6 Disturbing Lottery "Trends"

Reply #16

Greg — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 02:58:44 GMT

Diva writes, If you don't like jackpot games then stop posting in this forum and stick with pick 3/4 .

No, hon, if YOU can't stand the heat, YOU get out of the kitchen! I'm here to stay, lol.

Reply #15

RJOh — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 03:19:24 GMT

dvdiva writes:

If anything Megamillions needs either higher odds or a $2 ticket price. Currently the game is a joke and I haven't bought tickets since Febuary of last year

dvdiva,

Why do you consider a game that sells tickets for $1 for chance to win a jackpot with a cash value of $6M-$100 a joke? Even if the tickets were $2, it's unlikely the starting jackpots would be much higher. Tonight's jackpot is $33M (cash $19M) and doubt if anyone wins it, they'll be upset about the amount.... [ More ]

Reply #14

dvdiva — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 02:52:23 GMT

1. Is a problem. WA.OR and BC are now computerized even though most players are against it.

2. I hope MM goes to $2/ticket. Might actually have a real jackpot for a change. The dollar isn't worth what it once was.

3. Providing more money can go to the jackpot and not the state I have no problem with a lower prize level. I'm playing for the jackpot anyways.

4.This is america. Get used to the government not having the intelligence to make state lotteries tax free, like Canada, Europe, Aus... [ More ]

Reply #13

Greg — Tue, 23 Jan 2007 03:23:46 GMT

My thanks to you, Mr. Bobb, and Todd, for your complements.

Reply #12

MrBobb — Mon, 22 Jan 2007 19:22:14 GMT

BTW Greg, excellent thread. Thanks for posting it

Reply #11

MrBobb — Mon, 22 Jan 2007 19:18:35 GMT

Todd wrote:

Like you mentioned, the odds are going to start creeping up, as the lottery directors start getting more greedy about profitting on the game. People should avoid buying games where the odds are too high. Can anyone recommend a sweet spot ?

I agree with all of your points, Todd. For me, the sweet spot is a ticket pool of 500,000; just like Georgia did with their New Years Eve Millionaire Raffle. If GLC does a raffle again and if they increase the ticket pool above this l... [ More ]

Reply #10

Todd — Sun, 21 Jan 2007 21:59:19 GMT

Just on your computerized comments (point #1):

I think they are told by these computerized companies that it is much cheaper, but the REALITY of the situation is that there is little cost difference. The impact on the bottom line is negligible.

However, that is just the expenditure side of the equation. Any good financial analyst will tell you to look on the other side of the equation too -- the revenue side.

It has been shown in the past that the computerized states generally do NOT... [ More ]

Reply #9

KY Floyd — Sun, 21 Jan 2007 20:57:11 GMT

Payouts will vary from week to week, but in the long run it's a pretty safe bet that the payouts will come pretty close to the 50% predicted by probability. It's an even safer bet that the prizes that have a higher probability will consistently come closer to what is predicted by probability and have smaller fluctuations than the big prizes. If thepossible payout was risky for small states it's the $200,000 prize with the possibility of paying a powerplay of 5 that they wouldn't offer, but... [ More ]

Reply #8

LckyLary — Sun, 21 Jan 2007 15:48:25 GMT

My 4 cents (price increase from 2 cents):

1) Computerization is done 1. to reduce staff and cost and 2. to try to make drawings as mathematically random as possible to ensure fairness. I DO NOT LIKE such games and I rarely if ever play them until/unless I come up with algorithms that can beat them. The Lottery should provide software or something that players can use the same RNG (perhaps installed in the terminals) which would still be fair but this way you're using the same thing to pick wi... [ More ]

Reply #7

truecritic — Sun, 21 Jan 2007 15:07:48 GMT

I also agree with all points. The only other thing I would add, is for States (like Michigan) that have State Income Tax to stop taxing the lottery winnings! It used to be that way when they first started the lottery - no State Tax.

Reply #6

Rick G — Sun, 21 Jan 2007 14:48:26 GMT

I agree wholeheartedly with Todd and Greg on all points. The only thing the lotteries will listen to is revenue. Airing our misgivings about a game on a large forum like this is probably somewhat effective as well. Bottom line is don't play the game if you have any qualms about it.

I'm surprised that lotteries are already trying to bastardize the raffle concept. Looked like a cash cow to me.

Reply #5

Todd — Sun, 21 Jan 2007 14:30:06 GMT

By the way, Greg, this was an excellent post, you get my 5 stars for it.

I agree with each of your points!

I think a lot of attention should be paid to the raffle games, because they are obviously going to become more and more popular, as lotteries seek to expand their revenues.

Thus, we should all jump all over the lotteries that don't do them right, and this is a great start.

I would also add the following regarding raffles:

All raffles should offer many small prizes ($100, $5... [ More ]

Reply #4

Todd — Sun, 21 Jan 2007 14:17:24 GMT

I believe one of the main reasons that the lower-tier prizes are smaller is that all the lower-tier prizes come directly from the state lottery that the ticket was sold in.

Powerball is sold in lots of states with small populations, so if they started paying large amounts for the lower prizes, those states would suffer, because they don't have the financial reserve of the larger states.

If Chuck32 is reading this, maybe he could correct anything I'm saying here, or there may be some othe... [ More ]

Reply #3

LOTTOMIKE — Sun, 21 Jan 2007 13:52:47 GMT

i remember the first time i got 4 out of 5 in powerball.i thought for sure i'd won 5 thousand.ended up being a whole hundred dollars for coming that close.i think the 4 out of 5 prizes should pay more.....

Reply #2

guesser — Sun, 21 Jan 2007 04:34:28 GMT

I don't know if I would put Powerball in the same boat as what Philadelphia has done, really.

However, I would like to see a free replay if you get two of the white balls in Powerball..... I'd be playing for free every drawing.

Reply #1

Coin Toss — Sun, 21 Jan 2007 04:15:04 GMT

Greg

I commend you for your efforts and asking others to get involved.

But everytime I see something like this I can't help but think that the best and only efective mehtod for this would be to simply not play the games such as you mentioned.

Unfortunately, for some games there are plenty enough people who will play no matter what and that's all the lotteries really need.

Before Mega Millions added California there was lots of hype in the media about possible $500,000,000 jackpot... [ More ]

6 Disturbing Lottery "Trends"

Greg — Sun, 21 Jan 2007 02:30:27 GMT

Disturbing Lottery Trends : (in no particular order)

1) Computerization of lotteries

2) Increasing standard/typical lottery tickets to TWO dollars from one dollar [example: PA's Match 6]

3) Decreasing amount of prizes on ALL levels [example: PA's new Mix Match which I have renamed Flip Switch and their Match 6, renamed Botched 6 -- search my previous posts for explanations]

4) Millionaire Raffle Drawings that truly do not offer $1,000,000 after taxes

5) Succeeding or follo... [ More ]