Mega Millions multi-state lottery to get harder to win in Oct.

May 20, 2013, 6:14 am (311 comments)

Mega Millions

Come this fall, winning the multi-state Mega Millions lottery jackpot will become even more difficult in the 45 states and jurisdictions that offer the lotto game.

The consortium that operates Mega Millions is upping the odds to 1 in about 258.9 million that someone picks all six numbers right.

The current odds are 1 in about 175.7 million that a person correctly chooses five of 56 numbered white balls and one of 46 gold balls.

The odds will change under a new format for the Oct. 22 drawing. Players will choose five of 75 white balls and one of 15 gold balls.

For comparison, the odds of winning either Powerball or Mega Millions are about the same right now. Powerball is 1 in about 175.2 million.

The goal is to increase sales. Making winning more difficult might seem counter-intuitive to selling more tickets, but big jackpots drive sales.

"The idea is not to keep more money but to raise more money," South Dakota Lottery Commission lottery director Norm Lingle told commissioners. "Unfortunately, the way to make jackpots grow bigger is to make it more difficult to win," he said.

South Dakota and several other states were back-doored into selling Mega Millions in 2010. A national deal reached between Powerball states and Mega Millions states resulted in all of them selling both games. South Dakota was a Powerball state.

The changes coming for Mega Millions will keep the overall odds of winning some prize at 1 in 40, according to Joe Willingham, who oversees sales of lotto and instant ticket games for the South Dakota Lottery.

He said smaller prizes will become easier to win.

The proof of a big jackpot's attraction came in late November 2012 as the Mega Millions top prize surpassed $660 million.

South Dakota sales spiked to $2.4 million and plunged back to the $500,000 neighborhood after the jackpot was won.

"We got an extra million in sales just out of that one draw," Willingham said.

Fifty cents from each dollar spent by Mega Millions players in South Dakota goes to the Mega Millions organization for prizes and administration.

The South Dakota Lottery keeps the other 50 cents to pay retailer commissions and expenses, with profits used for specific purposes of state government.

South Dakota already offered four lotto games — Powerball, Hot Lotto, Wild Card 2 and Dakota Cash — when Mega Millions was added.

As to some commission members wondering whether South Dakota has to accept the change in Mega Millions odds, Willingham said, "We're part of this, or we can't have the game."

Profits from sales of all five lotto games totaled $9.4 million for the 2012 fiscal year that ended June 30, 2012.

Lotto sales through 44 weeks of the 2013 fiscal year stood at $26.17 million. They were at $24.02 million at the 44-week mark a year ago.

Rapid City Journal

Comments

BuyLow's avatarBuyLow

Oh great.... now it's going to be more difficult than getting struck by lightning while getting eaten by a shark.

The new changes will make it so hard you will have to get struck by lightning while getting eaten by a shark while downhill skiing naked.

 

At least we can buy tickets now in FL Crazy

Jill34786's avatarJill34786

Not only will it be more difficult to win the grand prize but the odds on the 2nd tier prize will go up over 400%. Curious to see what they bump the payout for 2nd place.
There are many states that offer in-state lottery games with much better odds and higher jackpots than 2nd place in MM.

jackpotismine's avatarjackpotismine

I think that these changes are going to attract the average players when the jackpot gets really high. People that study lotteries or track them will probably play less until the jackpot shoots up really high. Just my two-cents.

Jill34786's avatarJill34786

I Agree! I rarely play as it is so it will take an enormous jackpot for people like myself to donate.

GiveFive's avatarGiveFive

Given that we're seeing more frequent PB jackpots since January of 2012 when PB raised it's price per line to two dollars,  I'm guessing that MM has learned from PB's experience.

There's no doubt that large JP's drive increased sales.  MM has seen what happened with PB.  They too want more large JP's, but probably dont want to raise the price of a line to two bucks.  Could this be their way of getting more frequent large JP's without raising the cost per line?

jackpotismine's avatarjackpotismine

Quote: Originally posted by GiveFive on May 20, 2013

Given that we're seeing more frequent PB jackpots since January of 2012 when PB raised it's price per line to two dollars,  I'm guessing that MM has learned from PB's experience.

There's no doubt that large JP's drive increased sales.  MM has seen what happened with PB.  They too want more large JP's, but probably dont want to raise the price of a line to two bucks.  Could this be their way of getting more frequent large JP's without raising the cost per line?

I agree. That's the ONLY way.

HiFi's avatarHiFi

how greedy can they get?  i guess there is no limit to greed.  everybody should boycott this because that is terrible odds.

CLETU$

Quote: Originally posted by HiFi on May 20, 2013

how greedy can they get?  i guess there is no limit to greed.  everybody should boycott this because that is terrible odds.

I,for one,will NOT fall into line like a nice little sheep and go along with being fleeced out of my money by a greedy lottery commission!I will boycot this decision and refuse to buy MM tickets.I have one ticket left for tomorrow nights jackpot and then that's it for me.

Tatototman65's avatarTatototman65

Boycott time...

Smile

jackpotismine's avatarjackpotismine

Quote: Originally posted by CLETU$ on May 20, 2013

I,for one,will NOT fall into line like a nice little sheep and go along with being fleeced out of my money by a greedy lottery commission!I will boycot this decision and refuse to buy MM tickets.I have one ticket left for tomorrow nights jackpot and then that's it for me.

It's not really greed as much as it is common sense. The masses will throw down a buck or two for a chance at a HUGH jackpot and that's what they are counting on. This was evident buy the $590 million jackpot. People go crazy and impulsive when the Jackpots are high. So who is the greedy one, the players or the government? I say both. Ha..ha. I'll be quite happy with winning a million or two.

Tatototman65's avatarTatototman65

^^^

I believe people go crazy and impulsive when jackpots are high because it rarely happens. With a game that's ALWAYS high with even worse odds, I don't think people will go lotto crazy that much, if at all.

Smile

smooth11484's avatarsmooth11484

Quote: Originally posted by jackpotismine on May 20, 2013

It's not really greed as much as it is common sense. The masses will throw down a buck or two for a chance at a HUGH jackpot and that's what they are counting on. This was evident buy the $590 million jackpot. People go crazy and impulsive when the Jackpots are high. So who is the greedy one, the players or the government? I say both. Ha..ha. I'll be quite happy with winning a million or two.

its greedy because instead of letting the megamill hit 1 every two weeks or so, so people like you and me know its possible to hit. they wanna make it harder to raise jackpot thinking that more people will play tricking us thinking ahh its a big jack pot let me throw a extra dollar on. the aticle clearly states that its made like that to raise more money. (not for us) well no one can not deny that they would not play mega millions more if somebody hits jackpot atleast 2 times a month rather than a large jackpot 1 every 2 months

jackpotismine's avatarjackpotismine

Quote: Originally posted by smooth11484 on May 20, 2013

its greedy because instead of letting the megamill hit 1 every two weeks or so, so people like you and me know its possible to hit. they wanna make it harder to raise jackpot thinking that more people will play tricking us thinking ahh its a big jack pot let me throw a extra dollar on. the aticle clearly states that its made like that to raise more money. (not for us) well no one can not deny that they would not play mega millions more if somebody hits jackpot atleast 2 times a month rather than a large jackpot 1 every 2 months

Remember that Lotteries in general are there to benefit the government (black projects,bribes,pet projects, high salaries,etc.) first and foremost. Why do you think they stop online gambling for the most part. They are the 'mafia's' of the world. They and only they can profit from gambling. Everyone else gets shut down. Anyway, I wonder how high will it go once this is in place, $1 billion? $2 billion? Wow! That would be something.

ashabug725's avatarashabug725

Quote: Originally posted by Tatototman65 on May 20, 2013

^^^

I believe people go crazy and impulsive when jackpots are high because it rarely happens. With a game that's ALWAYS high with even worse odds, I don't think people will go lotto crazy that much, if at all.

Smile

I Agree!

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