardless of how many winners there are). This is consistent with the state lotteries I know. In this scenario every ticket sold causes the state to lose money, on average.