Powerball and Mega Millions Odds

Reply #3

Driftwood — Tue, 07 Jan 2003 01:11:08 GMT

Thanks RJOh that help, if a bit disconcerting.

Reply #2

RJOh — Sun, 05 Jan 2003 20:19:52 GMT

To Driftwood,The odds are calculated by dividing the all the possile winning combinations by all the possible combinations. For example in Powerball there are 120,526,770 possible combinations and only one combination with 5 winning numbers and the powerball for the jackpot ,so the odds of winning the jackpot is 1:120,526,770 and for 5 winning numbers and no powerball, there are 41 combinations left or 41:120,526,770 = ~1:2,939,677 and etc. To get the odds for the rest of the combinations ,y... [ More ]

Reply #1

Todd — Sun, 05 Jan 2003 17:49:00 GMT

The odds posted for getting just the Powerball or just the Mega Ball are just that: getting the bonus, with matching NO OTHER NUMBERS. There is a possibility that you would match the bonus ball + one of the first five numbers: the odds of matching just the bonus ball do not include that.

Powerball and Mega Millions Odds

Driftwood — Sun, 05 Jan 2003 17:23:37 GMT

Hi,How is it that before the Powerball added extra balls up to 53, the chances of getting the Powerball were quoted on the official site as 74:1, but after the increase the odds dropped to 70:1 ??Also how can your chances of getting the Mega on Mega Millions be 88:1 (official site) when there are only 52 balls? Shouldn't it be 51:1?Hope somone can clear this up for me.Thanks.