Powerball multi-state lottery to raise prices, jackpots

I've done some thinking on this, and spent some time writing an e-mail to someone this morning.  It summarizes my views on the changes pretty well, so I'm re-posting it here.

I know that it will not make everyone happy to read it, but I am trying to rise above the anger and contemplate the changes on a reasonable and thoughtful level.  I hope it will be taken as such, as food for thought.

My e-mail below is in response to an e-mail written to me, in which the person does not like the changes and price increase.  I edited my response below slightly to take out some personal details.

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I understand your point of view, but I also sympathize with Chuck from MUSL. He is undergoing withering attacks at the moment, and there is no way for him to fully defend himself and his decision until sales prove he is right. And that won't happen for months, especially if there is an initial dropoff in sales.

Frankly, I think some of the anger and vitriol is over the top. It's not like people don't have other lottery options, like Mega Millions and their in-state games.

Clearly, the multi-state games must continue to evolve in order to keep producing the kind of jackpots that get people interested. However, there is really no way for them to expand the number pools, because they are already to the point of ridiculous to win. So a price increase is a way to make the jackpots better, while even allowing the game to get a little easier to beat.

It's not greed, because greed would mean that MUSL would get something out of it. They really don't. The people at MUSL run a tight ship, and do a good job.

Greed would also imply that people will LIKE the changes enough to buy even more tickets. So it doesn't make any sense to say that the changes suck, but the lotteries will make out like bandits. If the game sucks, people will stop playing and they will lose money.

For the last few years, MUSL has been under attack from the state lotteries because the jackpots have not been as high as they should be, and now they are under attack from many players who say they are jerks for raising the prices. So Chuck can't win, other than to make the changes he knows he has to make, and take an incredible amount of heat for months. This time next year he will probably be vindicated.

The other reason I sympathize with Chuck is that I personally suffer the same kind of attacks any time I change something on the web sites. People are so resistive to change that they will lash out any time something changes, without trying to understand why the change was done — or believing the explanations. Some of the most important and best improvements to Lottery Post have produced the most vicious attacks on me. But then after a few months those same people are saying how great everything is. But I've never once had someone who attacked me later come back to me and say they were wrong.

The bottom line is that it is incredibly difficult to be the person who makes a very unpopular change that they know in their heart is the right thing to do.

Well KY Floyd, as usual you're oh so quick to jump on anyone.

As far as not having a clue, maybe you should get a clue AND LOOK AT THE BACK OF A CURRENT PLAYSLIP. THE ONE I'M LOOKING AT SAYS 0 OF 59 + POWERBALL 1:62.

IT ALSO OVERALL ODDS OF WINNING A PRIZE 1 IN 35.11

Happy New Year, KY Floyd.

Dang, I was hoping this year would be different.

Todd,

Good post above, but I really feel that the MUSL is operating under "If you build it they will come" as in Field of Dreams.

Let's call it "If you offer it they will play."

We shall see.

Hear, hear, Todd.

I agree with you 100% Todd!

As a policy maker myself I know what it is like to come under fire. He who feels it knows it.

We always want more for less and its not realistic. At the end of the day as much as we don't like to hear it, the monies across states are going to fund worthwhile causes that benefit us all. We all want to win and that's not possible so we will whine at every turn.

I don't think we truly appreciate or understand the ODDS we are up against. We say 195mil to 1 so often that it just becomes another ratio. Those are some VERY STEEP ODDS. So we shouldn't be surprized over the fact that most of us haven't won yet or will ever win and chalk it up to some grand conspiracy.

If the MUSL was in a conspiracy, I think they would be far more strategic than the results currently show. They would ensure that all states systematically over time win at least ONE JACKPOT to keep all states engaged. It would just be the smart thing to do to manage these OUTRAGEOUS PERCEPTIONS we all have.

2012 is a LEAP YEAR and with these changes I am prepared to make the LEAP and hopefully be successful this lap!!!

You might want to up the zombie doseage.

The fearless leader has spoken ............. & he is wise !

I will adjust my Mega Millions & Powerball purchases to fit my small budget, and my personal preferences. It can be fun if you make it so!

  it is kinda like whining about the largest company in the world, Exxon/Mobil, making the biggest profit in the world ...... DUHHHHHH

2 for 1 with your flu shot - Available at your neighborhood Walgreens

Amen...to that !!   I thought it was nice to dream winning a jackpot for a buck...Same dream costs me twices as much and gives the same results as going to the restroom......FLUSH      Wish we had Megamillions in FL as an option

Well I've come to the conclusion that I don't really hate it, and I'd actually like it if the Powerplay option multiplied the second tier prize more.  I will probably still play a ticket when the Jackpot is high enough.

The main reason is that there are now two options, with essentially the same odds (of a JP win.)  The Mega Millions is a dollar, or 2 dollars with a random multiplier.  The Powerball is 2 dollars, or 3 dollars with a fixed multiplier.  Personally, I think it'd be nice if MUSL or extended games like Hot Lotto - because at least in NJ - the Pick 6 grows ridiculously slowly.

Boney the lowest the jackpot will be now is 40mil..Are you saying you'll buy a ticket when the jackpot is high enough?...Does that mean 40mil is not high enough in your world?..

Well 40 million is enough.  But they aren't offering me 40 million, they are offering me a small chance at 40 million.  So when the chance is that low, I'll take it when it's at least 250 million, since it's going to cost 2 dollars each time.  That money adds up, but it adds up a lot slower if you play a lot less often.  I usually prefer games like Cash 5 with smaller jackpots, but a much better chance at winning, but I still only play those when their above a certain point.  Not that winning 50,000 dollars wouldn't be enough, it's just not enough to entice me to take that chance.  (Especially if I'm not going to the store anyway)

As it is, it's my habit to only play once the cash option is around 100 million.  So it's really not a big change for me, I always played with Powerplay and now I probably won't.  So - the all in all it's about the same for me one way or the other, except that it will probably get to the point that I'd want to play at more often.

Because, I'm not feeling the full effect yet.

Let me see...

Decisions are hard so that makes them the right ones.

Hmm, interesting equation.

And...

"If you build it, they will come."

A philosophy endorsed by every porn shop, hmm.

Sounds titillating.