"The California second prize winner won $717,167"

Pretty decent payoff for 5 numbers !

DD

Yes, I had posted on this subject earlier today, but for some reason the usual suspects are quiet.  Maybe they're upset they didn't notice it first.

http://www.lotterypost.com/thread/118870

The 3 place prize was 4,838 now that's crap. 1 in 689,065 chane of getting the third prize and ending up with 4,838 is terrible.  A pick five 39 numbers has odds of 1 in 575,757 and you usually get a couple hundred thousand. Don't forget about the people getting screwed here, second prize is only good if noone else gets it for a few draws. There's been a few california people get less than 100,000 for five numbers that's just crazy to me, 1 in 4 million chance and all you get is 83,000.  Just wanted to remind people Pari-mutuel has it's bad points to, all prizes should be set before you put your money down.

exactly, and what CA is doing is unfair to the other states.

it would be better if they rolled it down.

What California is doing has absolutely no effect on the other states.  Every prize, other than the jackpot, is paid for by revenues collected within the state the ticket was purchased.

So if you win 2nd place in Georgia, all $250,000 comes from tickets sales within the state of Georgia.  There is no sharing of any money between the states, other than the jackpot.

What California is doing is not only totally within its rights, but is also mandated by their state law.

Besides, I think it's really cool that they have generated a kind of secondary rolling jackpot with the second prize tier.

It only seems unfair. I think it's a kind of neat second lottery. Getting a million for second place would sure take the edge off not winning the jackpot.

83,000 would be a kick in the butt. I just like the idea of knowing what your going to win if your numbers hit. If 6 people got the second prize it would be like 40,000, or 4+1 in texas if you megaplie your ticket.

Seems unfair?  To who?

That's the way California has always run all their games, so it's not unfair to them.

It doesn't affect you in a non-California state, so it's not unfair to you either.

Personally, I am happy for California players who have this additional twist to the game.  I feel no jealousy or remorse, just happiness for the lucky California players.

It's almost like a free "Megaplier" in the sense you could actually multiply your prizes (over the other states), with one exception... just hope no one else wins with you.

Does CA allocate X percent of the take for prizes and then by law must award it all, where other states would just grab the unused prize money as profit? If so, I like that idea.

California allocates a percentage of the prize fund to each prize tier.  If there are no winners in a particular tier (almost always the top prize) its OK/legal if the money in that prize pool is (how/who do you pay if you don't have any winners?) rolled over to the next draw.  Almost no states are allowed to grab unclaimed prize money - it almost always must go over to the State.

On any lotto game designed at the 50% prize level, the game will actually run at 47 - 48% payout due to unpaid prizes.  Many states (including CA) use this 2 - 3% of sales as a "promotional" fund - because by law, unpaid prize money must be returned to players somehow.

Unclaimed prizes (those over $599 that have to be claimed, as opposed to smaller amounts payable at retail) are automatically turned over to the State - however - CA counts those amounts against the 34% minimum contribution to education - not in addition to the 34% minimum. 

HEY TODD....What on earth are you doing up at  2:43 am est......."Can't Sleep"????????  I would look as though I'd walked thru the "petrified forest" if I stayed up till 2:43 am est or even later.(lmao)......Anyway..... HAPPY MONDAY TO YOU....& ALL MY UNHAPPY FELLOW MM GAMBLERS......

I  would be happy with $400,  $4,000, $400,000....and laugh all the way to my very  needy Bank Account, grateful to have recd anything......especially as I would never have gambled $400.......as long as I am ahead of the game....I don't care. Hey....it's better than gambling $40.00 or $400.00 and ending up with nothing at all.........

I have to say, Todd makes the most sense from this matter.  The *odds* arent the reason for payouts, its the" cashflow in cashflow out". Its called checks and balances of funds. When the play is for $1 and you make out with a 400% profit you really have nothing to gripe about. (unless 399% of it goes to taxes!!!).