Powerball multi-state lottery to raise prices, jackpots

From what I've read so far, the $2.00 circle jerk of supporters must be really getting a joygasm from it.

When all else fails....!

Failure seems to be the Option these days.

I play PB in an office pool, in which I do the collection of money and buying of the tickets.  We tend to play when the JP gets above 100 million.

We've always bought the PowerPlay, so we each chip in $2.00.  I suggested we buy the PowerPlay simply because I was scared to death we'd hit 5 numbers without having bought the PP, and I sure didnt want to disappoint those guys by telling them we won $200,000 when for one lousy dollar more we could of had $1,000,000.  I'm sure there's been more than one person that won 200 grand and were not aware of the PP. Even though 200 G's is a fabulous win, knowing you missed out on another 800 grand for a lousy dollar sure has to sting a bit.

Now, with the 2nd prize being elevated to 1 million dollars without the PP (2 million with it) I guess we wont buy the PP anymore.  I'll ask all of those guys what they'd like to do, but frankly, I dont see many of them wanting to jump up to 3 bucks a game.  I say that even though the same logic above applies - we could have 2 million for one lousy dollar more.   I'd spring for the extra buck, but because I know a tiny bit about the financial situation of some of the people in the pool, I'm not going to push the point.  I've had guys give me two bucks during weeks when we arent playing because the JP is low.  They've told me to "Hold on to it because I  might not have this two bucks when the time comes for us to play."

Mega Millions, although still a $1 game, will more than likely see worse odds in the near future. The reason being that because Powerball is now a $2 game, a non-Mega Millions state will join Mega Millions. At that time, the odds of Mega Millions will increase. They'll use the same excuse for the last time they raised the odds of winning Powerball to 1 in 195 million - "As a result of adding <state(s)> to the Mega Millions game, a matrix change is necessary because the jackpot would be won too often". I'm sure a lot of you remember them using that excuse for Powerball.

When PB pulled that trick it was only sold in twelve or so states and expanded to 40 or so states possibly tripling its number of players.  Now that both games are sold in forty or more states, adding another state won't increase their number of players to any where near that amount now.

I think you could be wrong. It's Mega Millions with Better odds of winning that usually has Jackpots greater than 300 million. Powerball never gets so high before there is a winner with the current odds.

Good points, Guru101.

I remember the front page headlines when California was about to enter MM:

California to Join Mega Millions, $500 M Jackpots Possible.

Hasn't happened yet, not even $400 M.

I am sure they will rig a win as stated before that, or the jackpot before. But if not I am sure the new rules will just go into effect regardless. They should add $40 million to the pot but I doubt that will happen, the new payouts will just go into effect.

Seems the same opinion is rampant on this message board... either stop playing or buy less... but only a few have seen the bigger and brighter picture in all this.
1. There are better odds...
2. There will be in my opinion faster and larger jackpots.
3. Possibility of a 400 million plus jackpots.

For the people that only play when the jackpot is over 200 million, they are going to play as many lines as they did before because it is in our mind that 20 dollars for 200 plus million is better than 1 million plus on a scratch off that cost 20 dollars. It is all a shot in the dark. You play the same risk with the stock market slot machine scratch off or jackpot games.

I am a little upset at the price, I buy only 3 lines and now that is going to cost me 6.00 a draw. But I see it as a way to make more money when I do win the jackpot. I will buy tickets when the jackpot resets because now even the first 40 million is going to be worth winning!!!

Good Luck and God Bless!

OK  ....Maybe it's just me being very tried after working all day , but I was looking to see if the new Powerball was still going to be played with the ping pong balls or was it going to be computer generated ....Please don't take my head off ..I just didn't see it anywere that it was still going to be played with ping pong balls...i dont like the computer generated games out there ...don't trust them ,never did...O ...and                HAPPY NEWYEAR    to all

I don't see why. For me $5 million or $500 million is the same, I would not spend all of either and still be happy. $500 million would draw a lot more media, taxes, and unwanted attention also. You got a lot of greedy people who want a billion dollars yet they could not even manage $5 million or spend it, unless they blew it all. So the larger jackpots do not entice me much more. I will take $5-$20 million and be happy. The rest is just bonus money.

gocart, You bring up a good point that I hadn't considered thus far. I was only considering the wagering change and the number changes for the draws, not so much the "process" for how or if that would change. So I will error on the side of caution here and say that the drawing will still remain the air ball drawing since it didnt relay via the new promotional schematics that this too would change.

And...a Happy Lucky New Year to you and yours!

Well they say  timing is everything. I was fortunate to have scored $200k by getting all five white powerball #'s back in "07".  I didn't opt for the powerplay (which was 2); but now for your $2.00 wager you can become a millionaire for the same five balls. 

I'm going to continue playing my three numbers twice a week. I don't look at it as all the extra money I'm losing, but how I will feel when I get those allusive five balls again. Maybe the powerball to?

As time marches on we can either embrace inevitable changes and make the best of our situation, or resist, kicking, screaming and making yourself miserable. Life is far to short.

Best of luck and prosperity to everyone! I have a really good feeling about 2012. 

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