Powerball multi-state lottery to raise prices, jackpots

Jan 3, 2012, 9:40 am (191 comments)

Powerball

By Todd Northrop, with AP wire sources

DES MOINES, Iowa — Powerball lottery organizers are betting that bigger jackpots will entice more people to play, but gamblers are going to have to dig deeper into their wallets to try their luck.

Game changes that have been in the works for months — perhaps years — are finally going into effect this month.

(See Changes coming to Powerball multi-state lottery game in January, Lottery Post, Jun. 27, 2011.)

Tickets for the multi-state game are doubling in price to $2 beginning Jan. 15.  While the odds of winning one of the game's giant jackpots also are improving, those in charge of the lottery are gambling that people are willing to pay more for the hope of becoming a millionaire in a down economy.

"With the price of everything else going up, there's not much you can get for a dollar anymore," said 28-year-old Ryan Raker, of Des Moines, Iowa, who buys a ticket once a month.  He says he'll probably play less frequently now.

Lotteries have long sold regular people on the hope of becoming rich quick by simply picking a lucky combination of numbers.  Some play loved ones' birthdays or anniversaries in the hope that fate may point them in the direction of a jackpot.  Selling that hope is easy; less so is predicting consumers' sensitivity to price changes.

Powerball's move follows the model of scratch ticket games, which once were all $1 but now are offered at higher prices with the chance for bigger prizes.

The evolution of scratch tickets and the creation of families of games that offer tickets at different prices has proven successful across the country, said Rebecca Hargrove, president of the Tennessee Lottery.  Scratch games like Win for Life in Illinois, Jumbo Bucks in Tennessee and the Crosswords game in Iowa have all been successful, Hargrove said.

"The more choices you gave players the higher the sales were," Hargrove said.  "A family of games at multiple price points created the most excitement. Once those kinds of games were introduced we saw a dramatic increase in sales."

For example, in Iowa, scratch ticket sales increased from $125 million in 2007 to $165.3 million in 2011, state lottery officials said.

Lottery officials believe increasing the price of the game will make it more attractive to players, said Terry Rich, spokesman for the West Des Moines-based Multi-State Lottery Association, which runs Powerball.

"People like variety," Rich said.  "We're repackaging and freshening up the product and enriching the product."

Powerball is the big fish of the various lottery games states offer, and typically has some of the biggest payouts.  There are nine ways to win the game, from a $3 prize for matching the Power Ball number to various payouts for different combinations of winning numbers.

Odds of winning are improving because of changes the game is making in the numbers players can choose.  The number of Powerball numbers to choose from will decrease from 39 to 35.  That will improve the odds of winning from 1 in 192 million to 1 in 175 million.

Picking the right numbers will have a bigger payoff: The starting jackpot is rising from $20 to $40 million.  The amount won for matching all five numbers but not the Power Ball will increase from $200,000 to $1 million.

The move is a strategy to differentiate the game from Mega Millions, the other big money, multi-state lottery game that is sold for $1 a ticket.  Both games are sold in 42 states, plus the U.S. Virgin Islands and Washington, D.C.  Each game has drawings twice a week.

It could pay off, because consumers often get more excited about larger jackpots and play more.  Clyde Barrow, a gambling expert at the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth, said larger jackpots should attract more players, even at the higher price.

"As prizes escalate more people tend to enter the game," he said.  "The big draw will be the size of the jackpot.  The idea is that at $12 million people don't get too excited but when it crosses $140 million, more people will play and by increasing the price level of tickets you will reach that prize level much faster."

Rich said sales may dip at first but likely would climb as jackpots soar.  Half of ticket sales are returned to the states where Powerball is played to help fund government programs.

"We wouldn't be doing it if we didn't think more money would be coming back to the states and help them with revenues during these tough economic times," Rich said.

Hargrove, the Tennessee lottery executive, said many players already pay an extra dollar to play an option called the Power Play, which can multiply winnings for prizes below the jackpot level.

In Oklahoma, 40 percent of players already are paying $2 for a Powerball ticket with the Power Play option.  In Tennessee, nearly 30 percent pay to play the Power Play option.  The option will continue to be offered for an extra dollar with the new changes, Hargrove said.

Still, the game may have work to do to win over players hesitant to fork over an extra dollar.  Many say they'll simply play half as much, or switch to the less expensive Mega Millions.

Irwin Weitz, who owns an Atlanta home improvement business, said he buys five to 10 tickets each time the Powerball jackpot reaches $100 million.  The 57-year-old said he's not swayed by promises of higher, faster-growing jackpots and will buy half as many Powerball tickets.

"I don't see the argument," Weitz said.  "The reality is when the odds are so high, you're just gambling on a dream of becoming rich quick."

Katie Langel, manager of the Freedom Value Center convenience store and gas station in Sioux Falls, S.D., didn't like the idea, either.

"Say I've been buying (tickets) for years," she said.  "I may just go to Mega Millions.  I just don't really see why it has to go up to $2."

At the Navarro Pharmacy in Miami's Little Havana area, retired nursing home worker Maria Fernandez, 67, said playing the Powerball every week has given her hope.  Fernandez, who lives off a small pension, said she can't afford more than the $5 a week she now spends so will have to play less.

"Poor people will not have as many chances to win," she said.

Zach Levy, a 23-year-old salesman from Atlanta, said he'll buy fewer Powerball tickets but won't give up altogether.

"I won't play as eagerly as I did before, but I still want to win," he said.  "I would finally move out of my parents' basement."

However many people will gripe about the increased price, the Multi-State Lottery Association says that thousands of randomly-selected players they surveyed since 2005 have asked for the change.

Summary of Powerball changes

  • Jackpots will start at a minimum of $40 million (the current starting point is $20 million).
  • The jackpot will increase by at least $10 million every drawing there is no grand prize winner, whereas under the current structure there is no minimum increase.
  • The number of Powerballs (the bonus number) will drop from the current 39 to 35, improving the odds of winning the jackpot to 1 in 175,223,510.  (The current odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 195,249,054).  By comparison, the odds of winning the jackpot in Mega Millions are 1 in 175,711,536 — nearly identical to the new Powerball odds.  The number of regular numbers (the first five numbers drawn) will remain the same 59.
  • The overall odds of winning any prize have improved to 1 in 31.8.  The current odds of winning a prize are 1 in 35.
  • The cost to play Powerball will increase to $2 per ticket.  This is the first time in 20 years that Powerball has raised the ticket cost.  Power Play will continue to be offered at the same $1 per ticket cost, making a ticket purchased with the Power Play option $3.
  • Power Play is changed from being a random multiplier drawn to a fixed increase that varies based on what prize level is won by the player.  The extra Power Play computerized drawing that takes place after the main drawing is eliminated once the changes take place.  See the new prize and odds table below for the new fixed Power Play payout amounts for each prize level.
  • Second prize, which is won by matching the first five numbers but not the Powerball, will increase from $200,000 to $1 million, ensuring that many more millionaires are created by the game since there are typically multiple second-prize winners every drawing.  A ticket purchased with the Power Play option that wins second prize will be increased to $2 million.
  • The lowest prize level — won by matching just the Powerball number — is increased to $4, but is also easier to win, thanks to the fewer Powerball numbers to choose from.
  • The "Match 5 Bonus Prize", which limits the amount that record jackpots can increase to $25 million per drawing, has been eliminated.
  • The first drawing of the changed Powerball game will be Wed., Jan. 18, 2012.  The final drawing under the current Powerball rules will be Sat., Jan. 14, 2012.  Tickets for the changed Powerball game will go on sale Jan. 15.

New prize and odds table

Match Prize Prize with
Power Play
Odds
5 of 5 + Powerball Jackpot Jackpot 1 in 175,223,510
5 of 5 $1,000,000 $2,000,000 1 in 5,153,633
4 of 5 + Powerball $10,000 $40,000 1 in 648,976
4 of 5 $100 $200 1 in 19,088
3 of 5 + Powerball $100 $200 1 in 12,245
3 of 5 $7 $14 1 in 361
2 of 5 + Powerball $7 $14 1 in 707
1 of 5 + Powerball $4 $12 1 in 111
Powerball only $4 $12 1 in 56

Note to readers

Many readers ask about when the changes to Powerball will be reflected on the pages of Lottery Post and our sister site, USA Mega.

Rest assured, the changes will be published in all the necessary pages, but only when the changes have gone into effect.  So you can expect the changes to be made to our Web pages on January 15th — the day after the final drawing under the old rules takes place.

Lottery Post Staff

Comments

TNPATL

I had seen on another website back in November the game was changing.  I had no idea how, but now I know.  So I wonder if Mega Millions will eventually change or will they remain as they are?

dr65's avatardr65

Thanks for the reminder. $3 a line. BS. I won't be playing this game.

I just love how smooth the reasons for the increase roll off the officials lips. 'We wouldn't be doing it if we didn't think more money would be coming

back to the states and help them with revenues during these tough economic times' Rich said.

Actually it seems to me it's more like - We wouldn't be doing it if the tough economic times have forced some players to quit playing Powerball

altogether and we need to milk the loyal players to make up for the difference.

Oh and the Multi-State Lottery Association - thousands of randomly-selected players they surveyed since 2005 have asked for the change.

I wonder how that question was presented? Like this: Would you pay $1 more to play Powerball? or like this: Would you like a game with better

odds and higher winnings?

They can keep it.

dr65's avatardr65

Quote: Originally posted by TNPATL on Jan 3, 2012

I had seen on another website back in November the game was changing.  I had no idea how, but now I know.  So I wonder if Mega Millions will eventually change or will they remain as they are?

My guess is the change will be sweeping...just give it some time. It defeats the purpose of raising the Powerball price to keep Mega as it is. If I wanted

to play one, I'd go for Mega.

earthdragon72

I'd rather stick to pick 3 and 4 no hassles that way! We just stopped playing cause in South Florida no one hardly wins big down here. Mostly in the central or northern part of the state. Give me pick 3 and 4 anyday over powerball!Big Grin

Cletu$2's avatarCletu$2

Personally,I think it sucks!I doubt if I'll play it twice a week like I do now.I might become one of those people that only plays when the jackpot reaches $100,000,000.

Lukep

Great its gonna cost double to be  a loser now.

Todd's avatarTodd

Quote: Originally posted by Lukep on Jan 3, 2012

Great its gonna cost double to be  a loser now.

LOL  Good one.

JoeBigLotto's avatarJoeBigLotto

l am so happy the price is going up and am happy the jackpot is going up too ,because l was about to start playing the euro millions which is really really big and tickets cost more like $3 . so am one of thoes that only play when jackpots get to $250million so i guess powerball now wants my business seriously and all i can say is bring it on am next inline for the big win and all the beautiful women are already waiting for my check to arrive so we can all go on a private cruise arround the world lol.

JADELottery's avatarJADELottery

It's Powerball!

Now, with Power Drain!

Yep folks, here it is, drain your pockets twice as fast with, Power Drain.

And, for one dollar more you can triple your loss with, Power Play.

It's the trifecta of Power Loss.

Don't you just feel the Power? Not!

TheRightPrice

YES! I was thinking about this. I will buying FEWER tickets. LOLDupe Alert

But I may also stop playing Florida Lotto as well.

There have been times when I only had $1.00 left, or 4 quarters or a combination of nickels and dimes to buy 1 ticket.

hearsetrax's avatarhearsetrax

Quote: Originally posted by JADELottery on Jan 3, 2012

It's Powerball!

Now, with Power Drain!

Yep folks, here it is, drain your pockets twice as fast with, Power Drain.

And, for one dollar more you can triple your loss with, Power Play.

It's the trifecta of Power Loss.

Don't you just feel the Power? Not!

LOL and another good one from the peanut gallery

 

Twitch play don't play ...... won't make much of a difference  they'll drain your wallet one way or nother

JoeBigLotto's avatarJoeBigLotto

People can cry all they want about the powerball price but wait till the jackpot gets to $500,000,000 and then you see the real lotto fever people will be lining up from all over the world and this big jackpots can now occour more frequeintly meaning i could win half a billion dollars every month .Oh well i am looking at a private island in bahamas already i dont need any noisy neighbor arround my $10,000,0000 mansion only lots of beautiful women geting natural sun tan lol .

TheRightPrice

Quote: Originally posted by JoeBigLotto on Jan 3, 2012

People can cry all they want about the powerball price but wait till the jackpot gets to $500,000,000 and then you see the real lotto fever people will be lining up from all over the world and this big jackpots can now occour more frequeintly meaning i could win half a billion dollars every month .Oh well i am looking at a private island in bahamas already i dont need any noisy neighbor arround my $10,000,0000 mansion only lots of beautiful women geting natural sun tan lol .

Thinking of...YES!  I wonder how big can it get??????Party

JADELottery's avatarJADELottery

Quote: Originally posted by JoeBigLotto on Jan 3, 2012

People can cry all they want about the powerball price but wait till the jackpot gets to $500,000,000 and then you see the real lotto fever people will be lining up from all over the world and this big jackpots can now occour more frequeintly meaning i could win half a billion dollars every month .Oh well i am looking at a private island in bahamas already i dont need any noisy neighbor arround my $10,000,0000 mansion only lots of beautiful women geting natural sun tan lol .

Actually, the prize would have to go to $10 Billion before I even think about spending $2.00 on a ticket.

Let the phony cronies play and win amongst themselves; their slowly becoming the only ones that can play anyway.

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