Playing PB with The Power Play in New York?

Reply #15

GiveFive — Sun, 14 Apr 2013 12:05:57 GMT

Yes they would CT!

I've always said that the lotteries are always one step ahead of the players (actually way more than that!).

ABSOLUTELY! I couldn't agree more! Certainly The NY State Lottery is way ahead of ME! And I've no doubt that they are very much hoping many people play the same set of numbers on one Sweet Million ticket.

I cant claim to be the orginator of the idea of playing the same line multiple times on a single Sweet Million ticket. I saw something unusual happen in a tow... [ More ]

Reply #14

Stack47 — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 21:59:38 GMT

Since GiveFive was comparing the odds of one $3 bet winning $2 million to the odds of one $3 winning $3 million in another game, I compared two of the secondary prizes with similar odds. The odds against winning $200 on a $3 PowerPlay bet is 19,088 to 1 matching 4 + 0 and 12,245 to 1 matching 3 + 1. The odds against winning $500 on a $1 Sweet Million ticket are 18,816 to 1.

I understand what you're saying, but comparing those two games, with two more chances for same price, you're more likely... [ More ]

Reply #13

Coin Toss — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 14:46:56 GMT

GiveFive,

You make good points also. I'm sure the lure of winning a top prize sevral times over with the same set of numbers playes mulitple times is very alluring and probably what the lottery is counting on.

I've always said that the lotteries are always one step ahead of the players (actually way more than that!).

Illinois has a Pick 5 game- Lucky Day Lotto- with an option called EzMatch- for an extra dollar you get a set of numbers printed on the ticket and if anyone of them natches... [ More ]

Reply #12

GiveFive — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 10:35:14 GMT

No question about it! The lure of winning a 40 million dollar JP is very enticing. And it's impossible to win that amount playing Seet Million.

I also agree with your point about not understanding why people play MM at lower JP levels when Lotto's JP is higher.

I have a Lotto subscription simply because of the second place prize. I used to have to keep my eye on it, so when It got to a nice amount (like 224k) I would go buy a ticket. But because more often than not I would forget to buy i... [ More ]

Reply #11

GiveFive — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 10:16:33 GMT

Your point is well taken Toss. The lower tier prizes in Sweet Million are definitely insulting. That's exactly why people in NY dont play the game. That, and because the JP doesnt roll over.

Maybe more players are playing for lower tier prizes than I realize or even give them credit for. I've heard many people say that they're really playing for second place in PowerBall. On the rare occasions when I do play PB, I'm thinking the same way, and I'm guilty of always adding the PowerPlay, even t... [ More ]

Reply #10

Coin Toss — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 04:33:25 GMT

Stack47,

I agree with to each their own except when the odds against winning $40,000 on a $3 ticket are 34 times larger than winning $500 on a $1 ticket.

Let's just agree to call it a sticky wicket as $40,000 is $35,500 better than $500

Reply #9

Stack47 — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 01:19:36 GMT

It looked to me like GiveFive was comparing the odds of winning $2 million in one game to the odds of winning the same amount in another game. If the odds were exactly the same against winning $1 million and for the same two bucks, you get one PB ticket and two Sweet Million tickets. One $3 Powerplay ticket gives you one chance at $2 million and three $1 tickets with the same numbers gives you one chance at $3 million.

For the same price, one way you get two chances compared to one for the sa... [ More ]

Reply #8

IPlayWeekly — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 00:28:37 GMT

I agree, thats why I do MM and PB

Reply #7

Coin Toss — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 23:29:03 GMT

GiveFive,

Sweet Million, 5 of 6 (much more likely to happen, no?) pays a whopping $500, which is an insult when the odds are 1:18, 815.59

Powerball, 4 + the Powerball pays 4 + Powerball $10,000 $40,000 1 in: 648,976.

Maybe that's why. The lower tier prizes are much more enticing.

To each their own, but I'd be a little ticked off wining $500 in a Pick 6 game as opposed to a $40,000 score in a 5 + 1 game, even if it did cost an extra buck.

Reply #6

KY Floyd — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 18:31:33 GMT

If you can calculate the odds of winning $40 million or more with a Sweet Millions ticket you'll know why people still play powerball in NY.

What puzzles me is why so many people play PB or MM when they're at low levels and the lotto prize gets high. For March 22nd and 23rd MM was advertising a $20 million jackpot and lotto was advertising a $24 million jackpot. For anyone who was paying attention, the 2nd place lotto prize was $224k, compared to the $250k 2nd place MM prize. Both tickets are... [ More ]

Reply #5

BTW12 — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 13:23:04 GMT

I have never played it, how can I join the club of players

Reply #4

dallascowboyfan — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 13:20:58 GMT

Good observation GiveFive

Reply #3

kapla — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 08:10:18 GMT

they dont have their thnking caps on

good thing you do

Reply #2

GiveFive — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 10:17:50 GMT

When it's over 150 million, I've been playing PB and buying the PP too.

I did that because the odds are much lower (down to 5 million to 1 from 175 million to 1). I was playing to win two million dollars more so than I was playing to win the JP.

But after I thought about it, I realized I could win 2 million playing SM by having the same set of 6 numbers on my ticket twice, and it would cost me a dollar less per line than PB with the PP. (Not to mention the odds are 1.3 million to 1 lower... [ More ]

Reply #1

kapla — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 00:16:59 GMT

WOW, thanks for the breakdown on the numbers! I never liked it when PB went to $2 a play - I RARELY play it..

Playing PB with The Power Play in New York?

GiveFive — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 23:55:03 GMT

I realize that approximately 20% of all PowerBall ticket sales are sold with the Power Play option, but are you buying the Power Play option and live in or near New York State?

If you are consider this:

In PB with The PP added, your odds of winning two million dollars are 1:5,153,633 and you paid $3 per line.

If you played the same set of numbers twice on a Sweet Million ticket, you'd win 2 million dollars. (Beacuse the first 5 JP winners in Sweet Million are NOT pari-mutuel) and the o... [ More ]