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Powerball lottery to implement changes
Powerball: Powerball lottery to implement changes
Sales for a new, enhanced version of the Powerball multi-state lottery game will begin on Sunday, August 28. The new game will feature the country's largest opening jackpot, faster growing jackpots and bigger second-tier prizes that will allow players matching five white ball numbers to win up to $1 million. The Powerball opening jackpot will increase from $10 million to $15 million. Powerball's second-tier prize for matching five white ball numbers (without matching the red Powerball number) will double, increasing from the current $100,000 to $200,000. With the PowerPlay feature, players who match five white ball numbers will have the chance to win $1 million. The first Powerball drawing to feature the new changes will be on Wednesday, Aug. 31. "The improvements to Powerball will make the game more exciting," said Lottery Executive Director Ed Mahlman. "Powerball soon will have the largest opening jackpot in American Lottery history. "Powerball jackpots will also increase faster, in at least $5 million increments." To increase the average Powerball jackpot size, two white ball numbers will be added, changing the jackpot odds to 1-in-146.1 million; the current game has jackpot odds of 1-in-120.5 million. The overall odds of winning a cash prize will remain virtually the same, at 1-in-36.60, up slightly from the current 1-in-36.06. To prepare for the changes to the game, it will be necessary to step-down Powerball's advance-play feature. Powerball and PowerPlay tickets may be purchased up to 13 weeks (26 draws) in advance. Beginning with the June 4 drawing, there no longer will be 26 draws remaining in the current version of the Powerball game. The last opportunity to purchase 13 weeks (26 draws) of Powerball in its current matrix will be Wednesday, June 1. The number of advance draws available for purchase will continue to decrease by one until only one drawing in the current schedule remains. Powerball tickets will be on sale for the new, enhanced version beginning Sunday, Aug. 28. At that time, players again will be able to purchase up to 13 weeks (26 draws) of advance-play tickets. This will be the fourth version of Powerball since it was introduced in April 1992. The Pennsylvania Lottery joined the multi-jurisdictional game in June 2002. In the past three years, Pennsylvania has sold nine jackpot- winning Powerball tickets totaling more than $425 million cash. Powerball tickets are currently sold in 29 participating jurisdictions - 27 states, the District of Columbia and the Virgin Islands.
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24 comments. Last comment 4 years ago by .
Stroudsburg, PA United States Member #1860 July 11, 2003 2598 Posts Online |
| Posted: June 1, 2005, 8:43 pm - IP Logged |
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I like these changes a lot. A bit overdue though.
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United States Member #15415 May 10, 2005 323 Posts Offline |
| Posted: June 1, 2005, 9:42 pm - IP Logged |
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I'm looking forward to the changes. I do wish they had also reduced the years for the annuity option to match what MegaMillions is. It would mean a higher cash option! 
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Mobile, AL and Jasper, TN United States Member #13647 April 5, 2005 1562 Posts Offline |
| Posted: June 1, 2005, 10:03 pm - IP Logged |
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I can't wait to see how players respond to the possible higher jackpots and prizes. How are you going to win if you don't play?
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United States Member #2380 September 17, 2003 2064 Posts Offline |
| Posted: June 1, 2005, 11:08 pm - IP Logged |
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I'm just wondering if there will be a record jackpot after Mega makes it's changes. Might steal all the publicity away from Powerball.
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Mid-Missouri United States Member #647 August 31, 2002 4273 Posts Offline |
| Posted: June 2, 2005, 1:27 am - IP Logged |
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If they really want to make a change, they would pay me the full amount I played for on the ticket and if I chose to take a lump sum instead of annuity payments the taxes would be taken out of the portion they kept, not my half. Now, that's what I would call a change. But that's just me... Bryan :)
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New Member  St. Louis United States Member #2383 September 18, 2003 15 Posts Offline |
| Posted: June 2, 2005, 1:59 am - IP Logged |
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They're only changing the game because so many tickets were hitting early in the year. From January through February, they had four winners, averaging ~$19.2 million. Since March, the same number of tickets won, but averaging ~$66 million. If PB would have just waited, they wouldn't have to have changed the odds on the game. But I do like the increases in payouts.
There's only two kinds of people that win the lottery, amigos....those that already have money and first time players.
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United States Member #436 June 30, 2002 675 Posts Offline |
| Posted: June 2, 2005, 8:10 am - IP Logged |
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They're only changing the game because so many tickets were hitting early in the year. From January through February, they had four winners, averaging ~$19.2 million. Since March, the same number of tickets won, but averaging ~$66 million. If PB would have just waited, they wouldn't have to have changed the odds on the game. But I do like the increases in payouts.
That's not the only reason they changed. They have added a lot of states the past 2 years. Plus with Mega Millions adding California and changing their matrix, PB needed to change their matrix in order to compete.
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United States
Member #16902
June 2, 2005
3493 Posts
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| Posted: June 2, 2005, 9:56 am - IP Logged |
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I was the one responsible for letting Powerball go from 53 White Balls to 55 White Balls. I think Powerball and Mega Millions will fight out which one will get their highest jackpot in North American history.
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United States Member #15415 May 10, 2005 323 Posts Offline |
| Posted: June 2, 2005, 4:52 pm - IP Logged |
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I was the one responsible for letting Powerball go from 53 White Balls to 55 White Balls. I think Powerball and Mega Millions will fight out which one will get their highest jackpot in North American history.
How were you responsible for the change?
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Wisconsin United States Member #1327 March 27, 2003 1509 Posts Offline |
| Posted: June 2, 2005, 8:29 pm - IP Logged |
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120 million to 1 or 146 million to 1, what's the difference? They're still only going to get 3 bucks from me. ============
How can you tell if a politician is lying?
Answer: His lips are moving.
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United States
Member #380
June 5, 2002
11297 Posts
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| Posted: June 3, 2005, 10:46 am - IP Logged |
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Sometimes I play more than $3.
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United States Member #15415 May 10, 2005 323 Posts Offline |
| Posted: June 3, 2005, 12:17 pm - IP Logged |
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I usually only play $2 unless the pot gets real high *and* I feel really lucky then I play $5.
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United States
Member #16902
June 2, 2005
3493 Posts
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| Posted: June 3, 2005, 7:38 pm - IP Logged |
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I was responsible to write letters to Powerball to help them want to increase their sales. I also heard about the news back in April from CNN about Powerball losing their sales.
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United States Member #15415 May 10, 2005 323 Posts Offline |
| Posted: June 4, 2005, 1:56 am - IP Logged |
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I was responsible to write letters to Powerball to help them want to increase their sales. I also heard about the news back in April from CNN about Powerball losing their sales.
I see, thanks.
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