Powerball lottery to have larger jackpot, but harder to win

Comment #32

Texas Joey — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 01:44:46 GMT

Do you remember when that group from Australia won the very first Power Ball game?? That upset all of us in Virginia at the time. I was just reminising a little. Now they want to make it harder!!!! Oh well thank heaven for the Texas Two Step!!!

Joey

Comment #31

DC81 — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 23:12:39 GMT

Even with Florida there was no reason to really raise the odds that much other than the obvious reason they did it. It's very disproportionate to how much business Florida is likely to bring in. If I remember correctly, all the states (and territories) combined that are a part of the Powerball game still don't come close to the total population that of the handful of states that make up Mega Millions.

Comment #30

mylollipop — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 06:47:08 GMT

Well, it is closer for those on the Gulf Coast to go to Florida, rather than Louisiana. Now all we need is a MegaMillions in Mississippi or Alabama. The odds are always high! Just waiting for the fairy to sprinkle dust this way. FOTFL.

Comment #29

KY Floyd — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 09:12:49 GMT

Given that Florida's population is now joining the game, that'spotentially millions more combinations that could have been boughtunder the old system, meaning jackpot winners were more likely. Theydon't want that.

That's not quite right. If they had brought in Florida but kept the same odds, winners would be just as likely, since winning is a function of the odds. More people playing would have resulted in winners being more frequent. The jackpots would have grown faster, and been won sooner... [ More ]

Comment #28

LckyLary — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 04:28:25 GMT

I beg to differ.. if you include contests that aren't the Lottery, but with money prizes.. ever read the odds on the McDonald's Monopoly or the Publisher's Clearinghouse? I remember in McDonald's to win the $1M top prize (annuity only) it was something like a BILLION to one! Yet people even won that. Maybe in Italy the tickets are cheaper so they play 3 times as many? I remember when in PA you got 3 for a dollar and the odds were 100M to 1 per line but per dollar it was ~33M to 1.

I have beat... [ More ]

Comment #27

justxploring — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 04:01:39 GMT

This is true. However, you can say that about anything.

Example: I'm 57 and I've never known anyone who contracted Whipple's Disease. (I once heard of it on the show House ) An estimated 1,000 cases a year have been reported worldwide, so it isn't as rare as some conditions like primary amebic meningoencephalitis, caused when an amoeba enters your nose and infects the brain. So let us assume that in 2009 there will be 12 to 14 PB winners. That means you have a significantly better shot at co... [ More ]

Comment #26

dvdiva — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 03:19:39 GMT

No the worst odds belong to Italy's SuperEnalotto with 1:622 million odds. Amazingly someone won it recently proving that no matter how bad the odds someone can still win.

Comment #25

Guru101 — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 05:56:38 GMT

It rolled again! $90,000,000. If nobody wins Saturday(which I hope I do), we'll have a nice starting jackpot for the new matrix.

Comment #24

WTanner — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 05:41:31 GMT

I agree with both of you. I hope someone wins (ME) on Saturday B4 the change, better odds 4 us all. LOL

Comment #23

amininflorida — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 13:55:36 GMT

I LIVE IN Tampa Florida.......and COUNTING Down the days till Powerball....debating with roommate and good friend if we will pick a set of numbers and stick with them or do Quick Picks!!!

At any rate, I always enjoyed playing it when visiting thos states...and the fact it will be drawn here In Orlando...only learned that now....YES!!!!

So GOOD LUCK To all ....... And HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYBODY

Comment #22

barbos — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 07:57:21 GMT

Interesting they don't forget to say

The starting jackpot will jump from $15 million to $20 million, the world's largest starting jackpot for a lotto-style game.

but fail to mention the game will have the lowest in the world chance to win with the odds proposed.

Comment #21

itsmyhouse — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 15:01:58 GMT

This is all about sales, folks. Believe it or not, sales remain fairly consistent until the Powerball jackpot reaches $200 million. At that point, with each rollover, the sales increase. That is what they're shooting for here, yet trying to keep the appeal for folks who realize they probably won't ever hit the jackpot, but still want a decent shot at some of the lower tier prizes. Given that Florida's population is now joining the game, that's potentially millions more combinations that could ha... [ More ]

Comment #20

Texas Joey — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 14:52:00 GMT

I don't have State Income Tax either and I live in Texas.. We have the Mega Million game and I think that one is big enough for all of us. I have to go to Louisiana to get Power Ball tickets.. Never have won anything on it yet! Have won with the Mega Millions though! Lots of Luck Playing.

Happy New Year

Comment #19

ThatScaryChick — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 05:25:56 GMT

Arkansas may join Powerball.

Comment #18

LckyLary — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 02:42:47 GMT

This story was out for a while but not mentioned much until this past month. Everytime a big State joins there is a matrix change with more balls and tougher odds for the jackpot. I get burnout when the jackpot keeps increasing but I don't even get 1 or 2 # and have to make another run to Pennsylvania. 10M is life-changing enough and I'd rather see a 10M or 20M or so winner every few drawings than one 300M winner or two per year. Now we can say, Oh * #!^ it's in Florida (unless you're in Florida... [ More ]

Comment #17

justxploring — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 01:41:35 GMT

Depends what you mean by decent.

2nd prize of $200,000 = 1:5.1M (extra dollar for Powerplay guarantees $1 million)

$10,000 prize = 1:723K (Fantasy-5 odds are 1:376K)

$100 prize = 1:19K

Next time you buy a ticket, look for one of the pamphlets on Powerball. Should be near the Lottery terminal.

Comment #16

GamerMom — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 01:33:51 GMT

i think the lottery fairy takes a poo when she flies over me...

Comment #15

chuck32 — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 23:28:03 GMT

The jackpot hits will about the same; 12-15 per year, but a bit higher, on average. The big changes are many more (over 3.5 million) wins per year at the lower levels and instead of about 24 hits at $1 million for the Match 5 prize, Powerball should see about 100 $1 million prizes (in cash) per year for the Match 5 (with Power Play).

Comment #14

GamerMom — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 23:15:32 GMT

are the odds for winning the lower tier prizes decent

Comment #13

BuyLow — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 23:05:39 GMT

Am glad PB is FINALLY coming to FL. I am sick of driving to SC for tickets. FL has NO state income tax so a win here would be SWEET!!

Interesting the drawings were moved to FL also.......I'm hoping the jackpot will roll till the first draw including FL.

Good luck to all that play.

Comment #12

dpoly1 — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 23:03:16 GMT

People will still win. The jackpots may be higher at times. The lure of bigger jackpots is what attracts more players.

Comment #11

x1kosmic — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 21:28:43 GMT

The one little thing, we haven't heard much about, is, where they can put you in a pool-play

I wonder if thats still going to be in effect, or mabey after everyone gets used to the change, they'll spring it on us.

So, you get a ticket, ....say yes to power-play, and get in a pool, $10 dollars quickly changes to $30 dollars. And I guess those'll have to be quick-picks.

I'm not seeing a way to have my own numbers ...and be in a pool, with my numbers.

Or you can get in a pool, and say... [ More ]

Comment #10

four4me — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 20:34:32 GMT

I agree jim695 they change the matrix so people won't be able to use that data as effectively as they were doing. With only 348 drawings under their belt they must think people are getting a hang on the number flow and by changing the matrix will cause some of the players to starting a new run at a system.

While i don't think 348 drawings is enough history for a great system it was just starting to show some of its numbers patterns or relationships to other digits.

Powerballs previous matr... [ More ]

Comment #9

Captain Lotto — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 20:22:33 GMT

The drawings move to Florida is all about showbiz. Isn't there some kind of Hollywood Studios in Florida?

And the matrix change is all about driving sales. Profits are returned to the state that sold the tickets. MUSL is a non-profit association of State Lotteries. The idea is to generate larger jackpots. Adding population helps, as does changing the matrix. People used to get excited about a $100 million jackpot. Now it's closer to $200 million. Without those huge jackpots driving sales, th... [ More ]

Comment #8

KY Floyd — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 20:19:42 GMT

Just be grateful they don't simply use smoke and mirrors, creating a phony jackpot of 500 milion by changing the annuity payout again. Stretching it out to 35 years, or decreasing the initial payments and adding a ballon payment at the end could easily let them inflate the advertised jackpot by 50%.

I know that MM said they could potentialy see a jackpot of 500 million when they changed the matrix, but I'm not sure if PB every claimed that as a possibility. Even with the new odds, reaching a... [ More ]

Comment #7

jim695 — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 20:02:05 GMT

I could be wrong (it happened once before), but it seems to me that these matrix changes could be brought about by too many people winning major prizes too often. If that's the case, then it's just barely possible that some of those systems out there actually work the way they're supposed to.

Regardless of their reasons, I'd like to read the agreement the MUSL signed with Florida to see what types of incentives were offered to change the location of the drawings. My guess is that the MUSL wo... [ More ]

Comment #6

ThatScaryChick — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 19:46:59 GMT

Well, the way the odds are now for actually winning the jackpot, they might as well have.

Comment #5

Todd — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 19:42:44 GMT

I'm thinking maybe they should have bit the bullet and made it a billion to 1 so they could finally break the $400 million jackpot amount. (Yes, I'm saying this in jest.

Comment #4

ThatScaryChick — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 18:29:07 GMT

Yeah, I'm wondering if it will reach the 400 or 500 dollar amount. I'm thinking it won't.

Comment #3

justxploring — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 18:24:46 GMT

I'll join you, JAP69

195 million is about 64% of the 305 million population of the United States, including children, people in prison, patients in comas, etc.

The bottom line is - someone will win. So will you be that very lucky person the Lottery fairy flies over and sprinkles her (or his) dust on, or will you be 1 or 2 numbers off for the rest of your life

Comment #2

four4me — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 18:05:08 GMT

Powerball lottery to have larger jackpot, but harder to win

Basically the same thing they said about the last 2 matrix changes and we all know how that worked out jackpots were won at or about the same dollar amounts as in previous matrix's. None of them never reached the projected 400 to 500 million dollar amount.

Comment #1

JAP69 — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 17:12:27 GMT

1 in 146.1 million to 1 in 195.2 million.

Powerball lottery to have larger jackpot, but harder to win

Lottery Post — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 16:21:49 GMT

The Powerball lottery game will be going through some changes beginning in January, including having a larger starting jackpot that is more difficult to win.

Starting on Jan. 4, Florida will join the 30 United States lotteries that now offer Powerball, adding a population of 18.8 million to those who have the chance to play the game.

The starting jackpot will jump from $15 million to $20 million, the world's largest starting jackpot for a lotto-style game. In addition, the average jackpot... [ More ]