Is mega millions worth playing anymore?

Reply #51

Coin Toss — Thu, 26 Feb 2015 01:30:50 GMT

Long Odds,

That's an excellent analogy with the ball parks and a raffle.

I've always looked at raffles this way, in a lottery game $1 or $2 wins millions, tens of millions, or 100 or hundreds of millions depending on the game and jackpot.

In a raffle, like your example of the NY one where a $10 ticket can win $1M, in essence every dollar wins $100,000. Not bad but as far a 'most bang for the buck' that's whoop tee do as compared to lotto jackpots.

Reply #50

Long Odds — Wed, 25 Feb 2015 22:32:05 GMT

They once ran a million dollar raffle special drawing in NY State that was advertised as having the best odds of winning a million dollars of any game ever as they restricted sales to 1 million tickets at $10 each. I analogized the odds being similar to having 30 major league baseball ballparks each with 33,333 fans in attendance at the same time and one winner was picked in total from the 30 ballparks. Have you ever been in a HS gym, concert, or other venue with relatively limited attendance wh... [ More ]

Reply #49

Long Odds — Wed, 25 Feb 2015 22:17:54 GMT

the odds of winning the Megamillions jackpot is in the range of 1 in 258 million while the odds of winning the Powerball jackpot is in the range of 1 in 175 million. the population of the US is around 320 million. and you think where you live impacts your odds of winning? silly.

Reply #48

hearsetrax — Wed, 25 Feb 2015 22:15:49 GMT

I say let it grow for another month and two at least

Reply #47

mightwin — Wed, 25 Feb 2015 22:04:21 GMT

its $127million for friday so at least its getting up there.....keep on rolling

Reply #46

hearsetrax — Mon, 23 Feb 2015 16:06:21 GMT

indeed and I just put in my $1

let see what happens

Reply #45

Gleno — Mon, 23 Feb 2015 15:07:51 GMT

A one dollar bet is worth playing whenever the jackpot hits your it's time buy a Mega Millions ticket .

Reply #44

Scratch$ — Sun, 15 Feb 2015 09:20:29 GMT

I don't play MM or PB until the jackpots hit at least $250 million, and at least $100 thousand on Cash 5.

I like the fact that MM has kept their base ticket price at $1, but would like to see a smaller number matrix.

Reply #43

haymaker — Sun, 01 Feb 2015 21:24:03 GMT

I also quit playing MM and PB unless they were near record JPs but did'nt have a fixed amount.

I like your phrase Extraordinary circumstances

Although I don't use holidays b-days and such, my extraordinary circumstances will be:

Near record JP when I happen to be visiting an anonymous state like Delaware.

Reply #42

Hermanus104 — Sun, 01 Feb 2015 20:51:10 GMT

I don't play Mega Millions or Powerball unless there is a drawing for a near-record jackpot on a major holiday, on my birthday, or on February 29. I don't like those games because they essentially rob middle-tier prize winners at gunpoint. The odds of matching 3+1 on Mega Millions is 1 in 10,720, and if you are fortunate to match that combination, all you get is $500. I can play the 3-ball and have MUCH better odds of winning the same amount of money. I feel that Mega Millions should be paying o... [ More ]

Reply #41

KY Floyd — Thu, 22 Jan 2015 00:13:47 GMT

I'm sure nobody's tracking it precisely, but they can certainly tell a lot about buying patterns with the online games. Even if somebody uses 3 separate bet slips to buy 3 PB tickets it will normally be just one transaction on the terminal. Same thing when somebody buys a PB, and one ticket each for 2 different state games. When scratchers are scanned when they're sold (as opposed to each roll being activated) they'll also get a decent idea of what the typical player is doing. It may not give th... [ More ]

Reply #40

bosshogg954 — Tue, 20 Jan 2015 23:53:38 GMT

Buying the lotto is easy winning is a dream. I don't think people actually know the odds of hitting the lotto.

I don't care how much and i don't wait for the to reach /*--@*,^%,$$,%^** its $1 to possibly win millions can a have a quick pick

Reply #39

bigbear29 — Tue, 20 Jan 2015 22:01:22 GMT

That is interesting that there is a possibility that in states that win more, players may spend more on lottery. I would.

Reply #38

mediabrat — Tue, 20 Jan 2015 20:55:23 GMT

I do not know if statistics exist regarding how many people play the lottery in each state, but you can find the number of tickets sold for each drawing. Take that, throw it into a blender with some readily available population figures, and you've got a rough idea of the average number of tickets bought per person.

Reply #37

maximumfun — Tue, 20 Jan 2015 15:43:02 GMT

which state... let's see... a- doesnt list a state... so no A, b- also doesnt list a state... so no B, c- 1 person in high volume state... so yes state is listed, d- group play in lower volume state... so state is listed...

so my choices are now c or d... high volume state or low volume state... now WHERE did i put my coin... my kidlettes are saying its 50/50... my hubby votes for A (or maybe he is voting for ME to be living outside planet Earth so i stop bothering him with these questions... [ More ]

Reply #36

maximumfun — Tue, 20 Jan 2015 15:32:57 GMT

yes I would.

so that would be 2.3M on the low side... 1.15M-ish after all authority agencies get their cut?

- not a bad return on a 3 minute investment (time to fill out slip, take it to counter, pay for play and receive slip from counter-worker-bee

Reply #35

jjtheprince — Tue, 20 Jan 2015 04:02:08 GMT

I don't know if there are stats on it, but I've always wondered if residents in some states play harder on average than residents of others. For example, do players in North Dakota only buy 3 tickets per drawing on average while players in New York buy 10 tickets?

It would be interesting to know.

Reply #34

myturn — Tue, 20 Jan 2015 03:40:40 GMT

Like all lotteries, it's a bit of a gamble!

LOL

Reply #33

noise-gate — Tue, 20 Jan 2015 03:00:31 GMT

if you put down a Dollar and the jackpot was $7 mil and you won half or a third of it, would you consider your wager worth it.

Reply #32

RJOh — Mon, 19 Jan 2015 17:46:52 GMT

Since someone in every participation state has matched at least a 5+0 and come close to winning, how do you define a non-winning state? You can't play in a non-participation state but I think playing is worth the drive to a participating state if the jackpot is high enough. Playing is a personal choice and for some people no lottery game is worth playing.

Reply #31

Igamble — Mon, 19 Jan 2015 05:33:48 GMT

Kindergarden class for dummy players !

Class topic-Ughhhh my state not winning any Jp

WHY !!

EXAMPLE

NY state tickets sold/month 2014YTD-100.000.000-124.000.000Tks.

OHIO state tickets sold/month 2014 YTD-2.000.000-2.500.000Tks.

What state has the highest RESULT OF JACKPOT AND NON JACKPOT (4+1/3+0) WINS MOST LIKELY ??

A)Person living outside planet Earth

B)Cristopher Columbo

C)Banker in Manhattan,Ny

D)Ohio state football team

Free pick 3 prediction for cor... [ More ]

Reply #30

mrbg — Mon, 19 Jan 2015 03:03:00 GMT

Agreed

Reply #29

Stack47 — Mon, 19 Jan 2015 02:57:35 GMT

Try looking at it as someone who plays the same birthday or any set of numbers in every drawing. Would they have a better chance of winning the jackpot if they buy their tickets in one of the larger populated states or in the Virgin Islands

Reply #28

ttech10 — Sun, 18 Jan 2015 06:17:37 GMT

I think some people would find something to complain about if someone from North Dakota was visiting the Virgin Islands and won after buying a QP there. I'm sure if the second place prizes also had only places like Wyoming and Montana they'd go as far as to say the MM people had to let those places win so people would start trusting them again.

Reply #27

rcbbuckeye — Sun, 18 Jan 2015 02:28:39 GMT

How funny. When I checked to see the MM results this morning, I actually thought to myself that there wouldn't be any complaints about someone in Illinois winning. After all, not California, not Florida, not New York.

Stupid me. Someone in Florida and in New York wins SECOND PRIZE! And here we go again.

Reply #26

Coin Toss — Sun, 18 Jan 2015 00:49:51 GMT

In a previous thread you were directed to the Mega Millions winners gallery and you said it was a made up bunch of lies.

You have a real credibility problem.

Reply #25

ttech10 — Sun, 18 Jan 2015 00:47:11 GMT

Sounds like something out of a pretty decent song.

People just need to realize that it doesn't matter what winner a state is from, that every person chooses from the same selection of numbers and relies on the same set of winning numbers. I don't get how people cannot understand that, as simple as it is. I don't know if that concept is just too difficult for them or they simply choose to ignore facts so they have something to blame their losing on. I'm tempted to believe the latter, or else t... [ More ]

Reply #24

maximumfun — Sat, 17 Jan 2015 23:56:59 GMT

love it! when I dont get my nap (which is most days) - I don't like it when others point out my illogical statements or statements I make that defy fact. My vote: MORE NAPS FOR EVERYONE

Reply #23

PrinceRene — Sat, 17 Jan 2015 22:45:40 GMT

you never learn do you? You must be a glutton for punishment.

Reply #22

KY Floyd — Sat, 17 Jan 2015 20:43:27 GMT

Several years ago there was a poster who often claimed that if the jackpot was won in his state that the next winner would probably be in a different state. He was absolutely correct. Based on that, he thought that it a jackpot was won in his state his chances of winning the next jackpot improved if he bought his tickets somewhere outside his own state.

There are two types of lottery players. The people who understand why that guy was an idiot, and idiots.

Reply #21

Droptop6969 — Sat, 17 Jan 2015 20:36:01 GMT

Sounds like he's jealous he lives in the wisconsin trailerpark instead of the glorious bay area. Get used to it broke boy

Reply #20

Todd — Sat, 17 Jan 2015 20:33:05 GMT

Wow, you have a sour attitude! I'm hating you?? That's just odd.

This is a forum, where people express opinions. If you want a place where people only agree with you, I don't think it exists on the Internet.

Reply #19

noise-gate — Sat, 17 Jan 2015 20:32:52 GMT

Pick- what's your problem ? I thought Todd's answer was succinct enough and he used Logic.Whereas you throwing words out there that have little to no meaning whatsoever on the topic at hand.

Far be it for me to defend Todd, but he is running this site and asking him where have you been all the other times is a little disrespectful of you . You coming off as a spoilt little brat who want everything to go his/ her way. You do realize that it's possible for you to be in error in this forum desp... [ More ]

Reply #18

pickone4me — Sat, 17 Jan 2015 19:42:16 GMT

Now you want to get in on what I post...Where were you other times? The fact of the matter is, I can go and look on the winners page, and see what states have won, and I can figure out which ones haven't won....So again, you can agree with liberal bay area person all you want...In the end particular states still won't win for years on end. It doesn't take logic to figure that out...Thanks for insulting me, like all my other haters on here.

Reply #17

noise-gate — Sat, 17 Jan 2015 19:29:00 GMT

You not being Helpful Todd, you scared him off..

Reply #16

Todd — Sat, 17 Jan 2015 19:22:45 GMT

It's funny, because noise-gate just said states don't win , and you countered by saying, States that haven't won a jackpot...

I agree with noise-gate, people are so fixated by what state the ticket was purchased in. I look at it like interesting information , and I understand that the winning tickets will most likely be sold in the states with the highest populations.

But to suddenly make the jump that you have worse odds because you live in a different state means you have completely rem... [ More ]

Reply #15

noise-gate — Sat, 17 Jan 2015 19:20:31 GMT

You don't know what the heck you talking about.

State your source that says Any State that has not had a winner in 3 or more years is Classified as a Non Winning State ?

Some days you step in it.. some days you don't.

Reply #14

pickone4me — Sat, 17 Jan 2015 19:07:23 GMT

States that haven't won a jackpot pot for 3 years or more are Non winning States ( which means no one has won in those states ) It is not my fault if you can't and won't comprehend what I am saying.

Reply #13

noise-gate — Sat, 17 Jan 2015 18:59:43 GMT

There is NO SUCH THING as a Non winning State that was my whole point. Its not my fault if you fail to comprehend the gist of my meaning.

Reply #12

pickone4me — Sat, 17 Jan 2015 18:52:50 GMT

People live in states. Deflect=FAIL One can't be stateless, unless someone from outside the country wins.

Reply #11

pickone4me — Sat, 17 Jan 2015 18:49:39 GMT

Thanks for that bit of info. No it is not worth playing if you live in a non winning state. I haven't played so far this year, and more then likely won't.

Reply #10

noise-gate — Sat, 17 Jan 2015 18:46:10 GMT

States Don't Win jackpots- people Do.

Reply #9

hearsetrax — Sat, 17 Jan 2015 18:45:40 GMT

I get tired of the same type of whiny topics and I agree with you, ttech

tell me if this sounds familiar:

____________________________

working hard to get my thrill

Payin' anything to roll the dice just one more time

some will win, some will lose

some were born to whine whine whine

Oh, and the game never ends

goes on and on and on and on

Reply #8

ttech10 — Sat, 17 Jan 2015 18:41:02 GMT

Frustrated that people can be so daft, yes.

Reply #7

ThatScaryChick — Sat, 17 Jan 2015 18:37:42 GMT

I thought some of you guys would be happy that a winner who didn't live in California, Florida or New York won the jackpot.

Reply #6

hearsetrax — Sat, 17 Jan 2015 18:35:45 GMT

loosely translated for the rest of us

Reply #5

bigbear29 — Sat, 17 Jan 2015 16:54:54 GMT

you sound frustrated.

Reply #4

bigbear29 — Sat, 17 Jan 2015 16:51:43 GMT

frustration Is the word, when you have a feeling that the same locations will win or there is only one winning ticket. There are a lot of people that feel they will be the winner of that one winning ticket. I just believe if there were more winning tickets to spread the wealth would do more players good than just having one winning ticket.

Reply #3

ttech10 — Sat, 17 Jan 2015 16:51:43 GMT

It's not worth playing if you have a time machine and can see into the future to see that you don't win.

But if you're a normal person and realize what the odds are and that you won't win even a dollar most times you play, but also realize that any draw, despite where you live or the amount played, that you could hit the jackpot... yes it's worth it.

I really think these kinds of threads should result in the banning of the OP, or at least take away their thread creation privileges. They re... [ More ]

Reply #2

PrisonerSix — Sat, 17 Jan 2015 16:32:11 GMT

I'm in a lottery pool and we play a few tickets every drawing. This time, we only won $1.

I only play MegaMillions myself when it reaches over $100 million.

Reply #1

Coin Toss — Sat, 17 Jan 2015 16:14:49 GMT

Did you know that Illinois was one of the original nine states to sell Mega Millions? Since 2002, Mega Millions has become a wildly popular game. With jackpots starting at $15,000,000 and prizes ranging from $1 to $1,000,000, it's no surprise that this game is an Illinoisan favorite. - See more at: http://www.illinoislottery.com/en-us/Mega_Millions.html?

So what is it that you begrudge, other than you didn't win it

Is mega millions worth playing anymore?

bigbear29 — Sat, 17 Jan 2015 15:29:02 GMT

1 ticket won in Illinois and 2nd tier prize was not hard to guess, New York and Florida.

Is this even worth playing if you live in a non-winning state.