New Florida Lotto playslips a bother to some

Mar 6, 2008, 11:35 am (34 comments)

Florida Lottery

Some players annoyed by re-writing slips used 'for years'; don't understand new jackpot options

As the Florida Lottery made changes to its Lotto game, a Lauderhill woman claimed the $3 million jackpot from the March 1 game.

Melony Gregory, of Lauderhill, chose the one-time, lump-sum payment, and will receive $1,711,642 after taxes.

Meanwhile, Lotto players faced a slightly longer wait to purchase tickets for Wednesday night's drawing, the first since the Florida Lottery made changes to Lotto that rendered the old playslips obsolete.

The change allows players to spend $1 or $2 extra to increase the size of the Lotto jackpot.

Wednesday's jackpot was $3 million and a $1 ticket bought a chance to win that amount. Under the new setup, a player who spends $2 on a single set of numbers was playing for a $13 million jackpot and a player who wagered $3 on a single set of numbers was going for a $28 million pot.

Some retailers said players were much more aggravated by having to fill out new playslips than they were eager to spend an extra dollar or two to increase the size of the jackpot.

"They don't quite understand it and they are very annoyed because they had to change all their forms," said Daniel Nass, one of the owners of Old City Newsstand near A1A in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea. "They will come in with five or more slips at a time already filled out and have been using it for years. You try and explain the $2 option or $3 option on six numbers, and when they finally understand it, they don't want to do it."

Nass said many of his customers are elderly and some think the new ticket options are a scheme that should be avoided.

"It needs time and Lotto needs to explain it with their advertising. It's not a bad system but people seem not to want to spend an extra $2 or $3 per line," he said.

Switching numbers from an old playslip to a new one isn't simple because the number grids are different.

Gregory's winning Lotto Quick Pick ticket was purchased at the Shop N Save at 4428 Inverrary Blvd. in Lauderhill. The retailer received a bonus incentive of $10,000 for selling the winning ticket. The winning numbers were: 02-20-23-33-43-50.

Orlando Sentinel

Comments

RJOh's avatarRJOh

If there's a very good chance of not winning the jackpot, while would anyone want to pay an extra dollar or two for the privilege?

JackpotWanna's avatarJackpotWanna

I'll bet there are going to be lots of jackpot winners who going to regret not spending an extra 1 or 2 for the bigger jackpot. 

Todd's avatarTodd

Quote: Originally posted by JackpotWanna on Mar 6, 2008

I'll bet there are going to be lots of jackpot winners who going to regret not spending an extra 1 or 2 for the bigger jackpot. 

That was my point too.

If I felt strongly about a few sets of numbers, I would definitely give it a try.  I'm not sure I would play it every time, but there is a big difference between $3 million and $28 million.

RJOh's avatarRJOh

Quote: Originally posted by JackpotWanna on Mar 6, 2008

I'll bet there are going to be lots of jackpot winners who going to regret not spending an extra 1 or 2 for the bigger jackpot. 

True, every jackpot winner may wished he had spent an extra dollar or two for an extra $10M or $25M but he will be only 1 in 22,957,480 ticket holders, the rest are going to be happy they didn't because the amount they win is not effected.  If spending the extra dollars on more chances resulted in the player winning the jackpot then he's going to be happy too.

JackpotWanna's avatarJackpotWanna

New york has a similar game called NYlotto.  For an extra $1 all the prizes doubles except the jackpot. The jackpot remains the same.  I Like the Florida's game better.   

NYSlugger 777's avatarNYSlugger 777

Quote: Originally posted by JackpotWanna on Mar 6, 2008

I'll bet there are going to be lots of jackpot winners who going to regret not spending an extra 1 or 2 for the bigger jackpot. 

If you are a jackpot winner and youve won millions who is going to regret not spending an extra buckRoll Eyes youre still the first place winner and anything over a million dollars is enough to be satisfied with.Just be happy you won thats all that really matters.

LuckyLilly's avatarLuckyLilly

Quote: Originally posted by NYSlugger 777 on Mar 6, 2008

If you are a jackpot winner and youve won millions who is going to regret not spending an extra buckRoll Eyes youre still the first place winner and anything over a million dollars is enough to be satisfied with.Just be happy you won thats all that really matters.

If that buck would have been the difference between 3 mil and 13 mil, I'd regret it for a bit.  Face it, 3 mil isn't much.  In my state after taxes it'd be around 1.6 mil.  That's definitely nothing to sneeze at, and would provide for a comfortable life if you're careful and spend it wisely.  But 13 mil would be almost 8 mil after taxes.  With 8 mil you could help others if you wish, and still have enough that you could splurge on some stuff and wouldn't have to spend ever dollar wisely.

So yeah I'd regret it for a while, but I'd be too content with my 1.6 mil to worry about it for too long.

justxploring's avatarjustxploring

Quote: Originally posted by LuckyLilly on Mar 6, 2008

If that buck would have been the difference between 3 mil and 13 mil, I'd regret it for a bit.  Face it, 3 mil isn't much.  In my state after taxes it'd be around 1.6 mil.  That's definitely nothing to sneeze at, and would provide for a comfortable life if you're careful and spend it wisely.  But 13 mil would be almost 8 mil after taxes.  With 8 mil you could help others if you wish, and still have enough that you could splurge on some stuff and wouldn't have to spend ever dollar wisely.

So yeah I'd regret it for a while, but I'd be too content with my 1.6 mil to worry about it for too long.

Quick note, Lilly.  That $3 million is about $1.7M cash which after taxes would be around $1.1M.  The extra dollar adds a bonus, but in the form of an annuity.  It's still a lot of money, but I just wanted to clarify that point.  I'm pretty sure you can still take it as a lump sum, but it's nowhere near $10M. Cash payouts for FL Lotto average 55% to 60%. 

ThatScaryChick's avatarThatScaryChick

Quote: Originally posted by NYSlugger 777 on Mar 6, 2008

If you are a jackpot winner and youve won millions who is going to regret not spending an extra buckRoll Eyes youre still the first place winner and anything over a million dollars is enough to be satisfied with.Just be happy you won thats all that really matters.

I agree. I would be happy with the fact that I actually won a jackpot in the first place. It's not as if it's easy to win one any old time.   

LuckyLilly's avatarLuckyLilly

Quote: Originally posted by justxploring on Mar 6, 2008

Quick note, Lilly.  That $3 million is about $1.7M cash which after taxes would be around $1.1M.  The extra dollar adds a bonus, but in the form of an annuity.  It's still a lot of money, but I just wanted to clarify that point.  I'm pretty sure you can still take it as a lump sum, but it's nowhere near $10M. Cash payouts for FL Lotto average 55% to 60%. 

Ah well that fact makes it even worse.  LOL  1.1 mil doesn't go far these days. 

NYSlugger 777's avatarNYSlugger 777

Well I guess I can say that if you want to win over 20 mil,just have a little patience.Smile

After consecutive draws and no one hits the jackpot the rollovers will soon push the jackpot past the 25 million dollar mark,then play for $1 per ticket.

Further more , when nobody hits that particular jackpot of lets say about 3 million,the jackpots themselves rolllover and increase(what im saying is you dont have to spend one dollar extra to increase the jackpot it will increase by itself as the rollovers continues).So, when you add the additional dollars to your original bet,you also increase the jackpot prize yet again.Now, this innovative idea has merit, but only if you just play when there is a huge jackpot.And even then only when there is  a low starting jackpot.If you are a regular player, then the additional dollars tacked on to your original wager are waste.All they do is to serve as a "greed tax upon yourself."

mylollipop's avatarmylollipop

Quote: Originally posted by LuckyLilly on Mar 6, 2008

Ah well that fact makes it even worse.  LOL  1.1 mil doesn't go far these days. 

The Official FL Lottery Site indicates that the $2/$3 plays for Lotto can be claimed as cash also.  It seems like I can not post the link.  Anyway, if I did play the new game, I would choose the $2/$3 option.  After all, that is how I break even in PB playing the PowerPlay.  LOL!

LuckyLilly's avatarLuckyLilly

Quote: Originally posted by mylollipop on Mar 7, 2008

The Official FL Lottery Site indicates that the $2/$3 plays for Lotto can be claimed as cash also.  It seems like I can not post the link.  Anyway, if I did play the new game, I would choose the $2/$3 option.  After all, that is how I break even in PB playing the PowerPlay.  LOL!

But the lower prizes aren't multiplied in FL Lotto!  Only the jackpot. 

So I'd play $2 until the base jackpot got high enough that a win would ensure a very comfortable life.  For me, that would be around 8 million which I estimate would be around 3 mil after taxes.  When the base jackpot (paid on a $1 ticket) got over that amount I'd drop back to buying the $1 ticket.

JackpotWanna's avatarJackpotWanna

I would be in heavy regret if I won only $3 million when I could have won 15 million with an extra $1 or 28 million with 2 more dollars.   Instead of going to Disney  I will be headin back to Type (work) First the tax man takes their cut. 3 - 1.3 = 1.7 remain.  Then my wife takes her cut.  1.7 - 1.6 = 100,000. lol

Oh well, Good Luck to all who play.

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