Did some calculations, and I've estimated that the lower tier payouts (save for the $1,000,000 match 5 w/PP) will remain the same, as well as the odds for each of the Powerplay numbers.

As for the jackpot odds, I think 1 in 200,000,000 is a bit too much, though I suppose it was inevitable, with or without Florida.

 MATCH    ODDS
  5/5+B   1 : 195249054
  5/5     1 : 5138133
  4/5+B   1 : 723145
  4/5     1 : 19030
  3/5+B   1 : 13644
  3/5     1 : 359
  2/5+B   1 : 787
  1/5+B   1 : 123
  0/5+B   1 : 62
 ___________________________
 overall odds are 1 : 35.1

"But folks, you see: MOST folks that play the game do NOT know the true odds, so those types will continue to play it as they always have."

True. In fact, the more 'clever' players get fed up and quit the game, the better profits for the game.

The more people got good at 'card counting', the more decks were added.

it says guranteed power play of 5x, does that mean you have to pay the $2 a game to get the guarnteed 5x?  seems an awful lot of

$1 extra fees to fund this generous bonus? but what everyone already plays the power play?

Yes, but by doing this, they will probably market it as getting 2 games in one.  You are now paying $1 for a shot at the PB jackpot and another $1 for a shot at $1 million.   Otherwise, you will only get $200,000 if you get 5 numbers.  However, if the odds of getting the 5 numbers are 1 in 5.1M then they're not very good IMO but it's a way to generate more money. 

Any other comments on this?  I might be wrong, but the way I read it, $1 buys one PB ticket and a chance to win the lower prizes, but not with the powerplay.   $2 gets you one PB ticket with a chance to win a million if you get the 5 white balls.

Does Powerplay have any effect on the other prizes, like 4 of 5 or 3 of 5, etc.?  If so, will there still be a Powerplay spin for those prizes or will they also be multiplied by 5?

EDIT:  Just read the article again.  Got my answer.

(Power Play is only guaranteed to be 5X for the second prize tier; for all other prizes it continues to be a random number between 2X and 5X.)

Ouch, I knew they were going to mess with the matrices with the addition of Florida, but I didn't think they'd go that nuts with making the odds of winning the jackpot that much worse. That's over a 33% increase which is no way reflective of how many additional players they'll be getting in Florida.

It's kind of messed up that Mega Millions will have better odds when these changes go into effect (if MM doesn't change theirs) and still will have a much larger total population to work with even with Florida joining Powerball. Though it'll still be bringing in much larger jackpots, that's for sure.

Sounds to me like a mining truck or "road-pan" overflowing with it.

Lotteries becoming more like banks and government ..... take everything ..... toss out a crumb or two.

I get why they can technically say they are only adding one more ball to the drum, but they are adding 4 more balls to the drum for the white balls.  I don't care that they reduce the red balls.  Like guesser said, those balls hardly ever come out anyway.  It's the four other balls in the white ball drum I am hating.  That vented, I am excited to hear about the change with the 5x for the second tier prize.  Makes buying the powerplay option a little more tempting to me.  Okay, very tempting.  I also like that they up'd the jackpot size increase percentages.  And the minimum jackpot to 20 million is a great idea., considering the economy.

On a positive note,       We'll get some Brand New Play-slips, wi th new ink,  rather than those faded old playslips I've been seeing lately.

      I wonder if they'l get all new Ball Sets ...or add brand new balls to the slightly used balls?

      Also,  I wonder if the Jan. 3rd drawing will be in Fla.?     

 I guess after the Dec. 31st drawing,  I'll be ripping down some wall charts,  and getting a new start.

        I hope the stores get the right stuff to be in time for the first draw.   

I'm just bummed I have to erase all of my drawing history in January.