Editor's Note: Lottery Post first reported details of the new national game under consideration nine months ago (Lottery leaders convene in D.C. to discuss future of games, Lottery Post, Apr. 26, 2012). It seems the rest of the media is finally catching up.
The folks behind the nation's two biggest lotteries continue to dream of creating an even bigger game.
The idea was widely reported a few years ago, when states got the OK to start selling both Mega Millions and Powerball.
"If we develop a national game, it will probably be at a different price point," said Tom Shaheen, then president of the Multi-State Lottery Association, which oversees Powerball, in the fall of 2009. "It might be $2. It might be $5. It will be a single game, but we haven't worked out all the details of that yet."
Such a super lottery was possible by the end of 2010, Chuck Strutt, MUSL's executive director, said at the time.
Nothing's imminent, but the idea's quite alive.
It may have gained new momentum from last year's successful experiment in raising Powerball tickets to $2 apiece. Powerball sales topped $5 billion, up more than $1.5 billion from 2011, and jackpot records were shattered, as Mega Millions hit $656 million, Powerball $587.5 million.
No previous U.S. jackpot topped $400 million.
"A new kind of national game is still in development," Norm Lingle, chairman of Powerball's board of directors, acknowledged while discussing November's historic Powerball prize.
So far, though, only the sketchiest details are available.
That's because not only are discussions hush-hush, no plan has been pinned down.
It might be a scratchoff game, said Strutt.
"The goal is to develop something new, or perhaps a hybrid," according to Lingle.
The game would be in addition to Powerball and Mega Millions. It wouldn't replace them.
Tickets might be more expensive than the $2 Powerball began charging a year ago.
And it may not happen this year: "No start date has been set," said Lingle.
The trick to making it happen will be getting dozens of states on board. Forty-one now sell both Powerball and Mega Millions, and Mega Millions-only California will add Powerball in April, leaving Florida the remaining discriminator, with just Powerball.
"Nearly all lotteries are at least willing to listen, but not quite to the 'involved' stage just yet," according to Lingle, as passed along by Strutt.
One could argue that both Powerball and Mega Millions are already national, since they're in so many states.
But given last year's explosion of jackpot frenzy, each game's having drawings just two days a week, and the lack of a major multistate instant game, who knows where the ceiling is?
Many other countries have truly national lotteries, run by their federal governments.
The dream of one in America goes all the way back to 1776, when the Continental Congress, right here in Philadelphia, approved one to help pay for the Revolution. The idea flopped, though, because few folks could afford the hefty ticket prices - $10 to $40 - and "the wealthier ones who could were mostly Tories who could were had no desire to aid the rebellion," according to Scarne's Guide to Gambling.
Given battles over the federal deficit in recent decades, many have proposed that Uncle Sam sponsor its own every-state lottery, and the idea has been repeatedly studied by Congress.
But apparently it's tough to get the backing of voters who fear harm to the lucrative state-run lotteries. That was the reason given by Tennessee Rep. Steve Cohen, for example, when he abandoned his proposal for a national lottery five years ago.
Here's a different idea: A National Tax Return Lottery. Pay extra to Uncle Sam on your 1040, for a chance to win the right to never income taxes again.
Wouldn't anybody already getting a refund give up a chunk to chase such a dream?
Wow a ten dollar lottery ticket in 1776! I wont play a ten dollar scratcher now! What were they thinking.
I dont know if I am excited about a $5 game. I might play it if I can play online and dont have to visit any <snip>!
A $10 dollar lottery ticket in 1776 is equivalent to what? A $500 lottery ticket now?
Sounds interesting. A national scratch game sounds great. For $5 if all it offers is bigger jackpots in a MM style, then no thanks. Odds on the big games are steep, give me something unique for my money.
I'd like to see another JP game played on Mondays and Thursdays.
I wouldn't participate in a national scratcher game, I just don't like scratchers that much.
l think l have the answer and solution here. First and foremost the ticket will be only $5 but there will be some extra stuff like a free quick pick for every $5 purchase will be printed on ticket. Two you must have a photo id to be scanned into the system and stays there untill you are a certified losser it will then trash you but if you win youre identity won't be a mystery so it will have its own supper id scan. Three it will have a bonus draw for a free lamborghini or ferari and free fuel and insurance for ten yrs. Four second price will be worth ten $10,000,000 tax free.five starting jackpot is $100,000,000 or what ever the ticket sales say so it could be more or less. Six there will be a new house offer worth $200,000 per state to be won by one lossing tickets purchased from that state .So this will be the ultimate dream lottery where lossers can actually come back and win that will be the ultimate fantasy to keep america interested and finally there will be no more annuity jackpot it will be the only true jackpot lottery what we advertise is the real jackpot you get lol so what do you guys think . And the highest jackpot will be only one billion after that the second and little prices will start growing bigger too .
I can see why the idea of a national lottery was a flop in 1776.
According to the inflation calculator at a financial website I visited, $10 in 1776 dollars would be the equivalent of $263.16 in 2012.
Ouch!
I am scientistman and here is my idea,
A scratcher ticket that you scratch off that has 6 numbers on it and a bonusball number area that you scratch off and if your 6 numbers on your scratcher match either the Powerball or the Mega Millions you win the highest prize of the 2 games which ever is highest at the time.
But if your 6 numbers match either game and the bonus ball number in your bonus area matches either of the 2 games goldball you win both games.
So it doesnt matter which game has the 6 numbers but if either game matches the 6 numbers on your scratcher in either of the 2 games you win the highest prize of the 2 games. And if your bonus ball number in the bonus area matches the goldball too then you win both games.
So its sorta like lotto where you get 2 chances on a ticket. Yet on your scratcher you only get one 6 number line instead of 2 lines but its good for both games. And a bonus ball number in a bonus area. Yet if the 6 numbers on your scratcher matches the 6 winning numbers in MM or the PB you win the highest jackpot of the 2 games. Which ever is highest at that moment. But if that bonus ball matches your bonus ball you win both games jackpot!
So...
Match all 6 numbers on your scratcher with, the MM or the PB it doesnt matter which one, win the highest Jackpot of the 2 games at the moment.
So you keep your ticket till both games are drawn to see if your 6 numbers match either game.
Match 5 of 6 on your scratcher with, the MM or the PB, and win both second place prizes of both games.
Match 4 of 6 on your scratcher with, the MM or the PB, and win both third place prizes of both games.
Match 3 of 6 on your scratcher with, the MM or the PB and win both fourth place prizes of both games.
Match 2 of 6 on your scratcher with the MM or the PB, and win both fifth place prizes of both games.
Match 1 number on your scratcher with either, the MM or the PB, and win both sixth place prizes of both games.
Then you scratch of a bonus square that has only one number in the bonus area. If that number matches the gold ball or megaball you win both prizes for getting the gold ball correct.
In otherwords regardless which game the numbers show up in you win a prize. Yet they have to match one of the games it doesnt matter which one and you cant use some of the numbers from MM and some of the numbers from PB. They have to all match one of the games but it doesnt matter which one. Kindof like Lotto where you cant mix up the two lines you got for a buck. The one line of 6 numbers on your scratcher has to match one of the games and the bonus ball to win both jackpots!
Yet you do have a chance to win both jackpots! So hey!
Hows that for getting the people to pay more for scratcher ticket. So they get to have fun scratching off the ticket (hopefully a scented one lol) and the anticipating to see if they match either games numbers.
OMG I would buy a scratcher ticket like that is a heartbeat. Would you?
It would be called SUPERBALL
Here's an idea, let's be smart and combine the two games into one and have the winnings be tax exempt. Where would I find a lobbyist for that? Lol
$10 in 1776 would have been 10 silver dollars I assume. being equiv now to around $217 at todays money. but then silver back then was at a higher purchase value than now so could prob double it now. say $400 , what did you win back then? a state?
I like the sounds of a National Lotterry......
But not scratch-offs
I would not mind another game with a Monday/Thurs draw. But if the price point is going to be different, say $3 or $5, then they better up the ante quite a bit. AND it has to be different than the other two. Something like 6+1 with a higher progressive 2nd tier, and a higher set 3rd tier (like $1m). Annuity is fine, with cash or annuity option for jackpot & 2nd prize. You could have a $5 draw, $100m 6+1 starting progressive annuity jackpot, with $20m 5+1 starting progressive annuity 2nd tier. 4+1 for flat $5m cash. $5k cash for 4+0 or 3+1. $500 for 3+0 or 2+1, then $5 for 0+1. I'd buy one.
OR, maybe a 5+2? Or a 10 or 12 ball draw similar to Texas's All or Nothing. No computerized draws though.
If it doesn't have tax-free winnings,I'm not interested.
Show government what's unfair and they will do it? Is that what's it about?
From the OP:
"Here's a different idea: A National Tax Return Lottery. Pay extra to Uncle Sam on your 1040, for a chance to win the right to never income taxes again."
I guess they meant never pay income taxes again. I wouldn't trust that one inch. If they did that it would only be because they knew they were going to eliminate the incomme tax and go to a national sales tax.
...Now if only Florida WOULD join the MegaMillions first, then the MUSL can create any national lottery they want. Honestly, do they believe people wouldn't play our state lottery? I'm sure the result would just be like California, where people still actually play the state lottery too.
In all seriousness though, this sounds really interesting! An actual national lottery could be something huge! Not sure if I'd want a national scratcher though. Not enough options and despite the better odds, you pretty much have to be at the right store at the right time. No trying to predict your own fateand all.
But it would be cool if maybe they implemented a jackpot drawing game, like MM or PB, that had a dollar tier structure like a scratcher and combine the two types with different starting jackpots for each pay amount.
So, not including 1 and 2 dollar tickets (or maybe give the option, I don't know) because of MM and PB, but like this kind of price-starting jackpot relationship:
3$ = 70MM
5$= 100MM
10$= 200 MM
20$= 400 MM
And so on and so forth. Obviously, the odds would be terrible, but this kind of game would at least give a variety of options for the player and let them assess their own risk but still provide something new and fresh to the table. That and it doesn't have to be just those prices, could have an 8 or 12$ ticket with different starting jackpots.
I think if they did this, they could also maybe make .25$ and .50$ starting jackpots, maybe at 3MM and 6MM starting jackpots, respectively.
And for those interested in maybe those other prizes, like getting free gas for a year or 200,000 for life, there could also be adjusted ticket prices for those as well, but they probably wouldn't be instant win, like in some states that have the Win for Life drawing.
What I'm saying is, I think the MUSL should make their idea of a national lottery to be both not only extraordinary in the increasing jackpot sizes, but also providing ample variety for all the different kinds of people who play the lottery. That way, there is literally something for everyone and greater appeal means more profit for them and bigger dreams, while foolhardy for us, yes, but also gives us these bigger jackpots.
scrap both MM and PB. I dont like the new $2 PB at all.
Create a single national big jackpot lottery, daily, $2, 1:150m, starting $10m. There will be more winners, but lower jackpots. Say $100m/10 winners, $10m is pretty good. No one needs $100m anyway. 2nd place is $1m, thus scrap NY Sweet Million and Pick10; two useless games as it is.
unfortunately they can't scrap a money maker. Powerball and Mega millions are making big money just like the old Las vegas don't think the vegas mob in vegas went away well they didn't they just have smart iphones now and busy watching porn on them. lol
"No one needs $100m anyway."
It's a free country. Neither you nor the Govt get to set limits on personal wealth or assets. NO LIMITS ON JACKPOTS PLEASE!
Although I'd be happy with $10m, $100m would not make me any less happy, nor will it make me feel guilty for having it.
Thers's something happening here
What it is ain't exactly clear
There's a man with a plan over there
Tellin' me I got to play more
I would be happy if they let the status quo continue and then to top that they would introduce a national raffle that would be drawn on the 1st of every month that guarantees a prize of $1M to 50 winners. Cash and not an annuity! Now that would be a real block buster. The tickets on that raffle should cost no more than $10. They would break-even by selling the first 5M tickets.
If that was a tax free million (after all, I've already paid the stupid tax, not fair to tax me again when I win) I'd buy a ticket for every drawing. If it was taxed, I'd need it to be a couple mil before I'd play on a regular basis.
haha you underestimate the power of liberals. I'm sure some of them have read your reply and had their blood pressure shoot upwards lmao
"No one needs $100m anyway."
You sound like you work for the government.
Just cuz I don't need it don't mean I don't want it.
And just cuz I don't need it don't mean I shouldn't have it.
Or should lottery prizes be determined by "what you need" after you win?
Yay!
Here comes Karl "POMAH" Marx to save the day.
"From each according to his abilities to each according to his needs...and I, POMAH, tell you what you need!"
Seriously, POMAH, you have no imagination and you sound selfish when you say things like that.
Clearly you are only considering your own situation and don't believe anyone else knows what to do with lots of money.
From this one post it looks like you assume that just because you cant figure out how to use the money
nobody else can either and thus that makes you appear arrogant.
That would be cool:
Monday - National Lotto
Tuesday - MegaMillions
Wednesay- Powerball
Thursday - National Lotto
Friday - MegaMillions
Saturday - Powerball
6 days a week, 6 chances a week to hit a jackpot!!
maybe something similar to El Gordo
Speak for yourself!I agree with you about the $2 Powerball but thats about all I agree with you about.
I need $100 million (or more) to buy all the toys that I've ever wanted and still have some left to leave to my daughter and grandson so they can buy all the toys that they always wanted.He who dies with the most toys wins!
Exactly!
Ye right and sunday to confess to your pastor at church why you lost all your money all week lol
I think you won a share of a kentucky plantation that specialized in cannabis production so the founding fathers could continue their great ideas.
Along with it you probably won about thirty slaves to tend to the fields, and one native american to produce mocassins.
Who needs church when you have lottery 6 days a week?
Not paying taxes would be great, but they are soul suckers, after they take every penny we got, they will suck our souls out through our eyes. They are evil.
I think POMAH was simple saying No one NEEDS a $100m anyways.
In otherwords simple distiguishing between wants vs needs
thats all
such as everyone needs the following
Double chocolate chip ice cream? Sure its a food, yet is it a need? That designer t-shirt that fits you perfectly? Well, yeah sure shirts are clothing but do you need a designer t-shirt?
In actuality, you only really need four things to survive:
Everything that goes beyond this – a big house, name-brand clothes, fancy foods and drinks, a new car – is a want.
Does that mean that you should only buy the things that you need? Not at all. Life is meant to be lived, not survived. Treat yourself to some wants along the way, but do so when you can afford to, and enjoy those wants as the extras that they are.
I think POMAH was simply distiguishing between wants vs needs
thats all.
I NEED a $100 million to afford ALL of my wants!
If I wanted you dead could I count on you to argue that I need everything I want?
I don't care about YOUR needs,only my own,so I guess the answer to your question is no.
Oh please!
Let POMAH speak for POMAH!
hmmmmm
HAPPY SATURDAY.......2/2/13
sounds like a plan
....;....) works for me