Weak Powerball Sales?

Reply #147

lottoguru$-!624 — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 15:23:22 GMT

if the MM jackpot is not won tonite....and the jackpot rolls to lets say 150 million...then i think nobody will bother to play the PB tommorrow...as a matter of fact...nobody will be even thinking about it...I haven't even checked my gremlin program to see what the best bets are ...i am still a little ticked off from running to the store on monday...almost getting a heart attack, and finding i missed the cutoff time by a half hour...another thing to consider is syndicate organization...nobody st... [ More ]

Reply #146

mightwin — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 13:43:20 GMT

I think the whole point is that if the same number of tickets were being sold now as before we would all be happy because the jackpot would increase more than the minimum on each rollover as it seems to be doing now.less people playing doesn't help the jackpot increase how we would like it to. Hence the increase in price isn't allowing it to climb faster.

Reply #145

mcginnin56 — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 01:01:21 GMT

Hey Stack, back at it again, as I accurately predicted my old friend.

Will continue to stand by my very credible and optimistic message I absolutely believe I will win the jackpot . Your truly an inspiration to

myself and all others on this site for your self deluded philosophy of self righteous ranting and raving. It obviously gives you pleasure to do so

Stack, so who am I to stand in your way? Please continue your pointless lunacy, we all find it sadly pathetic and somewhat amus... [ More ]

Reply #144

Stack47 — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 21:58:02 GMT

Most discussion forums and this one included have a simple guide line, attack the message not the poster and that's exactly what I did after you bragged about matching 5+0 and absolutely believed that you will win a jackpot. It must have really upset your ego when I asked since you absolutely believed , why didn't you use Power Play and at least double your winning. Obviously that and when I proved you were ignorant on the fact Power Play guaranteed $1 million for matching 5+0 for three years, i... [ More ]

Reply #143

mcginnin56 — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 22:26:16 GMT

Well Stack, like a good venereal disease, you just keep coming back again and........again........ and again.

Seriously dude, if after 6 long years of posting here....is that the very best you can come up with?

I'm sure others have thought it, but I will state my sincere concern for you now. Strictly as a professional courtesy Mr. Stack,

you are in need of some immediate professional counseling. I'd be willing to kick in for your first consultation, its the least I

could do for... [ More ]

Reply #142

Stack47 — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 21:15:25 GMT

You just can't let it go.

Instead of just pretending you're clever, why not do something productive like telling the LP members the method you used to win $200,000 back in 07 .

Reply #141

RJOh — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 18:20:27 GMT

Depends on your tax laws. Some countries like Canada, don't charge any additional taxes on lottery winnings because they consider the taxes paid when you play. Here in the US, some policticans think you should pay a tax everytime money change hands even if it's to pay taxes.

Although it has never passed, some states have considered charging a sale tax on lottery tickets purchases.

Reply #140

lottoguru$-!624 — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 17:42:27 GMT

@Rjoh

if that is so...and i am payinga voluntary tax to the state each year...then if i dont win the jackpot that year shouldn't i get a credit from the state or something like that?

or maybe more succinctly...if i am paying a voluntary tax...shouldn't i be exempt from mandatory taxes

Reply #139

RJOh — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 16:38:51 GMT

One has to remember state lotteries aren't regular businesses but voluntary taxes systems because states take 50% off the top for their coffers by law, the game and prizes attract participants. Without enough participants the games will cease to exist.

Reply #138

mcginnin56 — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 15:06:32 GMT

Ahhhhh.......Stack....still at it I see. From your persistent reappearance, I can only surmise your begging for some type of approval

or compliment for being On Top Of Your Game about old games .

Apparently it's not moot Stack, because your still playing your same (excuse me while I'm yawning) , predictable old games

I guess after 6 years, you haven't learned any new tricks , just continue re-hashing the old ones.

Goodbye Old Dog .

Reply #137

Stack47 — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 13:48:52 GMT

You finally got something right; the PB matrix changed a few times, but everybody knows I was talking about the old game when Power Play guaranteeing $1 for matching 5+0 that ran from January, 2009 to January 2012. It's all moot now because we can't play old games .

Reply #136

Coin Toss — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 05:38:00 GMT

Yeah, I'm sure I'm closer to Memphis than you are....I'm about 100 miles slightly southeast of St. Louis......closer to Nashville than Chicago, too. (I'll never understand any fascination with Memphis- just another mecca for 'music to slash your wrists by' on the Misisisippi river.)

Anyway, MO' MONEY is a company in Memphis that does tax returns and got into quite a bind. Issued a bunch of people refubnd checks that were no good, got caught dumping paperwork into the trash with people's ID in... [ More ]

Reply #135

savagegoose — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 02:48:56 GMT

had a think,

and really , i aint figured out how you asign the jackpot, someone ticked %10, and then gets %10 of the cash in the pot, i think made an error some where. the penalty for assigning low amounts to a pool sis that when you win there's stuff all cash in that pool.

ehh i should think more before i type.

Reply #134

Lucky Loser — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 01:47:17 GMT

I fully agree with you on this and tend to believe that it benefits the people who actually run the organization more than others. If we consider all the money a state's lottery takes in versus the payouts, it's kind of a bad deal for players in the long run. I have said since day one that the lotteries can definitely afford to pay out lots more than they do...all while still generating very, very good profit. That's the reason I don't mess with 'em any more. The odds are no good in any way, sha... [ More ]

Reply #133

rdgrnr — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 01:36:34 GMT

You're probably way closer to Memphis than me. We don't hear anything about Memphis here.

I see it's a tax outfit though, maybe I should have copyrighted my Mo Money Method to Mountains of Marvelous Money, lol.

Reply #132

savagegoose — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 01:34:57 GMT

ohhh i see what you mean by people who dont play telling us how the lotto should be ran.

sorry rjoh thought that was directed at me.

personally id prefer an equitable prize structure, ie the same % if takings paid to ea prize catagory.

or for the technically minded, a table for ea ticket, where the gambler can assign waht % he wants to go to ea catagory. and that portion of the gambling dollar goes to that level, they could then quote payouts as %1 of pool values, so if i said... [ More ]

Reply #131

haymaker — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 01:04:27 GMT

they prolly practice on slow news days.

Reply #130

Coin Toss — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 00:18:03 GMT

The place in Memphis? That hit the news here, too, Ridge. I can't believe the news people can keep a straight face saying MO' MONEY.

Reply #129

rdgrnr — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 22:40:05 GMT

Try the MO' MONEY Method!

It's sweepin' the nation

Reply #128

RJOh — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 22:36:07 GMT

Lotteries are good because they benefit education somehow is just political talk not to be believed any more than the words of a politician saying Elect me and you'll have $2/gal gasoline again .

Reply #127

THRIFTY — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 21:19:01 GMT

Stack, you can increase your chances of winning by spending $5 to $50 per drawings on any lottery game. I am a big fan of buying 1 quick pick ticket for jackpots games, but I am changing my mind after reading some of your posts. I feel that we should play whatever we can afford.

Reply #126

THRIFTY — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 20:50:30 GMT

Sorry, I get your point RJOH. Lotteries are good because they benefit education somehow.

Reply #125

mcginnin56 — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 20:20:27 GMT

Again my friend, You always FORGET to specify which older version you have been referring to. There were several....remember now!

The devil is in the details my friend.........always in the details. One day you might appreciate this concept.

Reply #124

Stack47 — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 20:05:10 GMT

My facts in recent posts spoke for themselves.

Yes they did.

mcginnin56: There was no GUARANTEE to get $1 million in the OLD Powerball with Powerplay.

Reply #123

Stack47 — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 19:40:50 GMT

With the current PB smaller ($100 or less) secondary prize payoffs, it's difficult winning back the amount spent. 6/49 lotto and pick-5 games may the limit for system players that try to generate enough small wins to continue playing. Players spending $20 to break even and playing back their winnings can say they doubled their chances, but half their chances are already gone when they replay their winnings.

With odds of 30 to 1 against winning any prize, $10 players are lucky if they collect... [ More ]

Reply #122

mcginnin56 — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 19:25:27 GMT

Hey Stack...see your still hungry, coming back for third's now or is it fourth's?

Still trying to razzle dazzle everyone with your continued ridiculous ,which are not even annoying.........as they are pathetic.

What is your payoff to get a gold star of approval on your forehead for all to admire?

My facts in recent posts spoke for themselves. But please, by all means continue your daily posts, for months on end if necesscary until

you get it out of your system. I can't wait fo... [ More ]

Reply #121

RJOh — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 18:58:13 GMT

I've read your posts of $1 for 1 ticket per draw many time so what I posted wasn't meant for you. I stopped playing PB when its price changed to $2 so I know I wouldn't play any lottery that charged $5 a line. I simply stated increasing prices and limiting payouts have been tried before in my state and failed.

Any game has to find a market large enough to support it to be successful. With MM staying at $1 per line with similar odds and jackpots and many state games having better odds but sma... [ More ]

Reply #120

Stack47 — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 18:43:54 GMT

How many times are you going to pat yourself on the back for getting lucky on a QP and matching 5+0 five years ago?

With all your incredible knowledge, experience and passion for the lottery structure, why is it you haven't won at least one second tier prize?

You didn't even know until a couple of days ago that Power Play guaranteed $1 million for matching 5 numbers for the last three years, but you just can't say you're wrong. The odds of matching 5+0 were not the same in 2007 so the ol... [ More ]

Reply #119

THRIFTY — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 18:20:04 GMT

Lotteries tickets are talismans of possible wealth. I forgot that deatail.

Reply #118

Ruud — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 16:19:46 GMT

You neglect to consider one of the most important elements for lottery players: entertainment. That's worth something, right? For $1 Mega Millions ticket, you get a chance to daydream and escape reality. For $1 scratch ticket, you get a minute of suspense and excitement. Sure, people play for a chance to win, but you severely underestimate the entertainment value of the lottery.

Some people enjoy fine dining, going to the theatre or taking a nice vacation. Others enjoy hiking, running and kn... [ More ]

Reply #117

New York — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 15:23:35 GMT

Yeah, no doubt.

Reply #116

THRIFTY — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 15:20:50 GMT

DO NOT LETH MATH FOOL YOU. SOMEONE WILL WIN A LOTTERY JACKPOT, THAT IS A FACT.

BUY A LOTTERY TICKET SPORADICALLY. IT IS GOOD TO HAVE A DREAM.

You know what, I changed my mind, We should keep spending billions of dollars on lotteries every year. Lets play on America.

Reply #115

New York — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 15:01:14 GMT

It has always been this way. This is America and it's like this around the world. As for the losers, I disagree. They are not mathematically challenged lol.

Now, if no one is fine with the above list, then don't play the lottery. It's just that simple.

Reply #114

THRIFTY — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 14:55:12 GMT

A lottery is a Zero-sum game . What one group of participants gains in cash, the other group of participants must lose. If we made a list of all the participants in a lottery, it might include:

1) Federal Government (Lottery winnings are taxable)

2) State Governments (Again lottery winnings are taxable)

3) State Governments (Direct share of lottery ticket sales)

4) Merchants that sell tickets (Paid by the lottery organizers)

5) Lottery companies (Hint: They are not doing all th... [ More ]

Reply #113

New York — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 14:50:42 GMT

I disagree with this. Why would they raise the price to $5 per line?

Why would you want lottery games to banish? Honestly, you shouldn't be posting on LP if that's the case.

Reply #112

THRIFTY — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 14:45:53 GMT

Lottery games are a SUNK COST and an OPPORTUNITY COST even when you spend $1 since they return .50 cent on the $1 spent. Powerball returns like .93 cents on the $2 spent.

They should raise Mega Millions and Powerball prices to $5 per line, that way lotteries games will banish.

Reply #111

rcbbuckeye — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 14:37:30 GMT

In Texas they sell scratchers for as much as $50. And they sell!!!

Scratchers sell better than any online game in Texas, and I wouldn't be surprised if this is true in most if not all states.

Reply #110

THRIFTY — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 14:16:23 GMT

You are telling me that I will be happy to win back $20 after spending $5 to $10 a week on lottery tickets.

Spending $260 to $520 annually on lottery tickets in order to win $20 once in a while is a losing proposition.

They should raise lottery games prices to $5 for a single line and lets see how you feel about that spending money on lottery games.

Reply #109

mcginnin56 — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 11:27:00 GMT

Good day to you again Stack!

Well at this point, it's becoming obvious that you have other agenda's beyond an LP crusader, fighting to help us clarify lottery prize structures.

So here's the crux of your issue , you question why a true believer didn't get multiple tickets or Power Play if it was an option in 07

Try to get over it Stack.........and yourself. You'll feel so much better, I promise!

With all your incredible knowledge, experience and passion for the lottery s... [ More ]

Reply #108

Editgap — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 07:15:55 GMT

I agree with Rjoh, we need that cushion for lower tier prizes. I used to wonder why people played pick 3 and pick 4 how much do you win compared to how much you spend. That is not life changing amount. I used a 2+1 or especially 3+0 as benchmark for my success on winning powerball and Megamillions. For the past 7 months of playing PB, MM or Both every draw, I have not matched 3+0. My question is why is the new payout acceptable. We make the assumption that after playing all these year, they will... [ More ]

Reply #107

savagegoose — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 06:48:58 GMT

yeah i recall that story.

are you saying im not making sense? o well its only my opinion. i can see both sides of most arguments and hardly ever have the conviction to say someone opinion is wrong. here is a solution.

you know at my local casino, they used to play a keno game with 2 versions. a high roller and low roller pay table i will call it. 1 was the standard payout you see at any keno game, and the other dropped the lower paying prizes and upped the higher ones.

as an example

Reply #106

RJOh — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 06:14:50 GMT

People who don't play say a lot of things about lottery games that don't make sense.

Twenty years ago when Ohio had Super Lotto which was paying out jackpots of $50M+ and attracting players from all the neighboring states they decided to limit the amount one ticket could win to $20M because many wrote in suggesting that $20M was enough for any one player and would give more players a chance to win a $20M jackpot.

After they make that rule they found out the ones saying that weren't the o... [ More ]

Reply #105

savagegoose — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 05:50:40 GMT

god im all for dropping lower prizes altogether? i mean if you dont walk out with a wad of cash in your hand and a big grinn on your face, why bother winning. $2 or $20 just doesnt do it for me..

anyhow could the jackpots slow so much that it is 6 months between wins

Reply #104

RedStang — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 05:27:12 GMT

They could atleast increase the lower prizes. Two numbers gets a free ticket. Two of five plus pb pays 20$. Maybe they should call it PonziBall. Big investments, promised returns.

Reply #103

Coin Toss — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 04:22:10 GMT

mediabrat,

But whose definition does the lottery use?

Just look at a ticket and the demographice the lotteries consider go far, far beyond number of tickets sold and total $$ coming in.

When they run their numbers it's state by state (5+1 games) and within that highest sales, lowest sales, etc, etc...down to the individual stores.

As some here have tried to tell others here, since the $2 ticket, PB has made more $$$ but with less people playing.

Reply #102

Stack47 — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 03:18:35 GMT

Here we go again

It's a anonymous message board where people can spread any type of BS as fact they like. Not saying that you're spreading BS, but it's obvious this isn't the first time your facts were challenged.

We need to define which older Powerball game

It's not necessary to define anything after you said Just speaking for myself garyo, I obviously would love to win the elusive jackpot, but I'm also gunning also for that second prize of a cool $1,000,000 As you indicated the odd... [ More ]

Reply #101

mediabrat — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 01:44:18 GMT

Indeed. If your definition of sales is number of tickets sold , then sales are down. If your definition of sales is dollar value of tickets sold , then sales are up.

Reply #100

savagegoose — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 21:04:07 GMT

after a year of shooting 5 indians and moving. a sidekick tells the DUKE

theyre breeding as fast as we're killing em duke. although we take out 5, theyre back next week! what are we going to do?

why we're just gonna keep killing the devils, one day we'll kill a chief for sure

Reply #99

garyo1954 — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 19:51:15 GMT

That's what John Wayne said, just before 175,000,000 Indians showed up at his tent.

Reply #98

Ruud — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 19:24:58 GMT

I suppose I could stomach the explanation of ticket sales are down, revenue and profits are up, but at the end of the day, all that really matters is revenue (which increased) vs. costs (margins stayed the same).

The point remains that the switch to the $2 ticket was a positive and profitable business decision for Powerball.

Reply #97

Ruud — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 19:21:58 GMT

This really isn't hype or voodoo accounting. Missouri is going to pass a bill to reduce prize payout from 62.5 to 59% (or something like that). The extra money will be earmarked for childhood education and the casino entrance fees will go towards veteran's programs.

Obviously, lotteries advertise and hype, but, with regard to the issue of Powerball sales and revenue, there's nothing to oversell. Revenue and profits are up.

Reply #96

Litebets27 — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 19:14:50 GMT

Wow!, that stinks!!

The same thing happened to the education fund in Maryland.

Except the Maryland Stadium Authority is now the recipient of what was once slated for public education.

There is still a much small portion of the pie that is suppose to go towards the public education funds,

but i've never heard anyone from public ed. acknowledging receiving these funds.

Reply #95

Coin Toss — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 18:38:41 GMT

Here you go, Ruud, from today's (Feb 26th 2012) St Louis Post dispatch. Here's an example of a state hype job and voodoo accounting by the state, the lottery, and education funds. Read on:

McClellan: It's hard to say no to elderly veterans

McClellan: It's hard to say no to elderly veterans

St Louis Today.com | Posted: Sunday, February 26, 2012 12:05 am

The Missouri Legislature has come up with a scheme excuse me, a plan to take casino entrance fee money that used to go to early ch... [ More ]

Reply #94

mcginnin56 — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 14:57:40 GMT

We need Accountants, thank you for your services. I agree that from a business prospective, units are just as important in factoring in ongoing

business strategies and financial forecasting.

Reply #93

Piaceri — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 14:09:29 GMT

As an Accountant, I say ticket sales are down, revenue and profits are up. Units do matter, because when you explain your year over year variances to management, units become part of the equation, otherwise how would you explain a 100% price increase with only a 50% revenue increase? What happens if number of ticket sales drop to less than 50% of previous levels, say even 50%? 1,000,000 tickets sold at $1 vs 500,000 tickets sold at $2 becomes a net $0 growth in revenue with a 100% price increase... [ More ]

Reply #92

mcginnin56 — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 08:01:18 GMT

Here we go again........

Since Powerball's inception on April 19, 1992 it has gone threw through several modifications. We need to define which older Powerball game

and prize structure you are referring to. In 2007, regardless of your sources, when the Power play option was exercised there was no

automatic $1 million second prize award. The multiplier was spun and you had the opportunity to receive 2x-5x the second tier prize

of $200k period.

On January 4, 2009 accordin... [ More ]

Reply #91

Stack47 — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 00:55:07 GMT

There was no GUARANTEE to get $1 million in the OLD Powerball with Powerplay.

Then explain how two Powerplay players each won $1 million on January 11, 2012 when the multiplier was 2 in the OLD PB . On 1/4 when the multiplier was 4, 12/24 when it was 2, or three years ago on February 21, 2009, one Powerplayer won $1 million when the multiplier was 4.

http://www.usamega.com/powerball-drawing.asp?d=1/11/2012

What I said is if I Power played in 07 I could have doubled my second prize to... [ More ]

Reply #90

savagegoose — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 00:02:40 GMT

the thing thats most amusing with this thread is that EVERYONE agrees to the facts at the core of the issue. they just have a problem agreeing to the terminoligy to describe the facts.

Reply #89

Coin Toss — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 22:45:51 GMT

Rudd,

Do you honestly believe the lotteries don't need to hype anything?

How about PB releaasing the Brad Duke story seven years after the fact? Somone here on the board from Idaho e en mentioned he'd be at a store selling tickets. Not hype? Dream on.

Consider the raffles. The way Illinois runs theirs, it's 500,000 tickets sold to produce 409 winners, or in other words, 500,000 tickets, 409 winners, and 499, 591 losers. But theyll never point that out. They promote it as 'best odds' whe... [ More ]

Reply #88

rdgrnr — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 22:00:51 GMT

Exactamundo, Profits are up on lower sales of Powerball Tickets.

The geeks can put any spin they want on it, them's the facts.

Reply #87

Ruud — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 21:54:29 GMT

The fact that you two are now referring to liberals, unemployment, the Alamo and pocket combs makes me very comfortable that I made all of the points necessary to prove you both wrong. It's been fun. I'm off this thread given the ridiculous nature of the latest comments. Until next time...

Reply #86

garyo1954 — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 21:52:08 GMT

Yep. Millions of Americans have given up looking for a pocket comb with Made in America stamped on it.

And the government calls that progress because Americans can't make a pocket comb cheap enough to sell anywhere in the world!

We are a world power who can't make pocket combs! We ROCK

Reply #85

rdgrnr — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 21:45:39 GMT

Ruud, millions of people have simply given up looking for a job and the government calls that lower unemployment . Yay!

Yay

Reply #84

Boney526 — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 21:39:26 GMT

IDK what's wrong with people. I haven't actually looked up the sales, but if there were 1,000,000 tickets sold at 1 dollar each, and now there's 600,000 sold at 2 dollars each, then total profits are likely to have increased. (There's a chance the Lottery gets unlucky with lots of 1 million dollar prizes, or the JP gets one before they've been able to roll it over, causing them to have to pay off the JP out of pocket) (So this is assuming that Ruud is right, that total volume of sales are down l... [ More ]

Reply #83

Boney526 — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 21:30:51 GMT

I'll stand by it.

There's no such thing as a free lunch, just a lunch that somebody else is paying for. (Either the tax payer, or future generations)

Same idea, of course.

And the Powerball will grow faster once the MM is won, or it goes much higher than MM. I think the sales are slow b/c the MM is higher, has a lower price and the same odds. Given a choice between the two, most people will play MM if the JP is the same.

Reply #82

Ruud — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 21:30:07 GMT

I give up.

Reply #81

rdgrnr — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 21:29:48 GMT

It can frequently save wasted breath.

Some men you just can't reach.

Libs would fall under that category.

Reply #80

garyo1954 — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 21:27:46 GMT

The Alamo Strategy is strong in this one Yoda!!!!!

Bottom line thinking is destroying the American economy.

At the end of the day selling pieces of paper doesn't produce anything, doesn't add to the GNP, and eventually catches up with you. Ask Germany. You think those guys printed 50,000,000 marc bills because they enjoyed big numbers?

Ticket sales are down much like your reading comprehension. Ticket Sales Strong does not mean tickets sales are up; in politically correct circles it... [ More ]

Reply #79

Ruud — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 21:24:42 GMT

Sure.

I'm a libertarian.

How does that apply

Reply #78

Ruud — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 21:23:44 GMT

The lotteries don't need to hype anything. The numbers speak for themselves. Plus, they're probably too busy enjoying the higher sales and profits for education, veterans, general fund, etc. while the players enjoy larger jackpot growth, higher 2nd place prizes, etc.

Reply #77

rdgrnr — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 21:23:22 GMT

It's always best to have everything on the table.

Wouldn't you agree

Reply #76

Ruud — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 21:18:18 GMT

How does that even apply? Resorting to name calling isn't particularly effective during discussions.

Reply #75

Coin Toss — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 21:11:43 GMT

Rudd,

Where those article put up before the recent big jackpot? That's something to consider.

Here's one of the Powerball ticket sales strengthen despit price hike hits:

An increase in Powerball ticket prices doesn t seem to be enough to discourage area players from taking chances to win millions.

Random checks by the News-Press this week showed that increasing Powerball tickets from $1 to $2 apiece may actually be helping sales, at least in dollar terms. Two retailers reported stron... [ More ]

Reply #74

rdgrnr — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 21:11:25 GMT

Lib Alert.

Reply #73

Ruud — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 21:10:38 GMT

Powerball doesn't make or sell a product. They sell little pieces of paper with numbers on them. You cannot possibly compare nonperishable pieces of paper with tomatoes.

Powerball obviously anticipated that they would lose customers due to the price increase, but they knew that the total dollar sales would more than make up for the lost customers. If more than 50% of the customers left after the 100% price increase, then you could say that sales are down. They're not, though.

Your logic w... [ More ]

Reply #72

Ruud — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 21:03:33 GMT

Powerball does not make a product. Its only concern is with the total amount of dollars generated by selling little pieces of paper with numbers on them. The profit for Powerball is roughly 50% of every dollar that they bring in. It doesn't matter how many pieces of paper they sell. It just matter how many dollars they have at the end of the day. So if total dollar sales are up 20%, total sales are up 20%.

If they sold one ticket for a $1 billion (and made $500 million profit) and previously... [ More ]

Reply #71

Ruud — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 20:56:13 GMT

Google powerball sales since price increase. Every single article/link agrees with what I (and others with the similar arguments/comments) have been writing:

publicgaming-dot-com: Powerball Sales Remain Strong Despite Higher Ticket Prices

KULR-dot-com: Powerball Lottery Ticket Sales Up

newspressnow-dot-com: Powerball Sales Stregnthen Despite Ticket Price Increase

applevalley.-dot-patch-dot-com: Lottery Sales Up 20% Since Switch to $2 Ticket

csnews-dot-com: Powerball Sales... [ More ]

Reply #70

Coin Toss — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 20:51:31 GMT

Rudd,

That's fine and dandy for accounting and finance, those folks who value an inventory one way if they're selling and another way if they're buying. Then when marketing comes in and wants to know how many people came through the doors, it falls apart.

Reply #69

mcginnin56 — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 19:19:01 GMT

Should have left that degree part out of the whole equation. Lesson learned.

I am no longer frustrated . Thank you. No big deal.

Reply #68

rdgrnr — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 19:13:26 GMT

You said with your Business Degree you were frustrated with people who couldn't grasp basic math.

I just said you would eventually get over your frustration.

No big deal.

Reply #67

BlueDuck — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 19:04:03 GMT

Pick4Master:

Don't think there is much reason for the Managers/Operators/Technicians to rig the Big Lottery Games because the Odds of winning are kind of high.

When the WX gets better, here in Wisconsin, I am going to go out side and shoot some photos of a GRAPH, laid out on a deserted street. The graph will show MagaMillion Lottery ODDS vs. 5of5 + Megaballwinning numbers , using one inch per division for the X-axis

The odds are 1:175,711,536. Using 1 /per division that's 175,711,536... [ More ]

Reply #66

garyo1954 — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 18:57:15 GMT

Semantics....

It's the Alamo strategy.

John Wayne and two friends are trapped on a hill, Well, whaddaya think scout?

Well, Colonel, Looks like 175 million of 'em down there.

That's what I'm thinking scout, John says, So we'll play this one smart. You and Frank sneak over and shoot five of them.

Now, what good is that gonna do, Colonel?

Well, scout, if they don't surrender, we'll sneak over and shoot five more 'til they do.

Same thing....

We're making more m... [ More ]

Reply #65

mcginnin56 — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 18:41:28 GMT

I guess I'm losing track of how many different interpretations of Powerball sales, profits, units are being thrown out there in the last 20-30 posts.

I certainly didn't recall any disagreement with your grasp on any issues on this topic rdgrnr? What is it I have to get over

Reply #64

rdgrnr — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 18:20:23 GMT

It's a shame you're frustrated over my inability to grasp the basics of 101 economics or even basic math but you'll eventually get over it, I'm sure.

Reply #63

rdgrnr — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 18:01:44 GMT

We're not talking about what the nerds in accounting call anything.

We're talking about how many lottery tickets are being sold.

If they're selling less lottery tickets than they were previously, the sales of lottery tickets are down.

Otherwise you could say: Hey! People must love the new lottery tickets because sales are up! even though you're selling less tickets.

No, sales are down.

Reply #62

mcginnin56 — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 17:54:20 GMT

It's okay to be shocked Ruud. Just don't be beating your head against that brick wall for to long, not worth getting a concussion over.

With a degree in Business Management, I to am frustrated over the inability for some of our posters who cannot grasp the basics of 101

economics, or even basic math. We must be understanding, forgiving, compassionate......then continue beating our heads against brick walls.

Reply #61

Ruud — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 17:44:42 GMT

KY Jelly Floyd doesn't need an explanation. He understands it completely.

Total sales (in dollars, the only way to measure sales) are up. The profit margins are the same. Therefore, profits are also higher.

Reply #60

Ruud — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 17:42:50 GMT

Exactly.

Reply #59

Ruud — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 17:41:54 GMT

Sales, in accounting and finance, are measured in dollars not units sold. Therefore, sales are up. With the same margins, profits are also up.

I'm shocked at how difficult this is for people to comprehend.

Reply #58

rdgrnr — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 17:39:25 GMT

Somebody needs to explain the difference between sales and profits to KY Jelly Floyd.

I'd do it but he's ignoring me now for catching him and calling him out on one of his big fat lies.

Reply #57

mcginnin56 — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 16:19:51 GMT

I can understand that

Reply #56

Coin Toss — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 15:27:50 GMT

Read the threads on this board, Floyd.

Sales for PB are down but the price increase brought in more money.

If 100 people paid you $1 for something you brought in $100.

If 60 people paid you $2 for something you brought in $120.

DUH.

Reply #55

OldSchoolPa — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 12:29:52 GMT

Reply #54

savagegoose — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 11:46:37 GMT

so sales are down profits are up. we will have to wait for 6 months see if that is still the case then determine if who ever made the descission is smart or not.

Reply #53

mcginnin56 — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 09:51:35 GMT

When PB was $1 ticket you got the same $1 million guarantee with Powerplay and the Megaplier too with MM having less odds against matching 5+0

There was no GUARANTEE to get $1 million in the OLD Powerball with Powerplay. For the extra dollar you rolled the dice and could receive anywhere from 2x-5x the second tier prize of $200k. You could have scored $400k, $600K, $800k or $1 million; how is that a GUARANTEE that you would

receive $1 million? Same with MM with Megaplier, no GUARANTE... [ More ]

Reply #52

KY Floyd — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 08:10:41 GMT

I'm sorry you're finding it so hard to understand, but the discussion is about sales. Notice that the subject heading says Weak Powerball Sales? then reread the exchange that you replied to:

TheRightPrice said, Whoever came up with this $2.00 Price increase is not very smart

And Ruud replied, Is this a joke? Sales are up. Instead of, for example, selling a 1,000,000 at $1, they are selling 600,000 tickets at $2.

Since raising the price they've been selling about $30 million worht of t... [ More ]

Reply #51

garyo1954 — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 07:24:47 GMT

No, no, no!

YOU ARE DOING IT WRONG!

YOU WANT TO WIN POWERBALL, NOT PAY THE STATE TO LET YOU PLAY!

Geez! Do I have to fill out your playslips too

Reply #50

KY Floyd — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 07:17:52 GMT

Since you understand gas better than PB tickets, maybe you'll unerstand this.

If you sell 100 gallons of gas at $1 per gallon and make a 50% profit, you had sales of $100 and a profit of $50.

If you sell 70 gallons of gas at $2 per gallon and make a 50% profit, you had sales of $140 and a profit of $70.

In the second case sales are up and profits are up.

That's exactly what happened with PB.

Reply #49

KENNYD722 — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 05:49:30 GMT

Good I hope it fails. Mega was83mill tonight, Power 70mill I think. Mega has better odds and jackpot is bigger now. And even if power ball jackpot was a little bigger i would play mega. They think theycan raise the price on anything and us idiots wil just shut upo and hand them are money.

Reply #48

Stack47 — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 03:45:47 GMT

As you indicated the odd's have not changed for getting the first 5 white balls. So to kick in an extra buck to get a guaranteed $1 Mill. if you score all white balls is a great deal to me!

When PB was $1 dollar ticket you got the same $1 million guarantee with Powerplay and the Megaplier too with MM having less odds against matching 5+0.

Not to toot my horn, but I hit all 5 white balls already in 07 under the old Powerrball, to receive $200K. Had I Power played I would have doubled that... [ More ]