Mano a Mano

Each contestant is given their own Lotería tablero consisting of nine cards arranged in a 3-by-3 grid. Starting with the winner of a backstage coin toss, contestants alternate selecting one square at a time from a board of 15. Hidden behind each number is a different Lotería card with a dollar value ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 in $500 increments, and every card appears on one or both tableros. If the selected card is on only one contestant's tablero, it is marked off and that contestant banks the money associated with it. If a card appearing on both tableros is uncovered, both contestants mark it off but the money goes only to the contestant who selected it.

Hidden behind several squares are “Loca Challenges,” minigames worth up to $10,000 that range from physical stunts to musical performances. Once the challenge is completed, the card behind it is revealed and marked/scored as above.

A contestant earns a Lotería and a $10,000 bonus for completing a horizontal, vertical, or diagonal line of three cards. The first contestant to earn two Loterías wins the game and takes their winnings to the bonus round. If a contestant earns multiple Loterías in one turn, they receive $10,000 for each one and immediately win the game.

Million Dollar Lotería

The champion is given a new tablero, consisting of 16 cards in a 4-by-4 grid, and faces a board of 20 numbered squares.

As in the main game, the champion selects one square at a time. Behind 16 of the squares are Lotería cards, all of which can be found on the tablero. The dollar values hidden behind the cards now range from $2,000 to $10,000. Loca Challenges are still hidden on the board, and can award up to $20,000.

Four skull cards are also hidden on the board; each time the champion uncovers one, their bank is cut in half. Finding all four skulls ends the game immediately and forfeits the entire bank. If three skulls are found, the champion is offered a chance to end the game at that point and keep half their remaining winnings.

The champion must mark off a line of four cards in order to earn a Lotería, which awards a $25,000 bonus. Earning a Lotería also gives the champion the chance to either end the game and keep all winnings, or continue to play. In the latter case, they must continue to choose numbers until either earning another Lotería or uncovering three skulls (or the fourth one, if the contestant had already found three).

Marking off all 16 cards on the tablero increases the champion's winnings to $1,000,000.

Critical response

Andy Dehnart felt that while Lotería Loca was "lively and vibrant in a way few American game shows are", he felt that the format itself was shallow due to being almost entirely based on luck, and felt that the Loca Challenges needed to provide more benefits to the player and have more variety.^[20]