Just when it seemed as if the Powerball game had broken all records, yet another milestone has been set with the current jackpot of $220 million: It's the first time two consecutive jackpots have surpassed $200 million.
The staggering $220 million jackpot for tomorrow night's drawing follows the last record-setter of $365 million, won in February by a group of eight third-shift workers at a meat-packing plant in Lincoln, Nebraska.
The last time two big jackpots paired up was in 2003, when consecutive jackpots over $100 million were won. The first jackpot won was on August 30, 2003 by a player in New Hampshire for a $135 million jackpot. That was followed by a $191 million jackpot won on October 25, 2003 and split by tickets sold in Indiana and Minnesota.
In the past year, the Powerball jackpot has reached $200 million or more ten times. According to the Chairman of the Powerball Group and the Director of the West Virginia Lottery, John Musgrave, the high jackpots have been mostly due to the luck of the draw.
"The Powerball game was changed in August of 2005 and the new design predicted that the jackpot would be above $200 million four or five times per year," said Musgrave. "Lotto games runs on averages and Powerball is having an extraordinary year."
Jackpots are also climbing faster than ever before.
"It normally takes 12 or more draws to reach a jackpot of $100 million, but the current run went past $100 million in just nine draws," said Musgrave.
The current string of drawings has also shaved a week (two draws) off the race to $200 million — passing that number in 15 draws.
"The game change really caught on," said Musgrave, who is also the Acting Cabinet Secretary of the West Virginia Department of Revenue. "We doubled some low-tier prizes; we were able to create a new Match 5 Bonus prize level twice and we also ran the 10X promotion that let winners multiply their prizes ten times."
Last October, the Powerball game was changed to increase the odds of hitting the jackpot, but the game also doubled the prizes for matching five numbers to $200,000 and for matching four numbers to $10,000. In addition, a new prize level, called the Match 5 Bonus prize, went into effect, paying a special cash prize pool of $19.6 million to qualifying winners on February 16, 2006 and a larger cash pool of $32 million shared by 49 players last October. The PowerPlay 10X promotion allowed winners who bought the PowerPlay option the chance to multiply their prizes by ten times during all of last month.
Sales in the Powerball game passed the previous year's sales of nearly $2 billion ($1,974,015,851) after just eight months of the current fiscal year — which began July 1, 2005.
"Higher sales means more money for the benefits designated by each state for lottery profits," said Musgrave.
Lawmakers in each lottery jurisdiction determine how it will spend lottery profits. Common benefit programs are to support education, environment, economic development, and programs to aid senior citizens.
Since the game's first drawing on April 22, 1992, Powerball has given away an estimated $6.5 billion dollars in jackpot winnings to over 200 instant millionaires. The game also has the distinction of awarding over half of the world's 20 highest lottery jackpots.
This is gonna be a fun week!!! That is what I just seen when I checked the stats!!! I was just coming in here to comment about it, I KNEW there HAD to be a forum about it!!! I dont know why but I am sooooooo excited this week. This is my 1st time playing with them both so high and I got my pool's in on BOTH of them!!!! Good luck to everyone and I hope that you win some CASH!!!!
I do know that it just kills me how different that they pay outs are 101 for PB and 125 MM that is a HUGE difference when your talking in MIllions!!!! .... Kind of makes me want to get some more tickets on the side (tee hee hee ) I just might have to do that!!!! Ya know latley seems like there are alot of STRANGE things going on around here with our lotto like BIG DOUBLE HITTERS in there life. Would it NOT be NUTS if someone played both and hit on both LMAO OMG what a lotto post that would be!!!! So yeah I am bored at work if ya ll cant tell HAHAHA so as we all set here and get PUMPED for our Lotto Pool's GO LUCKY G's 5!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'm happy that PB continues to roll, but also set a new milestone for having two $200+ million jackpots in a row. I hope that PB continues to roll until someone hits a jackpot around 375 to 389 million.
I go into a store in SC today and give the clerk my 3 PB cards. She puts them into the machine and it only gives me one cards worth.
She said the machine is out of paper and they don't have any more . DOH !!! On the day of the drawing for a 220 MILL JP ? Now that's what I call real smart planning.....
I go into a store in SC today and give the clerk my 3 PB cards. She puts them into the machine and it only gives me one cards worth.
She said the machine is out of paper and they don't have any more . DOH !!! On the day of the drawing for a 220 MILL JP ? Now that's what I call real smart planning.....
So, I go across the street for my other cards.
Whatever !!!!
DD WOW, Yeah dont sound like the store in IN TOUCH with the Lotto World lol, Only a MORON would let his store run out of Paper on a week like this, Well all in all I am glad that you got your Lotto Tickets!!! Maybe it was a sign for ya!! Maybe the Machine across the street is the one that was suppose to give you the winning number ya never know !!!!! Things happen for a reason
I go into a store in SC today and give the clerk my 3 PB cards. She puts them into the machine and it only gives me one cards worth.
She said the machine is out of paper and they don't have any more . DOH !!! On the day of the drawing for a 220 MILL JP ? Now that's what I call real smart planning.....
So, I go across the street for my other cards.
Whatever !!!!
DD WOW, Yeah dont sound like the store in IN TOUCH with the Lotto World lol, Only a MORON would let his store run out of Paper on a week like this, Well all in all I am glad that you got your Lotto Tickets!!! Maybe it was a sign for ya!! Maybe the Machine across the street is the one that was suppose to give you the winning number ya never know !!!!! Things happen for a reason
I sure hope you are right Sassy....
Good luck to all LP members on tonight's drawing !
Well, I have tickets in both MM and PB. The excitement to have both of them over the $200 million mark is incredible. I think if one person were to hit both in one week or within a week or two, their life would be extraordinarily unique/blessed.
I'll settle for the MM if I had to decide between the two only because it is higher. Common sense.
that is what I am saying I got tickets for both and debating about getting more LOL What can I say ...SHOW ME THE MONEY!! I am there with ya the difference between our states is 25 mill so I would not complain about either Believe ME YOU LOL I would take either But the Mega is showing more love!!
May they each roll for one more week. I have no problem seeing the amounts increase. Tis true that the PB lacks the cash payouts in comparison to MegaBall. I'd be content to hit both at the second tier level. Though my heart is set on winning both!
Not keen on the fact that PB is winning the cash , hand over foot, by seeing the rolls! The interest they are making off that is more then profitable! They need to back off their greediness. Its the players money not theirs! We should have more say in how its managed and devied.
May they each roll for one more week. I have no problem seeing the amounts increase. Tis true that the PB lacks the cash payouts in comparison to MegaBall. I'd be content to hit both at the second tier level. Though my heart is set on winning both!
Not keen on the fact that PB is winning the cash , hand over foot, by seeing the rolls! The interest they are making off that is more then profitable! They need to back off their greediness. Its the players money not theirs! We should have more say in how its managed and devied.
I am so sick of this Powerball propaganda. The players got a major screwing last year after the matrix change and this nitwit spokesman comes out and says the changes really caught on? What a crock! It's far more likely the general public is absolutely clueless about the changes and is reacting to the bogusly inflated jackpots.
Imagine Joe and Josephine Schmuck sitting around the kitchen table having a conversation about Powerball:
Joe: Hey honey? Do you realize that last year they made it a lot harder to win Powerball by increasing the odds?
Josephine: Yeah and they inflated the jackpot amount by extending the annuity and backloading it too!
Joe: And would you look at this...now the cash value is reduced to under 50%! I better go out and get some tickets right away.
Josephine: Oh and honey...they just eliminated one of the 5X's multiplier slots too so please remember to "wisely" purchase the Powerplay option too!
Joe: Good idea! More than 97% of all Powerball tickets sold are losers so if we going to lose a dollar we might as well lose 2! After all...the money we lose goes to pay for education and other worthwhile projects in our state.
Josephine (after Joe returns with the tickets): Honey, did you get the Powerball tickets?
Joe: Sure did! And I "wisely" purchased Powerplay too!
Josephine: Good! I sure hope the jackpot rolls again!
NCPicks, your point is well taken. As is the money taken in from the lottery. Its a choice to play, but it can also be within reasonable statistics as well. Increasing the odds is NOT causing the increase in players or funds. Its the fact that the economy is such that the average citizen can only dream of making ends meet by hitting some decent payouts. Which are few and far between. The bottom line is, the PB spokespersons are misleading the public and in the process gaining more revenue by decreasing the jackpot payout. And that is what is so irritating.
I just want to say *cough cough* That the next powerball and mega millions winner will be from OHIO!!!! And um.... with them both being this high, it would be the only appropriate time for the hot ladies of SassaRi to hit BIG!!!!
Pulling for the MM of course, but hey, I'm not going to complain if we're holding the winning PB too! Heck, we play powerplay so match 5 would be just fine with me!
I am so sick of this Powerball propaganda. The players got a major screwing last year after the matrix change and this nitwit spokesman comes out and says the changes really caught on? What a crock! It's far more likely the general public is absolutely clueless about the changes and is reacting to the bogusly inflated jackpots.
Imagine Joe and Josephine Schmuck sitting around the kitchen table having a conversation about Powerball:
Joe: Hey honey? Do you realize that last year they made it a lot harder to win Powerball by increasing the odds?
Josephine: Yeah and they inflated the jackpot amount by extending the annuity and backloading it too!
Joe: And would you look at this...now the cash value is reduced to under 50%! I better go out and get some tickets right away.
Josephine: Oh and honey...they just eliminated one of the 5X's multiplier slots too so please remember to "wisely" purchase the Powerplay option too!
Joe: Good idea! More than 97% of all Powerball tickets sold are losers so if we going to lose a dollar we might as well lose 2! After all...the money we lose goes to pay for education and other worthwhile projects in our state.
Josephine (after Joe returns with the tickets): Honey, did you get the Powerball tickets?
Joe: Sure did! And I "wisely" purchased Powerplay too!
Josephine: Good! I sure hope the jackpot rolls again!
OH LAWDDDDDDD LMAO that is JUST what I needed this morning a little bit of creativity HAHAHAHAHA LOved it and the fact is that it is SO true ya know I mean come one do they think that we are stupid? Lets all stand out side the lottery office and sign in hand
Isn't that what always happens though? They increase the odds, but also raise the jackpot... that's when you have to ask yourself, if you want a big chance to get a little amount of money, or a small chance to get a large amount of money. When it comes down to it the lottery IS luck! There are people here that we know of (and we've almost done it once or twice) that buy entire books of different scratchoffs here. But no big hitters. But then there are other people who go out and buy one ticket, and walk away millionaires.
We always say, when it's meant to be, it will be. Whether we bought 100 tickets for that drawing, or just one. *Fate it seems is not without a sense of irony*
But I'm all about the protest!!!! Muffin! We can get new sunglasses for it!!!!
ANd that you are Right Ri Ri , Its all about the Luck, I have always said it doesnt matter if we buy just one single auto lotto Its Fate and if it is ment to be it will happen and if its not IT WONT EVER, BUt hey I dont mind INCREASING my chances for *sh1t and giggles* ya know .... Its fun and the rush from it and the anticipation ROCKS, Like this morning... I went to bed early last night and didnt check the PB tickets waking up this morning KNOWING there was ONE TICKET that hit COULD IT BE ME!!!!!! But No or Ya all would have already known it and I DONT live in Missouri LMAO But I like the feeling and the fun stuff that comes with it.... we ALL want that * $$BIG JACKPOT$$* But Ya gotta play for fun or not at all and if your not having fun then well your missing out on one of the best part of the lotto. I know in my HEART whether it be 2 months 2 days or 5 years or when I am 80 SASSARI WILL HIT IT BIG SOMEDAY!!!!!! A.K.A. Batty's Angels
NCPicks, your point is well taken. As is the money taken in from the lottery. Its a choice to play, but it can also be within reasonable statistics as well. Increasing the odds is NOT causing the increase in players or funds. Its the fact that the economy is such that the average citizen can only dream of making ends meet by hitting some decent payouts. Which are few and far between. The bottom line is, the PB spokespersons are misleading the public and in the process gaining more revenue by decreasing the jackpot payout. And that is what is so irritating.
As they say..."the truth is out there".From the Powerball FAQ's...
Why Has The Cash Jackpot Gone Down?
Actually,it is the annuity that has gone UP.....
You can read the whole explaination by going to Powerball.com and clicking the FAQ's
Hey Hey Mike Thanks!!!! When we do win we will come and take ya out for a night on the town IN STYLE!!!! That is what were talking about ..... We need some extra luck this week so I think I am gonna go and get our stones Baibeee! I WANNA BE A MILLIONAIRE!!!!!!!!!
WHOOT WHOOT! Hey Baibee about time to get out of here and go home!!!! And Everyone good luck on Fridays Mega Drawing!!!!!! I wanna see a winner be from the POST!!!!
NCPicks, your point is well taken. As is the money taken in from the lottery. Its a choice to play, but it can also be within reasonable statistics as well. Increasing the odds is NOT causing the increase in players or funds. Its the fact that the economy is such that the average citizen can only dream of making ends meet by hitting some decent payouts. Which are few and far between. The bottom line is, the PB spokespersons are misleading the public and in the process gaining more revenue by decreasing the jackpot payout. And that is what is so irritating.
As they say..."the truth is out there".From the Powerball FAQ's...
Why Has The Cash Jackpot Gone Down?
Actually,it is the annuity that has gone UP.....
You can read the whole explaination by going to Powerball.com and clicking the FAQ's
Sure, the truth is out there, but what's your point? Simply having that queston in the FAQ proves that Uncle Jim is right about how many people are clueless. Where have you ever seen the FAQ other than on the website? How much was spent last year promoting the jackpot with the anuity amount and how much was spent on promoting the FAQ and the truth?
The thing that PB officials are best at is promoting their game, and they apparently have no shame about how they do it, and that's Uncle Jim's point. You did notice that the "article" is a press release and not a real article from an independent source, right? Let's look at some of their claims and see how they compare to the truth that's out there but not promoted.
"Just when it seemed as if the Powerball game had broken all records" "All records?" Exactly what records has PB broken? Well, they have advertised the biggest annuity, but they never actually gave that away. They have given way a lot of big cash prizes, but not the biggest. That distinction belongs to Euromillions for the $220 million jackpot in February. Largest North American cash prize, maybe? Nope, that was Megamillions back in November with an annuity option of a paltry 315 million. How about first US jackpot over 300 million? Nope, not that one either.
"The staggering $220 million jackpot" Yeah, it's a lot of money, even if you know that the cash is only 46% of the $220 million, but "staggering?" What they're offering is only 80% of what MM offers with the same claim, and it falls well short of the 365 that they're using as the current excuse to blow their horn. It's impressive, but when it's not even in the top 20 "staggering" isn't the adjective you use to tell the truth.
"The last time two big jackpots paired up was in 2003" Maybe the last time two big PB jackpots were won back to back was in 2003, but two big jackpots paired up two months ago when MM was at 145 and PB hit 365.
"In the past year, the Powerball jackpot has reached $200 million or more ten times." In the last year PB has reached 200 million or more four times. If a $200 million jackpot rolls over to 240, it's only one jackpot unless they actually give it away twice. The first of those was advertised as 220 and paid 125 million in cash last April. The current $220 million jackpot has a cash value of $101 million, so besides miscounting, they're adding apples to the number of oranges they claim to have.
The truth may be out there, but lottery officials are doing only the bare minimum to let people see it, and they certainly aren't promoting it. Ford could raise the MSRP of an $23,000 car to 50 grand and then claim to be selling it for "Over twenty five thousand dollars off!!!" but that would be illegal. If a private company made the kind of claims that lotteries make attorneys general would be suing them left and right, but perhaps you think it's okay to make all the misleading claims you can muster as long you have a page on your website that tells the truth and don't force anyone to buy your product.
i'll be rooting for both of ya to hit big!! you'll get it!
Thanks Mike! You're a doll! We LOVE your confidence in us!
So do you have any predictions for the pick 4 midday today??? I want that big hit we could have had yesterday! lol
Hey Muffin! I'm excited too! We're getting ready to do it, I'm ITCHIN for it! What better time to hit than when we're already on vacation right? I gotta find out what my stone is We'll take all the luck we can get!
You can get all Mega Millions and Powerball information from www.usamega.com.
I was just at that site. I had to go back and look closely. The cash option amount
given is 56% of the face amount. That sounds a little high. I would feel confortable
is this info was listed on the official megamillions website. Thanks for the info though!
It would certainly be nice if the official MM website listed the official cash value, wouldn't it? Besides finding it on the usamage home page you can find it onthe Ohio lottery website (ohiolottery.com). Interestingly enough, the Ohio lottery website lists the cash value right down to the dollar. I'm assuming that what they list is the expected cost to fund the annuity for the advertised jackpot amount. As far as I know the only other state that lists the cash value is New Jersey.
56% is actually a bit low. Interest rates have been creeping up a bit , so the annuity for agiven amount of cash has been getting bigger. Just a couple of weeks ago the cash value was better than 58%.
You can get all Mega Millions and Powerball information from www.usamega.com.
I was just at that site. I had to go back and look closely. The cash option amount
given is 56% of the face amount. That sounds a little high. I would feel confortable
is this info was listed on the official megamillions website. Thanks for the info though!
It would certainly be nice if the official MM website listed the official cash value, wouldn't it? Besides finding it on the usamage home page you can find it onthe Ohio lottery website (ohiolottery.com). Interestingly enough, the Ohio lottery website lists the cash value right down to the dollar. I'm assuming that what they list is the expected cost to fund the annuity for the advertised jackpot amount. As far as I know the only other state that lists the cash value is New Jersey.
56% is actually a bit low. Interest rates have been creeping up a bit , so the annuity for agiven amount of cash has been getting bigger. Just a couple of weeks ago the cash value was better than 58%.
Yet OH's Lot O'Play, which also is 26 equal yearly payments, has a cash value that is FIXED at 50%, therefore those who choose lump sum are getting less than what they deserve.
Actually, the higher the interest rate, the LOWER the cash percentage. If a lottery does a poor job of investing the money, the the cash percentage goes UP. Assume that a lottery can only earn ZERO percent on the cash. Then what is the cash percentage? With zero earnings, the cash amount and the annuity amount are the same and the cash percentage is 100%.
It took PB 14 rollovers to get $220 million with a $101.1 Million cash option.
It took MM 12 rollovers to get $220 Million with a $125 Million cash option.
good luck! to whoever plays either one...
This is gonna be a fun week!!! That is what I just seen when I checked the stats!!! I was just coming in here to comment about it, I KNEW there HAD to be a forum about it!!! I dont know why but I am sooooooo excited this week. This is my 1st time playing with them both so high and I got my pool's in on BOTH of them!!!!
Good luck to everyone and I hope that you win some CASH!!!!
I do know that it just kills me how different that they pay outs are 101 for PB and 125 MM that is a HUGE difference when your talking in MIllions!!!!
.... Kind of makes me want to get some more tickets on the side (tee hee hee ) I just might have to do that!!!! Ya know latley seems like there are alot of STRANGE things going on around here with our lotto like BIG DOUBLE HITTERS in there life. Would it NOT be NUTS if someone played both and hit on both LMAO OMG what a lotto post that would be!!!! 
So yeah I am bored at work if ya ll cant tell HAHAHA so as we all set here and get PUMPED for our Lotto Pool's GO LUCKY G's 5!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'm happy that PB continues to roll, but also set a new milestone for having two $200+ million jackpots in a row. I hope that PB continues to roll until someone hits a jackpot around 375 to 389 million.
How's this for luck ?
I go into a store in SC today and give the clerk my 3 PB cards. She puts them into the machine and it only gives me one cards worth.
She said the machine is out of paper and they don't have any more . DOH !!! On the day of the drawing for a 220 MILL JP ? Now that's what I call real smart planning.....
So, I go across the street for my other cards.
Whatever !!!!
How's this for luck ?
I go into a store in SC today and give the clerk my 3 PB cards. She puts them into the machine and it only gives me one cards worth.
She said the machine is out of paper and they don't have any more . DOH !!! On the day of the drawing for a 220 MILL JP ? Now that's what I call real smart planning.....
So, I go across the street for my other cards.
Whatever !!!!
DD WOW, Yeah dont sound like the store in IN TOUCH with the Lotto World lol, Only a MORON would let his store run out of Paper on a week like this, Well all in all I am glad that you got your Lotto Tickets!!! Maybe it was a sign for ya!! Maybe the Machine across the street is the one that was suppose to give you the winning number ya never know !!!!! Things happen for a reason
How's this for luck ?
I go into a store in SC today and give the clerk my 3 PB cards. She puts them into the machine and it only gives me one cards worth.
She said the machine is out of paper and they don't have any more . DOH !!! On the day of the drawing for a 220 MILL JP ? Now that's what I call real smart planning.....
So, I go across the street for my other cards.
Whatever !!!!
DD WOW, Yeah dont sound like the store in IN TOUCH with the Lotto World lol, Only a MORON would let his store run out of Paper on a week like this, Well all in all I am glad that you got your Lotto Tickets!!! Maybe it was a sign for ya!! Maybe the Machine across the street is the one that was suppose to give you the winning number ya never know !!!!! Things happen for a reason
I sure hope you are right Sassy....
Good luck to all LP members on tonight's drawing !
Hopefully tomorrow one of us will be:
Well, I have tickets in both MM and PB. The excitement to have both of them over the $200 million mark is incredible. I think if one person were to hit both in one week or within a week or two, their life would be extraordinarily unique/blessed.
I'll settle for the MM if I had to decide between the two only because it is higher. Common sense.
Good luck to all!
that is what I am saying I got tickets for both and debating about getting more LOL What can I say ...SHOW ME THE MONEY!! I am there with ya the difference between our states is 25 mill so I would not complain about either Believe ME YOU LOL I would take either But the Mega is showing more love!!
May they each roll for one more week. I have no problem seeing the amounts increase. Tis true that the PB lacks the cash payouts in comparison to MegaBall. I'd be content to hit both at the second tier level. Though my heart is set on winning both!
Not keen on the fact that PB is winning the cash , hand over foot, by seeing the rolls! The interest they are making off that is more then profitable! They need to back off their greediness. Its the players money not theirs! We should have more say in how its managed and devied.
May they each roll for one more week. I have no problem seeing the amounts increase. Tis true that the PB lacks the cash payouts in comparison to MegaBall. I'd be content to hit both at the second tier level. Though my heart is set on winning both!
Not keen on the fact that PB is winning the cash , hand over foot, by seeing the rolls! The interest they are making off that is more then profitable! They need to back off their greediness. Its the players money not theirs! We should have more say in how its managed and devied.
I am so sick of this Powerball propaganda. The players got a major screwing last year after the matrix change and this nitwit spokesman comes out and says the changes really caught on? What a crock! It's far more likely the general public is absolutely clueless about the changes and is reacting to the bogusly inflated jackpots.
Imagine Joe and Josephine Schmuck sitting around the kitchen table having a conversation about Powerball:
Joe: Hey honey? Do you realize that last year they made it a lot harder to win Powerball by increasing the odds?
Josephine: Yeah and they inflated the jackpot amount by extending the annuity and backloading it too!
Joe: And would you look at this...now the cash value is reduced to under 50%! I better go out and get some tickets right away.
Josephine: Oh and honey...they just eliminated one of the 5X's multiplier slots too so please remember to "wisely" purchase the Powerplay option too!
Joe: Good idea! More than 97% of all Powerball tickets sold are losers so if we going to lose a dollar we might as well lose 2! After all...the money we lose goes to pay for education and other worthwhile projects in our state.
Josephine (after Joe returns with the tickets): Honey, did you get the Powerball tickets?
Joe: Sure did! And I "wisely" purchased Powerplay too!
Josephine: Good! I sure hope the jackpot rolls again!
Pffffffffffffffffbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbtttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt!
What a crock!
Jim
You left out the part where they force you to buy tickets.
NCPicks, your point is well taken. As is the money taken in from the lottery. Its a choice to play, but it can also be within reasonable statistics as well. Increasing the odds is NOT causing the increase in players or funds. Its the fact that the economy is such that the average citizen can only dream of making ends meet by hitting some decent payouts. Which are few and far between. The bottom line is, the PB spokespersons are misleading the public and in the process gaining more revenue by decreasing the jackpot payout. And that is what is so irritating.
I just want to say *cough cough* That the next powerball and mega millions winner will be from OHIO!!!! And um.... with them both being this high, it would be the only appropriate time for the hot ladies of SassaRi to hit BIG!!!!
Pulling for the MM of course, but hey, I'm not going to complain if we're holding the winning PB too! Heck, we play powerplay so match 5 would be just fine with me!
SHOW ME THE MONEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am so sick of this Powerball propaganda. The players got a major screwing last year after the matrix change and this nitwit spokesman comes out and says the changes really caught on? What a crock! It's far more likely the general public is absolutely clueless about the changes and is reacting to the bogusly inflated jackpots.
Imagine Joe and Josephine Schmuck sitting around the kitchen table having a conversation about Powerball:
Joe: Hey honey? Do you realize that last year they made it a lot harder to win Powerball by increasing the odds?
Josephine: Yeah and they inflated the jackpot amount by extending the annuity and backloading it too!
Joe: And would you look at this...now the cash value is reduced to under 50%! I better go out and get some tickets right away.
Josephine: Oh and honey...they just eliminated one of the 5X's multiplier slots too so please remember to "wisely" purchase the Powerplay option too!
Joe: Good idea! More than 97% of all Powerball tickets sold are losers so if we going to lose a dollar we might as well lose 2! After all...the money we lose goes to pay for education and other worthwhile projects in our state.
Josephine (after Joe returns with the tickets): Honey, did you get the Powerball tickets?
Joe: Sure did! And I "wisely" purchased Powerplay too!
Josephine: Good! I sure hope the jackpot rolls again!
Pffffffffffffffffbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbtttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt!
What a crock!
Jim
OH LAWDDDDDDD LMAO that is JUST what I needed this morning a little bit of creativity HAHAHAHAHA LOved it and the fact is that it is SO true ya know I mean come one do they think that we are stupid?
Lets all stand out side the lottery office and sign in hand 
Oh and Hi Baibeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
Isn't that what always happens though? They increase the odds, but also raise the jackpot... that's when you have to ask yourself, if you want a big chance to get a little amount of money, or a small chance to get a large amount of money. When it comes down to it the lottery IS luck! There are people here that we know of (and we've almost done it once or twice) that buy entire books of different scratchoffs here. But no big hitters. But then there are other people who go out and buy one ticket, and walk away millionaires.
We always say, when it's meant to be, it will be. Whether we bought 100 tickets for that drawing, or just one. *Fate it seems is not without a sense of irony*
But I'm all about the protest!!!!
Muffin! We can get new sunglasses for it!!!! 
Hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii Muffinnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn!
ANd that you are Right Ri Ri , Its all about the Luck, I have always said it doesnt matter if we buy just one single auto lotto Its Fate and if it is ment to be it will happen and if its not IT WONT EVER, BUt hey I dont mind INCREASING my chances for *sh1t and giggles* ya know .... Its fun and the rush from it and the anticipation ROCKS, Like this morning... I went to bed early last night and didnt check the PB tickets waking up this morning KNOWING there was ONE TICKET that hit
COULD IT BE ME!!!!!!
But No or Ya all would have already known it and I DONT live in Missouri LMAO But I like the feeling and the fun stuff that comes with it.... we ALL want that * $$BIG JACKPOT$$* But Ya gotta play for fun or not at all and if your not having fun then well your missing out on one of the best part of the lotto. 
I know in my HEART whether it be 2 months 2 days or 5 years or when I am 80 SASSARI WILL HIT IT BIG SOMEDAY!!!!!! A.K.A. Batty's Angels 
NCPicks, your point is well taken. As is the money taken in from the lottery. Its a choice to play, but it can also be within reasonable statistics as well. Increasing the odds is NOT causing the increase in players or funds. Its the fact that the economy is such that the average citizen can only dream of making ends meet by hitting some decent payouts. Which are few and far between. The bottom line is, the PB spokespersons are misleading the public and in the process gaining more revenue by decreasing the jackpot payout. And that is what is so irritating.
As they say..."the truth is out there".From the Powerball FAQ's...
Why Has The Cash Jackpot Gone Down?
Actually,it is the annuity that has gone UP.....
You can read the whole explaination by going to Powerball.com and clicking the FAQ's
hey there sassy and sassysbaibee! hope one of you wins the next jackpot!
hey there sassy and sassysbaibee! hope one of you wins the next jackpot!
Well thanks LottoMike! Right Back Atcha!!!!
When we hit we'll look you up and when you hit don't forget to look us up!
~* Your Favorite Lotto Girls *~
Hey Hey Mike Thanks!!!! When we do win we will come and take ya out for a night on the town IN STYLE!!!! That is what were talking about ..... We need some extra luck this week so I think I am gonna go and get our stones Baibeee! I WANNA BE A MILLIONAIRE!!!!!!!!!
WHOOT WHOOT! Hey Baibee about time to get out of here and go home!!!! And Everyone good luck on Fridays Mega Drawing!!!!!! I wanna see a winner be from the POST!!!!
i'll be rooting for both of ya to hit big!! you'll get it!
NCPicks, your point is well taken. As is the money taken in from the lottery. Its a choice to play, but it can also be within reasonable statistics as well. Increasing the odds is NOT causing the increase in players or funds. Its the fact that the economy is such that the average citizen can only dream of making ends meet by hitting some decent payouts. Which are few and far between. The bottom line is, the PB spokespersons are misleading the public and in the process gaining more revenue by decreasing the jackpot payout. And that is what is so irritating.
As they say..."the truth is out there".From the Powerball FAQ's...
Why Has The Cash Jackpot Gone Down?
Actually,it is the annuity that has gone UP.....
You can read the whole explaination by going to Powerball.com and clicking the FAQ's
Sure, the truth is out there, but what's your point? Simply having that queston in the FAQ proves that Uncle Jim is right about how many people are clueless. Where have you ever seen the FAQ other than on the website? How much was spent last year promoting the jackpot with the anuity amount and how much was spent on promoting the FAQ and the truth?
The thing that PB officials are best at is promoting their game, and they apparently have no shame about how they do it, and that's Uncle Jim's point. You did notice that the "article" is a press release and not a real article from an independent source, right? Let's look at some of their claims and see how they compare to the truth that's out there but not promoted.
"Just when it seemed as if the Powerball game had broken all records" "All records?" Exactly what records has PB broken? Well, they have advertised the biggest annuity, but they never actually gave that away. They have given way a lot of big cash prizes, but not the biggest. That distinction belongs to Euromillions for the $220 million jackpot in February. Largest North American cash prize, maybe? Nope, that was Megamillions back in November with an annuity option of a paltry 315 million. How about first US jackpot over 300 million? Nope, not that one either.
"The staggering $220 million jackpot" Yeah, it's a lot of money, even if you
know that the cash is only 46% of the $220 million, but "staggering?" What they're offering is only 80% of what MM offers with the same claim, and it falls well short of the 365 that they're using as the current excuse to blow their horn. It's impressive, but when it's not even in the top 20 "staggering" isn't the adjective you use to tell the truth.
"The last time two big jackpots paired up was in 2003" Maybe the last time two big PB jackpots were won back to back was in 2003, but two big jackpots paired up two months ago when MM was at 145 and PB hit 365.
"In the past year, the Powerball jackpot has reached $200 million or more ten times." In the last year PB has reached 200 million or more four times. If a $200 million jackpot rolls over to 240, it's only one jackpot unless they actually give it away twice. The first of those was advertised as 220 and paid 125 million in cash last April. The current $220 million jackpot has a cash value of $101 million, so besides miscounting, they're adding apples to the number of oranges they claim to have.
The truth may be out there, but lottery officials are doing only the bare minimum to let people see it, and they certainly aren't promoting it. Ford could raise the MSRP of an $23,000 car to 50 grand and then claim to be selling it for "Over twenty five thousand dollars off!!!" but that would be illegal. If a private company made the kind of claims that lotteries make attorneys general would be suing them left and right, but perhaps you think it's okay to make all the misleading claims you can muster as long you have a page on your website that tells the truth and don't force anyone to buy your product.
i'll be rooting for both of ya to hit big!! you'll get it!
Thanks Mike! You're a doll! We LOVE your confidence in us!
So do you have any predictions for the pick 4 midday today??? I want that big hit we could have had yesterday! lol
Hey Muffin! I'm excited too! We're getting ready to do it, I'm ITCHIN for it! What better time to hit than when we're already on vacation right? I gotta find out what my stone is
We'll take all the luck we can get!
It took PB 14 rollovers to get $220 million with a $101.1 Million cash option.
It took MM 12 rollovers to get $220 Million with a $125 Million cash option.
good luck! to whoever plays either one...
Where did you get the cash option amount for MM ? PB lists it on their website.
What about MM ?
You can get all Mega Millions and Powerball information from www.usamega.com.
You can get all Mega Millions and Powerball information from www.usamega.com.
I was just at that site. I had to go back and look closely. The cash option amount
given is 56% of the face amount. That sounds a little high. I would feel confortable
is this info was listed on the official megamillions website. Thanks for the info though!
You can get all Mega Millions and Powerball information from www.usamega.com.
I was just at that site. I had to go back and look closely. The cash option amount
given is 56% of the face amount. That sounds a little high. I would feel confortable
is this info was listed on the official megamillions website. Thanks for the info though!
It would certainly be nice if the official MM website listed the official cash value, wouldn't it? Besides finding it on the usamage home page you can find it onthe Ohio lottery website (ohiolottery.com). Interestingly enough, the Ohio lottery website lists the cash value right down to the dollar. I'm assuming that what they list is the expected cost to fund the annuity for the advertised jackpot amount. As far as I know the only other state that lists the cash value is New Jersey.
56% is actually a bit low. Interest rates have been creeping up a bit , so the annuity for agiven amount of cash has been getting bigger. Just a couple of weeks ago the cash value was better than 58%.
You can get all Mega Millions and Powerball information from www.usamega.com.
I was just at that site. I had to go back and look closely. The cash option amount
given is 56% of the face amount. That sounds a little high. I would feel confortable
is this info was listed on the official megamillions website. Thanks for the info though!
It would certainly be nice if the official MM website listed the official cash value, wouldn't it? Besides finding it on the usamage home page you can find it onthe Ohio lottery website (ohiolottery.com). Interestingly enough, the Ohio lottery website lists the cash value right down to the dollar. I'm assuming that what they list is the expected cost to fund the annuity for the advertised jackpot amount. As far as I know the only other state that lists the cash value is New Jersey.
56% is actually a bit low. Interest rates have been creeping up a bit , so the annuity for agiven amount of cash has been getting bigger. Just a couple of weeks ago the cash value was better than 58%.
Yet OH's Lot O'Play, which also is 26 equal yearly payments, has a cash value that is FIXED at 50%, therefore those who choose lump sum are getting less than what they deserve.
Actually, the higher the interest rate, the LOWER the cash percentage. If a lottery does a poor job of investing the money, the the cash percentage goes UP. Assume that a lottery can only earn ZERO percent on the cash. Then what is the cash percentage? With zero earnings, the cash amount and the annuity amount are the same and the cash percentage is 100%.