At what level to you start to play MM or PB?

This is always an interesting question to ask.  With the odds has high as they are I do not start to play Mega Millions until the Cash option after taxes is 20% of the odds.  (Which is $35,000,000)  I am surprised that many people still buy tickets when it is down to like the minimum $12M jackpot.  Really the only smart way to play is to play when the Cash Option after taxes is more than the odds.  This does not happen that often.  In this cash the expected value of the ticket is more than the  $1 you pay.  I just seems like a waste to me to beat odds of 1 in 176,000,000 to win $4M after taxes.

Brad

I've played the current MM a lot more than I have played in a while, probably started a little too early, but I too would normally wait until the cash option is around 30-35 million after an estimation of all the taxes. I wonder where it'll next hit... What are the odds of the same state hitting the sole JP two times in a row?

I play every draw...no matter what the pot size.

the angle that I have always looked at it from; is 12 million will get me out of that ****hole job just as fast as 100+ million. sure I would'nt be able to live a superstar lifestyle but it would be enough for me and my personal life goals.

note:....since the odds are the same on every drawing regardless of jackpot size, I am just as likely to win with the pot down to 12 million as if it is up to 100+ million.

sure more people are likely to play when the pot is high, increasing my chances of splitting a giant pot....but...it does nothing to change my odds of winning a prize.

so there you have it...

"you can't win it you ain't in it!"

thats my philosophy...

Powerball did it with KY.  Well, not in a row.  Someone (different people) hit the powerball jackpot twice in Ky  last year.  Once in September and once in December.  I thought the odds of one state hitting twice in a year would be pretty high.  But it happened. 

Actually, I would be interested to see what Todd would have to say to your question.  He's been doing this a lot longer than me., and knows the answer to that one.

It's unlikely you're going to win the jackpot regardless of its amount if you only buy one or two tickets for each drawing.  Unless you would not accept any winnings less than the jackpot then the amount of the jackpot isn't likely to effect your winnings. 

It only make sense to wait for the jackpot to reach a certain size if you plan to join a group and pool your money to buy a large amount of tickets.

I used to wait until it was close to $300M but due to so few pots getting that high I now get tickets around the $175M level.

"I would rather have half of something, than all of nothing"
Gail Howard.

I would rather split 12 million 4 ways, than wake up one morning and find that I had 4 and the ball! with the intentions of wheeling the rest of the numbers in a 48 string wheel like I did in 2001!

if I was in a pool then, or someone would have spotted me the gas money to go to Va...my life would be totally different.

take it from me...you can't win it, if you ain't in it!!

I personally don't believe in true randomness. not even in lottery numbers. I have accurately forseen, predicted and cashed in on way too many patterns that the lottery numbers form, time and time again to be convinced otherwise.

one never knows when these patterns will fall in just that right order in which you may be a winner.

like I said before, "you can't win it, if you ain't in it" and your just as likely to hit for 12 million bucks as a 100 million.

so, why not be in every draw?

isn't 1, 2, 3, or 4 million enough? to set you up for the rest of your life?..because if it isn't, you better contact a darn good finacial planner.

"when you snooze, you lose"

these numbers will haunt me for the rest of my life.

10-24-35-49-52-47

don't make the same mistake I did. set a budget for lottery, no matter how small it is and, play every draw, regardless of the pot...expecially if you tract and pick your own numbers.

btw...

the big winner in Georgia a few months ago....only bought 2 tickets!..

but he played those two tickets every draw!!!

I play every draw... PB,  Lotto 5 TN,  and Lotto Plus TN

Same numbers in all of them...

This is my philosophy. If I win 4M after taxes, I can live the rest of my life on just the interest without touching the principle. NO MORE DEALING WITH "WHEN IS MY SOFA COMING IN?????????"

I play whenever I get the chance. I don't care what size the jackpot is.