Quick decision: New Ark. Lottery chief recommends Powerball

Comment #13

petergrfn — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 22:20:31 GMT

I agree. The nearest MM state is Texas which is an awful long drive from many parts of Arkansas and the surrounding states. They would make alot more money being a Mega Millions state rather than Powerball. However I think Powerball has better branding and name recognition which is why I think many states join PB. I don't know how many times I've seen the MM jackpot get up to record level and people tell me they are buying POWERBALL tickets....LOL

Comment #12

LckyLary — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 16:20:18 GMT

Dear Powerball Lottery:

Please don't forget to add more balls if you add Arkansas.

Powerball is no fun because it's just too easy to win right now.

Comment #11

wizeguy — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 18:31:27 GMT

I don't agree with $2 tickets. PB has that now with an optional $1 for the multiplier. Hiking the basic ticket price to $2 would mean $3 total if you wanted multiplier. I think multiplier revenue would drop like a lead balloon then. That's the only way I'd want to see MM go, keep it at $1 and have an optional $1 for a multiplier.

Comment #10

LOTTOMIKE — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 07:23:34 GMT

good post jimmy and with me being in memphis i do hope they get mega millions.i'd love that.

Comment #9

JimmySand9 — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 07:18:10 GMT

I think this is a serious error in judgement. Arkansas is surrounded by Powerball states, most notably with Tennessee. Now, those people in Memphis who could have crossed the Big Muddy to get Mega Millions in Arkansas, will now most likely be keeping their money at home. Not to mention folks in Monroe, LA, Joplin, MO, and tourists to Branson. Ernie will probably make better decisions for other aspects of the lottery, but this is a real missed opportunity.

As for the whole Powerball/Mega in th... [ More ]

Comment #8

Todd — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 06:07:34 GMT

As I explained, they could not stay with the old matrix once Florida joined. It has a huge population, and if the matrix stayed the same there would be far too many winners and the jackpot would fail to exceed $100 million. It's simple mathematics.

Maybe you should complain to MUSL that they keep adding states. But I don't think the people in those states would agree with you. Everyone wants to play.

Comment #7

lowerPB-MModds! — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 06:01:08 GMT

I understand multi-state games like PB and MM have to have higher odds than individual states games with lower odds. But what was wrong with 5/55 + 1/42 PB prior to January 2009, or even 5/53 + 1/42 PB prior to August 2005 with jackpot odds of 1/120 million? PB jackpots haven't been any higher since January than what they were a year ago before the latest matrix expansion. The number of jackpot winners have been roughly the same too (June 2008 - June 2009). Jackpot odds jumping from 1/120 millio... [ More ]

Comment #6

RJOh — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 23:09:54 GMT

A lot of people claim they would prefer that PowerBall and MegaMillions had better odds and more winners of smaller millionaires jackpots and most states have a local game that does that but they don't attract near the number of players that the big jackpot multi=state games do.

Comment #5

Grovel — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 22:10:21 GMT

I am so glad that we are going to join powerball. It's the game I had in mind when I voted for the lottery.

Comment #4

Todd — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 16:35:40 GMT

I don't think they will change the matrix because of Arkansas joining. It would take a state of higher population levels than that -- such as when Florida joined (the impetus of the last matrix change).

What will be interesting to watch is if MUSL allows Mega Millions states to join the game. What will they do then? Let's say New York joins Powerball, as their legislature wants to do (if it ever gets back into session). With one of the largest state populations in the nation, it could increas... [ More ]

Comment #3

lowerPB-MModds! — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 16:18:10 GMT

Me too. Maybe they will get invited by MM.

Comment #2

x1kosmic — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 16:15:23 GMT

I was kinda hoping they might go with Megy- Millions

Comment #1

lowerPB-MModds! — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 14:49:01 GMT

Great for Arkansas, but I bet the greedy PB association will raise the odds EVEN more as soon as Arkansas becomes a member. I foresee 5/62 + 1/47. Hey, why not round it up to a 1 in 250 million odds, PB association??!! I used to play PB every week but not anymore since they did yet ANOTHER change in odds in January from 1/146 million to 1/195 million. IF anything they should LOWER the odds.

Quick decision: New Ark. Lottery chief recommends Powerball

Lottery Post — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 04:13:11 GMT

The newly hired director of the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery says he is recommending that the State Lottery Commission accept an invitation by Powerball to join the multi-state lottery known for its often soaring jackpots.

Ernie Passailaigue says he hopes the state begins selling scratch off tickets by October 29th and selling Powerball tickets by early 2010.

Passailaigue says he believes once the lottery is up and running Arkansas could see $1.5 million a day in sales.

But another pote... [ More ]