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Powerball, Mega Millions explore agreement

Mar 14, 2009, 9:11 am

Mega Millions / PowerballMega Millions / Powerball: Powerball, Mega Millions explore agreementRating:

Lottery behemoths Powerball and Mega Millions are discussing a possible arrangement to sell tickets for both games in the 42 states where they now operate alone.

The talks, however, do not appear aimed at combining the two lotteries into one super game.

Powerball is played in 30 states, including Pennsylvania and Delaware; Mega Millions is offered in New Jersey and 11 other states.

"We are aware of the discussions between Powerball and Mega Millions, but at this point those discussions are only preliminary," said Stephanie Weyant, spokeswoman for the Pennsylvania Lottery. "So it's premature to comment."

New Jersey Lottery director William Jourdain also has acknowledged that preliminary discussions took place, although nothing has been determined, according to spokeswoman Mary Ann Rivell.

The talks were hinted at by a line in Gov. Corzine's new budget estimating that Powerball could bring in $10 million for the state.

But that won't happen without an agreement between Powerball and Mega Millions.

"As of right now, states sell one or the other, or neither," Weyant said.

Offering both could boost revenues, because players would see more of the huge jackpots that make sales soar.

On Feb. 28, a Powerball jackpot worth $174 million was hit by two tickets, one sold at the Plymouth Meeting Mall, and the other at a Dover, Del., liquor store.

Three days later, a single ticket bought in Toms River, N.J., won a Mega Millions jackpot worth $216 million.

Philadelphia Inquirer

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38 comments. Last comment 3 years ago by megamillionaire.
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Englewood, Colorado
United States
Member #19425
July 25, 2005
51 Posts
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Posted: March 14, 2009, 9:26 am - IP Logged

This will be fascinating to follow to say the least. The politics of this are very interesting.

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    New Member

    United States
    Member #71775
    February 22, 2009
    4 Posts
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    Posted: March 14, 2009, 10:00 am - IP Logged

    It would be better to combine them and make three or four draws per week. Otherwise, people would rush to the one with a higher jackpot, and this jackpot would grow much faster. Then after a winner appears, people would rush to the other one. So people would switch between the two. The only benefit is that there would be four chances per week for a grand prize, so that people would spend more money (that is what they want). But are most people going to buy four tickets per week, or just buy two for the one with a higher jackpot?

      Avatar
      nassau
      Bahamas
      Member #72678
      March 11, 2009
      115 Posts
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      Posted: March 14, 2009, 10:01 am - IP Logged

      478  042  142  980  770  177  777

        gocart1's avatar - lighthouse
        da bronx,city island,n.y.
        United States
        Member #30895
        January 17, 2006
        220 Posts
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        Posted: March 14, 2009, 10:46 am - IP Logged

        This will be fascinating to follow to say the least. The politics of this are very interesting.

        I Agree!

          rock_nc's avatar - Lottery-017.jpg
          small town USA
          United States
          Member #2525
          October 8, 2003
          35 Posts
          Offline
          Posted: March 14, 2009, 11:09 am - IP Logged

          I think it would be a great Idea,to combine the two,or have mega millions in the same states that play power ball.

            Todd's avatar - Cylon 2.gif
            Chief Bottle Washer
            New Jersey
            United States
            Member #1
            May 31, 2000
            19728 Posts
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            Posted: March 14, 2009, 11:31 am - IP Logged

            I think combining the games would be a very bad thing for players, because it reduces the number of choices, and would make the odds of winning way too remote.

            However, allowing states to sell both games would be awesome for players.  Giving players four chances per week to win a big multi-state jackpot would be fantastic.

            These talks are very encouraging, I hope they are successful.

             

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              United States
              Member #59008
              February 18, 2008
              710 Posts
              Offline
              Posted: March 14, 2009, 12:03 pm - IP Logged

              If they combined the two games they would have to change the matrix and that would make the odds astronomical against winning.I do like the idea of states being able to play both games,though.It would allow more people to play both games and cause both jackpots to rise faster.I live in a Powerball state and just a couple of miles from a Mega Millions state,so I already play both games twice a week each,Tuesday & Friday for MM and Wednesday & Saturday for PB.I wish they could figure out a way to have a mega jackpot game on the other three nights,too.

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                Atlanta, GA
                United States
                Member #1288
                March 13, 2003
                3316 Posts
                Offline
                Posted: March 14, 2009, 1:22 pm - IP Logged

                I think combining the games would be a very bad thing for players, because it reduces the number of choices, and would make the odds of winning way too remote.

                However, allowing states to sell both games would be awesome for players.  Giving players four chances per week to win a big multi-state jackpot would be fantastic.

                These talks are very encouraging, I hope they are successful.

                Combining MM and PB would create a monopoly, any time you get a monopoly everyone loses, especially the players.  Competition keeps everyone on their toes. 

                Hope this proposal goes through so we can play the game of our choice.  I personally regretted the day Powerball was no longer available in Georgia.

                   Good luck to everyone!

                  wizeguy's avatar - animaniacs04

                  United States
                  Member #15415
                  May 10, 2005
                  369 Posts
                  Offline
                  Posted: March 14, 2009, 4:22 pm - IP Logged

                  I think combining the games would be a very bad thing for players, because it reduces the number of choices, and would make the odds of winning way too remote.

                  However, allowing states to sell both games would be awesome for players.  Giving players four chances per week to win a big multi-state jackpot would be fantastic.

                  These talks are very encouraging, I hope they are successful.

                  I Agree!  I play both games now but it would be nice to get tickets for both in one place. This would negate the complexities of state income tax in two states.

                   

                  What's next, MegaPlier? Thumbs Up

                    ThatScaryChick's avatar - 2rfv8cx
                    Idaho
                    United States
                    Member #56982
                    November 21, 2007
                    3940 Posts
                    Offline
                    Posted: March 14, 2009, 5:57 pm - IP Logged

                    I think it would be kind of cool to have access to both games. I wonder though, how this would effect sales of both the games.

                    "No one remembers the person who almost climbed the mountain, only the person who eventually gets to the top."
                    ThatScaryChick

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                      Honduras
                      Member #21312
                      August 29, 2005
                      4587 Posts
                      Offline
                      Posted: March 14, 2009, 6:06 pm - IP Logged

                      This is awesome...

                      This will increase the number of lotto wanna be crackers...

                      This is trully an awesome idea...

                       

                       

                       

                       

                      SWORDFISH....from movie swordfish...

                      Scientists work on many crazy things: Tell them to work on something that will make elderly women gain weight.

                      The Forex trades: 1.6 Trillion dollars EVERY day, that´s more than the GDP of the Carribbean Central America, COMBINED. Enough to feed every crook out there for centuries...To all Geniuses & Powers Countries of the World the Planet needs breakthroughs in all Medicine, Veterinary, Biology related fields, Psychology, Population Psychology/Sociology..They need to genetically ingeneer new plants species/types to give more variety of plants and thus have more resources for combating diseases¨

                       


                       


                       

                       


                        Halle99's avatar - Lottery-043.jpg
                        United States
                        United States
                        Member #68752
                        December 16, 2008
                        153 Posts
                        Offline
                        Posted: March 14, 2009, 6:53 pm - IP Logged

                        This is awesome...

                        This will increase the number of lotto wanna be crackers...

                        This is trully an awesome idea...

                         

                         

                         

                         

                        SWORDFISH....from movie swordfish...

                        LOL

                         

                        Wow that would be interested...I won't have to drive across town to buy powerball ....

                        "Wait eagerly for the Lord, and keep to the way; God wil raise you to possess the land; you will gloat when the wicked are cut off".

                                                                                                      Psalms 37:34

                          NBey6's avatar - money bag1.jpg

                          United States
                          Member #4366
                          April 9, 2004
                          14753 Posts
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                          Posted: March 14, 2009, 7:52 pm - IP Logged

                          IMO, I think it was be fabulous to have MM and PB in the same states and no, I don't think they should combine them for all the reasons already mentioned by others here.

                          We want both!!!!!

                           St. Patty's Fiddle 





                          Love, peace and abundant blessings!!

                           Clover Thumbs Up 





                            Todd's avatar - Cylon 2.gif
                            Chief Bottle Washer
                            New Jersey
                            United States
                            Member #1
                            May 31, 2000
                            19728 Posts
                            Offline
                            Posted: March 14, 2009, 9:35 pm - IP Logged

                            I Agree!  I play both games now but it would be nice to get tickets for both in one place. This would negate the complexities of state income tax in two states.

                             

                            What's next, MegaPlier? Thumbs Up

                            I like your thinking! Yes Nod  I want to Megaply the Power Play!  (QuadUp?)  Red Devil

                             

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