Powerball to increase to three drawings a week

Comment #54

KY Floyd — Thu, 20 May 2021 02:32:24 GMT

the Tuesday drawing advertised at $475 million WY had sales of $77,000. For starting jackpots sales are usually about $40,000. Paying out a $5 million prize would take roughly every dime of MM sales for an entire year. Since they still have to pay out about 50 cents of every dollar to fund other prizes they would have been upside down for about 2 years.

Comment #53

ieatdirt — Mon, 17 May 2021 20:07:53 GMT

Yes I remember not long after Wyoming joined someone hit the $1M Mega Millions along with the 5x multiplier, so $5M winner. I'm sure they were probably upside down or at least had their reserves depleted for a while.

Comment #52

LottoCommunity — Mon, 17 May 2021 19:16:33 GMT

The truth is that it is difficult to win the lottery alone, it is best to form teams to win the lottery without spending so much money, that is, dividing the prize among the members.

Comment #51

treefiddy — Mon, 17 May 2021 10:18:29 GMT

They are crowding out Mega so they are in a stronger position for the eventual merger.

Comment #50

KY Floyd — Sat, 15 May 2021 05:56:45 GMT

Why would a 62 yr. old person only play when it is 300m or more.

For starters I'm not an addict and I know that the odds say I'll lose most of the money I spend on tickets. I also know that if I wanted to buy 104 tickets per year I can do that even if I only play for a single drawing.

If I were to play 104 tickets all for one $400 million drawing I'd have a slightly better chance of winning a jackpot (as well as the $1 million 2nd prize) than by buying 1 ticket for each of 104 drawings, a... [ More ]

Comment #49

rcbbuckeye — Fri, 14 May 2021 23:54:18 GMT

I play every draw, and I'm hoping just to hit second prize. At my age (66, 67 in 2 weeks) a million even after taxes will take care of me for my remaining years.

Comment #48

billybucks — Fri, 14 May 2021 16:17:10 GMT

Because how often does it get to 400m. Maybe two or three times a year. Hopefully you have more than 20 years left to live. Most lottery players are down to their last 15 or so. Even a 10m jackpot will work for them. You must play every drawing you possibly can if that is what your are looking for. Why would a 62 yr. old person only play when it is 300m or more. Good luck playing only about 10 more times in your life.

Comment #47

Unlucky-Kenny — Tue, 11 May 2021 15:54:10 GMT

I read somewhere once that 80% of the big winning tickets are QPs.

Comment #46

Unlucky-Kenny — Tue, 11 May 2021 15:53:17 GMT

I mean my main reason for playing every draw is with my luck - if I don't play my numbers when its $40 million they will hit.

Haha.

I do it for the consistency.

But you are correct in saying your buying power for money spent is better spent on the $400m jackpot, can't deny that.

Comment #45

Charloot — Tue, 11 May 2021 05:03:17 GMT

I still advocate choose your states Quick Pick!

They want to win too!

End of story

Comment #44

lottologix — Tue, 11 May 2021 04:42:34 GMT

Millions plural. I only need millions so that i can buy enough winning tickets that anyone who wins with me will stastically only get like 5 bucks. That meltdown = priceless

Comment #43

KY Floyd — Tue, 11 May 2021 03:51:33 GMT

I do not understand why 40m isn't enough to win.

I don't understand why anyone would think it makes sense to spend money for a chance at $40 million when the exact same amount of money will get them the exact same chance at winning $400 million.

Comment #42

Unlucky-Kenny — Mon, 10 May 2021 18:34:28 GMT

Same exact reason I am not a scratch card person either - glad to see someone thinks along the same lines as me so I know I am not too nuts.

Haha.

The way I look at it is that where I live - no one ever wins big scratch cards - so I could buy all of them in the store and still not have a chance of winning.

Seems to always be the same 10 cities in my state that have all the big scratch card winners.

I always play MM/PB every draw no matter the prize level - if I won the jackpot after

Comment #41

billybucks — Mon, 10 May 2021 18:01:38 GMT

I hope you don't have a set of favorite numbers then. I believe you should play every drawing although I do not agree with the Monday expansion. I do not understand why 40m isn't enough to win. You really do not have that many chances to play it lifetime if you add 104 x the number of years you have left. I play every drawing plus all my state ones plus other states if I can get there both daily numbers game every day and my favorite the cash 5 which I have won twice. One or two tickets each cov... [ More ]

Comment #40

KY Floyd — Mon, 10 May 2021 03:51:32 GMT

I'd say they've already been greedy for along time, and they're just trying to figure out how much they can push it.

It was always fairly uncommon to have a winner before the jackpot was fully funded, so going back to a $40 million starting jackpot isn't much of a risk. A larger jackpot also means bigger jackpots sooner, so I've got to figure that average ticket sales over a given period are higher with the larger starting jackpot. I think somebody decided that 3 drawings per week is a loopho... [ More ]

Comment #39

Rexer90 — Sun, 09 May 2021 20:05:38 GMT

So smaller rollovers 50% more income (assuming no one stops playing)? They claimed the lower rollover starting jackpot was because of covid, but ticket sales stats indicate that hasn't been the case for quite some time. They're getting greedy.

Comment #38

Ranett — Fri, 07 May 2021 01:45:35 GMT

Try fixing up their cruddy looking website.

Comment #37

Fish7568 — Thu, 06 May 2021 22:53:41 GMT

3 times a week powerball drawing is cash grab. I rather invest some my money on dogecoin, and other crypto and investing stock than playing the powerball 3 times a week.

Mark Cuban said investing on dogecoin it is better than lottery tickets.

if you invest 1000 dollars dogecoin last year. Today it worth over 150k dollars or higher.

Do you think powerball and mega million bring back 40 million dollars jackpot. We are going back to normal.

Comment #36

Think — Thu, 06 May 2021 16:44:47 GMT

Not in the least bit exciting.

The Michigan 6/xx started out at 6/40 and went to 6/44, 6/47, 6/49 and 6/51 before dropping back to 6/49 and having three draws per week and now it has been back at 6/47 with two draws per week since 2005.

A matrix change with different options would be actual exciting changes but I guess the next move will be to eventually cut back to better odds and two draws per week again.

Comment #35

scorpio45 — Thu, 06 May 2021 14:44:21 GMT

very hard to win pb,mm lottery,i get 5 lines is 30 numbers and hardly ever get one number in drawing,oh well computers.

Comment #34

DrMiracle — Thu, 06 May 2021 14:27:33 GMT

Aha!!! They know there are lots of FREE MONEY flowing around.

Unemployment Payment: 40 million filed for unemployment ( DOLabor) ( because of lock-down no where to spend)

Stimulus checks- $1200+$600$+$1400

Free Food drive Grab and pick up --$300 saving monthly on grocery.

For Example, Maryland, in Montgomery County offers RENT money for 6 to 8 months..

IRS and State deductions of $ 10,200 unemployment

From July IRS will send each child $300

NOW JUST SPEND EXTRA $2 WEEK... [ More ]

Comment #33

Stack47 — Thu, 06 May 2021 01:04:30 GMT

But the reason PB added another drawing should be obvious after reading the Lucky for Life April 26 announcement. Another factor is in some states PB is favored over MM and contributing to why PB sales for equal size jackpots are slightly higher.

Have no idea why making I won't play remarks are necessary, but it's business as usual.

Comment #32

billybucks — Wed, 05 May 2021 03:09:58 GMT

By all means skim some off the big jackpot prize and spread it out more for 2nd tier prizes and make it enticing enough and that will draw in more play. You still get more than you need if you win the jackpot even if it creeps up slower. The novelty of the getting to a number because it is the 25th highest ever has run its course in interest. Double all the 2nd tier prizes instead.

Comment #31

Charloot — Wed, 05 May 2021 02:20:17 GMT

Yes, they need to change the payouts for sure unfair

Comment #30

HaveABall — Wed, 05 May 2021 02:08:12 GMT

Well this is bad Powerball news. My budget was already at its maximum weekly expenditure.

Powerball would be more enticing if it remained two drawings per week, yet changed its Powerplay multiplier to maximum of 5 or 6 for all non-jackpot prizes!!! Powerball should begin creating 2nd Prize NET multi-millionaire ($2MM+) prize claimers through each of its member states annually. EVERY drawing should produce at least one 2nd prize winning ticket. So, the range of white balls numbers should proba... [ More ]

Comment #29

Charloot — Wed, 05 May 2021 02:04:23 GMT

I agree with Billy bucks, why wait, 20 mill is good with me!

Good luck everyone

Comment #28

billybucks — Tue, 04 May 2021 20:51:43 GMT

I only play state lotteries. I can easily reach three states and generally their jackpots are in the 1-5 million range which are sneered at by most since they want the 200m or more or they won't play. These are far more hittable with many less numbers and are usually only 1.00 a play. Ok, 1 million isn't very much money any more but 2 million seems like enough to slide by with. Also any states Cash 5 game is worth looking at especially if it goes over 100k like RI does on occasion.

Comment #27

PHIL85 — Tue, 04 May 2021 17:54:42 GMT

First it was 'Lucky For Life' announcing they were taking the game from twice weekly to daily status, to which I made the decision I will completely stop playing LFL when that takes effect. If I can't afford to be in every drawing then I will not play. I would hate it if my numbers came in on a drawing that I hadn't purchased a ticket. I haven't decided if I will drop Powerball yet. But if I do I will take the money I was spending and play it instead on my states lottery game as extra wagers. I... [ More ]

Comment #26

EnReval — Tue, 04 May 2021 17:33:04 GMT

I agree, instead of waiting 30 yrs maybe it will decrease to 15 or less

Comment #25

EnReval — Tue, 04 May 2021 17:31:06 GMT

That would be nice, more people would winning

Comment #24

billybucks — Tue, 04 May 2021 16:55:50 GMT

Next will be drawings twice a day. Really. Players can pay mega millions on Tuesday and Friday and Powerbore on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays now. They bumped the price to 2.00 years ago and increased the matrix to an impossible amount of numbers to choose from. Isn't that enough. It is a full time job just to play now. Also you need one to be able to play them.

Comment #23

HiyoCheeto — Tue, 04 May 2021 14:53:16 GMT

Well, I'm going the opposite way and just by a ticket on Wednesdays. If it's meant to be it will have be on Wednesday.

Comment #22

Bleudog101 — Tue, 04 May 2021 13:11:44 GMT

Thanks Todd for this information.

Had always thought that MUSL would get the money and send it to the state)s) with the winning jackpot(s).

Comment #21

Todd — Tue, 04 May 2021 13:02:32 GMT

Multi-state jackpots are paid by all the states collectively. A percentage of every ticket sold goes toward the jackpot in each state. When someone wins the jackpot, all the states send their share to the state lottery that sold the ticket, and that state then pays out the winner once it's all collected. (That's why it can take a couple of weeks to get the check.)

On the other hand, all non-jackpot prizes are paid 100% by the state that sold the winning ticket. So if someone from South Dakota... [ More ]

Comment #20

Bleudog101 — Tue, 04 May 2021 11:57:03 GMT

Todd or others can correct me if I'm wrong. Payouts for pick 3/4 and whatever state only lottery tickets they have is the responsibility of the state for the money.

Lucky for Life, Cash 4 Life out of CT and NJ respectively garner all the wagers countrywide and goes into a pot so to speak. Same for Powerball and Mega Millions. The computer would know what state owes what and wouldn't surprise me in the least if it was done automatically through an EFT? My point is no matter how the funds... [ More ]

Comment #19

s5thomps — Tue, 04 May 2021 05:53:28 GMT

Imagine coming home from a crappy Monday at work only to watch the 10 p.m. news and see your winning Powerball numbers flash across the bottom of the screen. You scream with excitement and joy only to realize that you forgot to pick up your ticket and play your numbers for the Monday drawing! I have heard of a case where that actually happened! So always err on the side of caution because a opportunity like that only comes once in a lifetime! Nothing worse than your ship finally coming in only t... [ More ]

Comment #18

Stat$talker — Tue, 04 May 2021 04:46:29 GMT

They really think that players believe that their motive for such a change is to benefit US.! Haaa..!!

The Pandemic has cut into their Money.. so , adding an extra drawing per week is their way of trying to increase their revenue and profits, but not increase their expenses..

Just MORE smoke blown up our butts... the Height of Arrogance, meanwhile, setting an unprecedented cutoff time of an HOUR to rigg the results ,so they can award Big Jackpots to anybody , anywhere , except in the Comm... [ More ]

Comment #17

CDanaT — Tue, 04 May 2021 04:02:46 GMT

Must be about time to change the ole matrix..what has it been ??? 5 years

Comment #16

LottoNoobie — Tue, 04 May 2021 03:38:47 GMT

When a jackpot is won, is the state responsible for paying? Like if the grand prize winner lived in Michigan does the money come from that sole state? The reason I'm asking mainly pertains to the 3 digit. My normal systems stopped working for a while. I thought it was because trip 7s had dropped, but then I read a story about a lucky 4 life winner that won 1,000/per day.

Comment #15

KY Floyd — Tue, 04 May 2021 03:02:12 GMT

they should now increase the starting pot!

When they say the rules won't change I expect that means that the starting jackpot won't go up or down, and the minimum increase also won't go up or down. With a minimum increase of only $2 million there's not a lot of room to reduce it, but if it hadn't already been reduced I suspect they'd do it now because with 3 drawings a week there's a good chance that the sales per drawing will go down.

In a lot of ways this is comparable to raising the pr... [ More ]

Comment #14

Charloot — Tue, 04 May 2021 00:48:54 GMT

Nice news, good reason to stick with favorite numbers!

Good luck everyone.

Comment #13

EnReval — Tue, 04 May 2021 00:45:55 GMT

Funny-- they should now increase the starting pot

Comment #12

Stack47 — Mon, 03 May 2021 21:14:57 GMT

I'm pretty sure they added another drawing because millions of $2 tickets are sold for the two weekly drawings they have now. Your request is similar to raising the starting annuitized jackpot as if it's easier to win the drawing after a jackpot is hit.

Comment #11

Unlucky-Kenny — Mon, 03 May 2021 21:10:00 GMT

I don't think they will go lower past $20 million - that would be ultra lame.

*knocks on wood

Comment #10

noise-gate — Mon, 03 May 2021 21:08:52 GMT

In a way you like Todd- always working on something, but the comparison ends there.

Comment #9

noise-gate — Mon, 03 May 2021 21:06:27 GMT

I'm more concerned as to whether they will lower the starting jackpot. They said just about everything else, but that.

Comment #8

wander73 — Mon, 03 May 2021 20:47:25 GMT

It should go back to $1 and $1 x. Maybe a system I started working on will get me more money in.

Comment #7

Unlucky-Kenny — Mon, 03 May 2021 20:22:06 GMT

More choices are usually better.

However, if I don't play my numbers on Monday's draw they will for sure hit without me

Comment #6

jplayer33 — Mon, 03 May 2021 20:13:55 GMT

Thanks, Todd. I pointed out no one is forcing us to gamble or to play the options but wanted to put out there that the options also benefit the bottom line of the lottery operators and can farther entice problem gamblers.

Comment #5

Droptop209 — Mon, 03 May 2021 19:51:14 GMT

Extra monday draws 2021

international play 2022

How many years until they change the matrix

Comment #4

Todd — Mon, 03 May 2021 19:48:52 GMT

I'm not sure I understand your concern about the Pick 3 and Pick 4 add-ons. Nobody is forcing you to buy them, just like you don't have to buy the Power Play and Megaplier features. People buy them if they want them. More choice seems like a great thing to me.

In PA, the daily Match 6 drawings are great also. It's nice to be able to buy a ticket and then find out if you're a winner that evening.

I have no idea how I'll feel about the extra Powerball drawing, but my guess is that it will be... [ More ]

Comment #3

jplayer33 — Mon, 03 May 2021 19:30:59 GMT

Yet another way for the greedy state and national lottery operators to entice players to lose more money. This is like how Cash 4 Life went from twice a week to daily drawings and how Pa Match 6 did the same. And notice all the add-ons to lottery games that effectively double the price of the bet like the Pick 3 and Pick 4 fireball option or the Powerball and Megaball multiplier option. All these options which are billed as giving players more ways to win, which is true, but these costly options... [ More ]

Comment #2

Unlucky-Kenny — Mon, 03 May 2021 18:48:42 GMT

Watch - in 10 years both will be a daily game with mid and eve draws.

Comment #1

Bleudog101 — Mon, 03 May 2021 18:38:39 GMT

Now going to wait and see if Mega Millions will offer sales on Sundays??? If so, that just leaves Thursday untouched! LOL!

Just a thought came to me, how nice it would be if they'd return to starting @ $40 million and old incremental increases. This retired Respiratory Therapist won't hold his breath for that to happen

Powerball to increase to three drawings a week

Lottery Post — Mon, 03 May 2021 18:32:12 GMT

By Kate Northrop

This morning, lottery officials announced that the multi-state Powerball lottery game will increase the number of nightly drawings from two to three times a week starting August 2021.

Players will have another shot at that big jackpot prize now that a new Monday drawing is added to the weekly draw schedule.

In addition to the drawings held on Wednesday and Saturday nights at 10:59 EST, Powerball will conduct a drawing on Monday nights at the same time.

Our players r... [ More ]