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Rollover probabilities for Powerball at $400M annuity.Reply
There is no mathematically legitimate way to declare the expectation value as undefined because the odds are large. Indeed in mathematical physics, one often defines improbable events in terms of expectation values, in the case of so called quantum mechanical tunneling for example. It is simply a ratio of potential reward to risk, and there is no arbitrary place at which it is undefined except where the risk is non-existent. If the ratio of the sum of cash jackpots awarded to each winner tim
Sep 16, 2013, 8:53 pm - Prob988 - Jackpot Games Forum

Rollover probabilities for Powerball at $400M annuity.Reply
I just have this problem with ever calling MM or PB a good bet even when the jackpot is high, that's just my pet peeve. EV is more appropriate for low odds gambling like blackjack or craps, but really has no place with high odds jackpot games with pari-mutuel top prizes. But anyway, the return for this draw is either quite a bit lower than 0.75, or quite a bit higher if you include the wager itself for all combos. And it makes way too many assumptions that you win the jackpot with your bet, o
Sep 16, 2013, 9:39 am - Jon D - Jackpot Games Forum

Post your scratch ticket resultsReply
Thank you everyone!! I was looking at the odds table and I doubt I'll be finding another like that anytime soon...you guys playing out there have a chance - the odds are 1/10,000 Now I need these symbols: match stick, the ace, the bowling shoe, a wallet and a LIFE lol, right...$250k for that one...not gonna happen.. but I can try. Good luck everyone!!!
Aug 30, 2013, 8:19 pm - dr65 - Instant ("Scratch-Off") Games Forum

How SadReply
A lotto game needs to be sized properly for the player base. When multi-states came in, that took away players from local state games. Revenue dropped, rollovers more common and rollover increments smaller. A smaller matrix may be needed. Or they need to enhance by upping the total payout above 50%, adding extras and powerplay as some have done, or other features such as raffles and replay entries. If the games don't evolve, they become stale and sales drop even more. Look at Ohio Classic
Aug 13, 2013, 8:07 pm - Jon D - Lottery Discussion Forum

Your thoughts on Mega Millions Matrix Change?Reply
What you missed is the true odds of winning the Jackpot are now lower for most people. What they are doing is pretty much making it a Jackpot only game. You just have to save your money and play a full ticket when the jackpot is high enough. e.g. The megaplier is pointless as that ticket costs $2 but why buy that and win only second prize when you can spend $15 and win the jackpot? That is the consideration. If you buy 1,2,3,4,5 and any megaball and you hit the first 5 numbers
Aug 5, 2013, 6:44 pm - Think - Lottery Discussion Forum

Can math and logic improve chances of winning a jackpot?Reply
Stack What I find amazing is the extent of their conviction that drives them to tell us we are misguided. I don't think any of that will ever help me pick my numbers. Check the odds at the door and play whatever you can find that looks like it should show. All my choices are guesses but I like to think that I am using my intelligence in some logical fashion rather it's based on odds or not. RL
Jul 30, 2013, 9:10 am - RL-RANDOMLOGIC - Mathematics Forum

Strong Lottery Beliefs Rituals Superstitions Lucky Charms?
Okay we all have them...what are yours? I buy tickets at multiple/many locations in the belief that it increases my odds. I have travelled out of state and out of local area to buy tickets when the jackpot was over $100,000,000. I think buying mostly quickpicks also increases odds, except in play 3 and play 4 where I believe self picks are better. Who knows... I keep my tickets stacked in date order of draw (tonights draw on top, future draws below) on top of a few items that I co
Jul 6, 2013, 8:14 pm - BuyLow - Lottery Discussion Forum

Are there any stats that show % of QP Jackpot winners over non-QP for PB/MM?Reply
Did any PB drawing ever generate the maximum ball number of 12. Did any PB drawing ever generate numbers you've picked yourself? There are 792 possible combinations using numbers 1 through 12, so there are 9,504 possible combinations where neither the regular numbes of the power ball are more than 12. Even using using the original matrix with only 55 million possible combinations, the subset with no number higher than 12 only accounts 1/5784 of them. That means the odds of any of those 9
Jun 27, 2013, 5:05 pm - KY Floyd - Lottery Discussion Forum

Take5 NYReply
Thanks LB... I'm fine... I'm cranky as anything... but I was back to work today and was my usual miserable self. If anyone has a chance to buy a Connecticut SuperDraw ticket I'd recommend you do so and do it soon! Tickets are still available, but ticket sales end on July 3rd, one week from today, or if they sell all 275,000 which I say they aint gonna do!!! I bought another one tonite, and the number on it was 229498. Now you might think that's the 229,498th ticket sold out of the 275,000. Bu
Jun 27, 2013, 12:10 am - GiveFive - Pick 5 Forum

Can MM & PB Start Being Honest? Must this farce continue?Reply
what makes things even worse for US lottery players is not only do the other countries advertise the cash value of their jackpot, almost all the other countries do NOT tax lottery winnings. So if you're a US lottery player who wants the cash value, you need to take the advertise jackpot, subtract about 40% to get to the cash amount, then take away about 50% of the cash amount for state income tax and federal income tax to finally arrive at what the government will allow you to keep. Rem
Jun 18, 2013, 4:23 pm - whiteballz - Lottery Discussion Forum