From your keyboard to the odds gods . . . .

I think if MM sees that Powerball is getting higher jackpots like 300 million plus, they will have a matrix change as well.

I am holding out for better odds and a $2 ticket price on powerball. 

I hope MegaMillions skips the matrix change and just goes to the $2 ticket price and maybe Megaplier, smallaplier(higher prizes at $2 thru $150 level), and bigaplier (higher 2nd 250k level prize and higher 3rd 10k level Prize).  I'd get the ticket with bigaplier.

You're in luck. I talked to the managers at Powerball, and they've made special arrangements for you. When you buy your tickets, pay $2 and they'll let you pick 2 sets of numbers, so your odds will be "only" 1 in 97.5 million.

Your wish is granted for MM. 

But Powerball is already a $2 game, if you want that.  It is just optional.  Once, in a candle store, I saw a sign on a giant candle that said "$1 a pull".  I talked to the manager and he said that he wanted to stop people from trying to lift the candel by the wick.  He had posted a "Don't Lift Candle" sign but found that you can't tell Americans "NO".  So, he put up a sign charging $1 to lift the candle by the wick.  Americans demand a choice.  You can still play Powerball for $1 or for $2 (which redesigns the game to put more money into the lower prize tiers).

Nope, doesn't work that way.  That would be 2 in 195 Million.

Ha!  It certainly does work that way.  2:195 million is exactly the same thing as 1:97.5 million.  Just as buying 195 million tickets is 195M:195M for a 1:1 chance - a guaranteed win.

I understand what you are saying about the smaller prizes but if I want $50 or $100 I will just stop buying tickets.  On the same point, if I ever beat Fantasy 5 odds I want more than $10K for it and if I ever beat 6/40 odds I want more than $250k for it and I am willing to kick in the extra buck for bigger prizes at those levels.

I am also willing to pay $2 for a base ticket because I understand the concept of inflation.

Chuck32, yes overall from the point of view of the lottery it does work that way but from the point of view of the player it does not!  For the player it IS 2 in 195 million.  For any small number of tickets it is  Small_Number in 195Million from the point of view of the player.

From the players viewpoint 2 in 195Million is NOT the same as 1 in 97.5Million!

Well, at better than 6/42 odds, you kick in the extra buck for $1 million CASH (don't be fooled by $1 million annuity).