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Something I hope we never seeReply
If Megamillions can't even fix the first prize you don't have to worry about any changes to the second prize. Even if it were doubled and then an annuity I just can't see it happeneing with the current game. I also can't see them changing the current game to generate higher jackpots either. So like it or hate it we are stuck with MegaBS. I'd say the only way an annuity would enter the second place winner would be a Euromillions style game where you have to pick 2 secondary numbers plus 5 whit
Aug 21, 2006, 2:02 pm - dvdiva - Jackpot Games Forum

Powerball cash optionReply
I have no idea if any of the old information is easily available online. If you've got abit of patience you could find some of the info by looking in the usamega archives for news stories that report bot the cash and anuity value. The people who run the lottery certainly keep track of it, but I don't know how readily they'll hand it over. I suppose you could file a Freedom of Information request if you really wanted accurate data, but why would you need it? The current information is readily ava
Jun 28, 2006, 5:19 pm - KY Floyd - Lottery Discussion Forum

Mega Millions lottery jackpot increased to $256 millionReply
Your book is slightly out of date, but at least it's based on reality. The only things anyone with sense would recognize as records would be things that have actually happened. So far neither Powerball or Megamillions has given away a prize that even came close to what they have claimed as records. The prize you mention is no longer the US record, though. The megamillions prize that was hyped as $315 million last November paid about 186 million in cash. That makes it the record holder for a
Feb 26, 2006, 1:54 am - KY Floyd - Lottery News

Probability of a MegaMillions rollover.Reply
Here are the long term modelling results for probabilities of jackpots of various sizes derived from my curve fitting scheme. As I have discussed, I think, before, modeling gives better results in some areas than it does in others. It deviates widely in the first several drawing and it also deviates when the jackpots approach records. It is now operating in a region where it is very accurate though. This is satisfying to me.(I keep the model updated by inserting new sales figures for each
Jan 28, 2006, 10:18 am - Prob988 - Jackpot Games Forum

Hoosier Lottery jackpot update...
It has now been more than 6 weeks since my first correspondance with Hoosier Lottery Executive director Esther Schneider and over a week since she promised me I would have the information I requested within a week and I still have no word from her (or any one else at the Hoosier Lottery) regarding the changes to the Hoosier Lottery jackpot payout.As I mentioned in another thread the annuity period was changed (without public announcement, explanation or increase) from 25 to 30 years.The referenc
Jan 4, 2006, 10:23 pm - Uncle Jim - Lottery Discussion Forum

Is a 400 million jackpot possible?Reply
Um, I wouldn't be so sure of beating the annuity, at least not without making risky investments. Taken from Powerball FAQ:CASH VS. ANNUITY - MY FINANCIAL EXPERTS SAYS HE CAN EARN MORE THAN THE ANNUITY WITH THIS CASH.We have seen that even financial experts forget about taxes. From the example above, if the winner takes the cash, then the winner will have to pay state and federal taxes on the cash amount. The amount of income tax will vary, but it will likely be somewhere close to half the cas
Oct 18, 2005, 11:32 am - ryanm - Lottery Discussion Forum

would you take cash or payments on the PBReply
How do people make the assumption that if you are taking the lump sum you are losing the difference between the annuity and the lump sum??? Obviously those people have no idea what they are talking about. The lottery doesn't give you an extra amount if you take the annuity. The lump sum and the annuity start at the same amount, the cash option. The extra is just the interest that is earned buying low yield government treasuries. That is where the difference comes from. And believe me no
Oct 14, 2005, 9:31 pm - Bradly_60 - Lottery Discussion Forum

New Jersey Lottery
I recently contacted the NJL to question whether one could switch cash/annuity options, after the draw. Here is their response.From: Public Info <Publicinfo@lottery.state.nj.us>To: Not gonna happen!Subject: RE: Mega Millions - Cash or AnnuityDate: Thursday, September 29, 2005 10:17 AMShould you hold the winning ticket and it has been purchased as anannuity ticket, the NJ Lottery will immediately purchase the annuity atthe rate available. You do have the option of requesting that the NJL
Oct 1, 2005, 12:23 pm - Chewie - Lottery Discussion Forum

PA Lottery to start Powerball ticket promotionReply
Based on my personal rough calculation, driven mainly by an interesting debate here, of the expected values in each of 3 cases, that is, (1) PB with no PP ($1 per ticket), (2) PB with PP but for the regular price ($2 per ticket), and (3) PB with PP but for PA state promotional price ($1.66 per ticket = $10/6), it seems that at 167M annuity 1. PA players are expected to get paid slightly higher when buying 5 tickets for the regular price of $10 and getting one free ticket, all with PP option. But
Sep 30, 2005, 10:18 am - anonymous77 - Lottery News

Financial analyst looks at lottery jackpot cash/annuity optionsReply
I'm just saying the annuity protects your money and gives a larger guaranteed income even if it's somewhat smaller than the theoretical maximum if you invested all the cash yourself. I'm just saying that theoretical maximum will probably never be seen because you will have less cash to invest. The real world maximum is probably the annuity and you know it's coming every year. No, I don't work fo the lottery. The lottery doesn't care what you do with your money, they don't make any money o
Aug 27, 2005, 1:27 am - ChazzMatt - Lottery News