Man claims $16M Florida Lotto prize

This is a jackpot game.  The smaller prizes are there so you can feel like you won something.  I don't understand why people play jackpot games to win second prize or lower prizes.   Maybe you don't understand how good this in-state game is compared to other states where you have to wait forever for the jackpots to grow!  Google "ring michigan"  and find the lottery link and look how long it takes a jackpot here to roll to 3 million dollars.  If I could pay a dollar or two extra so I didn't have to wait forever for the jackpot to grow I would.

As far as never paying more than a dollar for a ticket maybe you should consider inflation in your figurings.

Anyway you have the choice there in Florida that nobody in any other state has yet.  You can pay 1,2, or 3 dollars and go for whatever jackpot level you want.  Choice is a good thing.

RULE ONE: The lottery was created to T-A-K-E your money, not to reward you for gambling.  RULE TWO: See rule one.

The extra dollar gimmick was activated because studies show it would make money for the lottery.  The officials make bonuses whenever they make additional money.  Paying an extra dollar for a lower tier win is a guarenteed bonus maker for a Lottery Directory.

Once the ten ammendments were added to the U.S. Constitution, no one in the governemnt, city, state, or federal, has ever written a law that will be to your benefit or add to your freedoms.`  Everything from that days is written to make money for the government.  Remember, the government has no money and can only get money from willing citizens.  Thus, to keep a cushy six figure job, with undefinable medical and retirement benefits, they will tribble little amounts down to the masses.  That is one of the reason they allow the lottery.  They get more money and power over Americans.  Simple and plain.

When in doubt, see rule one.

I guess i would just rather have 3 chances at winning 3 million than 1 chance at winning 12 million or whatever the top jackpot is.  I'm not a greedy person, i'll take the lower prize---it's more than I had to start with!!!

As long as you can afford to loose money, it matters not how you throw it away. Three dollars instead of one dollar is the advantage of those who can afford to loose money. Buy a three dollar ticket or buy a one dollar ticket and a Hersey Bar.  Atleast with the Hersey Bar, you get some nutrition - and pleasure.

Remember, the goal of the lottery is to take as much money from you as possible.  Your goal is outwit all the experts and tremendous odds; only you get to spend real money proving your point and they get to keep your real money when your fail.  Who is right more often then not?

Oh come on....it's just like Vegas builds all the casinos with the winners money.....LOL!!!

Ever seen a lottery sellers store that looks like a Casino?  I can buy a drink in a Las Vegas casino and sit for hours watching people having a great time, enjoying the color, entertainment, and comfort of air conditioning.  Cost, about five bucks.  Five bucks at a lotto store and all I get is broken english and a need to get back in my car!

Although the goal of the Casino and the lottery is to take your money, I enjoy being screwed in Vegas, in the lottery store I feel unwanted.  When I was a kid and used to bet the numbers over my fence, there was more friendliness then the Inida seller who couldn't understand anything not written on a ticket. Las Vegas Casino's go out of their way, and spend millions, to make me a happy person - while taking my money.

Same goal, just one has pi** poor management!

Well everyone has their own way of figuring what jackpot to play for.

I figure out the yearly amount in todays dollars then multiply that by recent historic worst case inflation scenarios for 20, 25, 26 or 30 years depending on the game and then I multiply that by the annuity duration to get the jackpot that I play for.

As an example -

$50,000 * 4.831(30 years inflation) = $241,550 * 30years = 7.3 million advertised annuity amount.  Actuall figures will vary but that is as good a way to figure as any.

I agree with GamerMom.  The extra dollar should increase the lower tier prizes.  Only then will I spend it.  I got a few 3 out of 6 wins this year and on Wed I got 4 out of 6.  Had I spent the money on increasing the jackpot with the hope that I'd win with my other combinations (instead of just buying a few more tickets) I would have gotten nothing at all.   

The smallaplier option should be there too but I would not use it.

The only time I might do that is if PB/MM had an option that had bigger multipliers but only for second and third prizes. 

Hopefully PB/MM will do a double jackpot thing and powerplay/megaply  and maybe a goldaplier that has higher multipliers but only for second and third prizes and maybe silverplier with a higher multiplier for lower prizes.  That should be enough choices for most people.

So then you could jackpot kicker if you wanted and either PP/MP  or goldaply and/or silverply

If you are going to play a progressive machine you might as well have all three quarters in.

Florida doesn't have MM or PB.  This article is about the Florida Lotto.  It is a 6/53 game that starts at $3 million and rolls each time nobody wins.  The extra $1 adds $10 million as a bonus and, if you spend $3 per ticket, the bonus is increased to $25 million.  In all cases, you can choose to take your prize as a lump sum (averaging 55% of the total) or a 30 year annuity.   The winner in this story won $6 million and added $1 for a total of $16 million and took the lump sum.   All I was saying is that, in this case, he got very lucky.  Actually, even winning $6 million would be okay with me!  However, considering the odds are about 1:23M, I'd rather take the extra buck and bet it on another combination.  At least the Powerplay in PB gives people who don't win the jackpot a shot at a higher prize amount, but doesn't affect the jackpot.  The FL Lotto design is just the opposite and only gives the extra bonus to the jackpot winner.  Well, at least people are getting a choice.  Now they have 2 draws each day for the pick-3 and pick-4 so obviously FL is trying to make more money.  These are all new ideas, although they're not as popular & successful as the raffles.  I wish they'd take the extra money and use it for a revote.  (Too late for a 2000 recount!)