Mega Millions, Powerball lottery ticket cross-sales begins today

Comment #60

Guru101 — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 09:03:58 GMT

No winner for Mega Millions. Rolled to $32M.

Comment #59

corius$1918! — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 06:09:43 GMT

I only spend one dollar per play also with powerball. I do not buy the powerplay. Since I don't have to drive over to South Carolina now for Lottery I guess I'll just go shopping there or to the festivals at my liesure. It was just over the bridge anyway.

Comment #58

Guru101 — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 07:26:40 GMT

Looks like I'm gonna end up with more than $115,000,000 because it rolled to $140,000,000! An extra $25,000,000?! I'll take it! Thanks everybody

Comment #57

Guru101 — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 20:38:56 GMT

The jackpot is estimated, so they're probably just trying to be conservative.

Comment #56

Perfecttiming2 — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 14:46:56 GMT

I actually thought it would be a little higher...........

Anywho,

I think someone on here said the dollars will follow the highest jackpot.....that seems to be how this PB MM combo will flow....

If no one hits MM on Friday it will be interesting to see how much more it will jump.

Comment #55

sirbrad — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 08:41:12 GMT

My ticket says PA Lottery on the back.

Comment #54

sirbrad — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 08:39:23 GMT

Nice, I just had my first losing ticket for Mega Millions. Will be a good change of pace from all of those losing Powerball tickets.

Comment #53

Guru101 — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 08:37:07 GMT

Holy COW! Mega Millions went up to $20M. It usually goes up to $16-18M. Looks like the jumps will be bigger in the event that the jackpot rolls. This is awesome

Comment #52

Guru101 — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 04:57:43 GMT

Well I didn't hit anything on the Mega Millions, but no worries because I'm gonna win Powerball tommorrow night! Yippeeeee

Comment #51

rollsroyceron — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 02:12:56 GMT

Ohh, yeahhhh! Now I don't have to drive or take a casino bus to Louisiana everytime the jackpot gets ova $100 - 200 million! And just the other day, somebody in (of all places) Katy, Texas won the Mega Millions, like the 2nd time anyone from Texas ever hit the jackpot! I'll be playing the bigger of the two each week, you betta' believe it.

On a more somber note, too bad what happened to Shakespeare, that was a real Othello moment. Someone (we know who) is gonna' be put under the jail. God re... [ More ]

Comment #50

Grovel — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 01:36:39 GMT

Just got my MM ticket. Mega Millions should go up a lot faster with all of the other states playing too.

Comment #49

Guru101 — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 23:59:31 GMT

How many people are in your pool

Comment #48

mididude03 — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 23:27:44 GMT

Chuck Strutt is wrong. Averaging a net-of-tax rate of return of 4.65%, which is far less than a 30y, even 20y AAA Muni bonds after taxes, I would break even with the 30 year payment schedule that the Powerball lays out. At 5%, I would be $7 million better in the end.

I always urge people to do their own research over trusting others. That's why Elisabeth Hasselbeck constantly fails.

Comment #47

LottoPools — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 23:13:40 GMT

Bought my first TX PB tickets while at lunch today. But I bought my MM and Lotto TX tix too. I will be changing it up for my pools tho and buying whichever jackpost is highest at the time.

Comment #46

Guru101 — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 23:01:06 GMT

Don't forget. Everybody still has 1 more day to make my jackpot even bigger! LOL

Comment #45

mididude03 — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 22:38:30 GMT

I knew this was gonna happened. Officials said it would bring more money into the states, when really it will be a trade off between who has the higher jackpot. I don't foresee a vast improvement in lottery sales, just accelerated jackpot rates as one surpasses the other.

Comment #44

Guru101 — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 22:36:32 GMT

Powerball's jackpot has been updated to $115,000,000! I told you! Hahahaha! Thanks for your dollar everyone! I'm gonna win! Yeehaw

Comment #43

Jazi76 — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 22:30:26 GMT

Comment #42

mididude03 — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 22:26:30 GMT

How would it not be true? Unless you gave it all away, your income is officially over the top tax bracket. You can't get below ~$356k which is the cutoff for 35% in any state and local tax, even SF or NYC. Unless you have extraordinary deductions like some house you're paying out the ass in real estate taxes, itemized deductions can hardly get you there. Even so, for people who win the minimum jackpot (Mega Millions $7M cash option), I doubt you can pull off enough deductions to get your AGI bel... [ More ]

Comment #41

mookyb75 — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 22:15:25 GMT

mookyb75 winner from nc wins first mega million 12 million dollars i hope this is true lol....

Comment #40

Todd — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 22:11:55 GMT

You obviously have a strong opinion. You are not correct about always paying the top rate on anything over $500,000. Flat wrong. Maybe YOU would, but not everyone.

Annuities are not worthless. That is your opinion. As Chuck Strutt has said before, you MIGHT be able to get the kind of return that Powerball can give in you in their annuity, but probably not.

Comment #39

mididude03 — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 22:08:15 GMT

You pay state tax to your resident state minus the state tax where you won. For example, if you won in Washington with a 0% rate, and you are a resident of Oregon, you'd have to pay 8% to Oregon. If you won in Maryland (7.5% state and local tax for non-resident), you'd pay 7.5% to Maryland and 0.5% to Oregon. People who cross the border to avoid taxes aren't informed.

I built a complete financial model and related analysis for Mega Millions and Powerball jackpots, complete with variance analy... [ More ]

Comment #38

Jazi76 — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 21:00:11 GMT

The same thing happened to me today. I asked for one Powerball ticket with powerplay, she gave me one WITHOUT powerplay, and then asked me if I wanted a Sweet Millions ticket? I just ended up taking the ticket.

I am debating if I should use a playslip to play the same numbers, or just get a new ticket, using a playslip of course, with powerplay

Comment #37

petergrfn — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 20:57:25 GMT

Doesn't sound like a bad life...LOL Get up to sun..sand...gorgeous women........grab your laptop go out to the beach or pool to sunbathe. Get a tropical drink and log on to LP to see whats going on.....Maybe a nice LP Webcam to see what's going on..... Sounds like a pretty nice dream CHEERS!! Might have to put it on hold I think this jackpot has my name on it!! LMAO

Comment #36

maringoman — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 20:53:19 GMT

It felt unreal asking for a powerball ticket just blocks away from my home.

I asked the guy for a powerball ticket with powerplay and the guy printed

out one without powerplay. So me being the easy going guy just said it was

ok and to just give me another ticket obviously without powerplay. We'll see

how it goes, won't we

Comment #35

wizeguy — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 08:24:37 GMT

Good luck Todd! I look forward to the annual Lottery Post bbq for jackpot winners on your island

Comment #34

Bagent — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 07:06:20 GMT

Well, I got the answer to my question this evening on how will the state know where the ticket was bought. I bought my first Powerball ticket in Washington this evening and right there at the top was the words - Washington Lottery I guess that takes all the guesswork out of the equation. HAHA

Comment #33

Nino224 — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 04:30:32 GMT

I meant GOOD man

Comment #32

dpoly1 — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 04:29:03 GMT

Sorry, I think it is my turn !

I hope all of the winners need it as much as I do .... but that is really none of my business !

My only hobby is playing PB ... and now MM ...

I only spend $1 ... so good luck to all

Comment #31

Guru101 — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 03:56:34 GMT

I'm gonna win Powerball Wednesday! Woohoo! I can't wait

Comment #30

Nino224 — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 03:26:08 GMT

God man

Comment #29

dallascowboyfan — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 02:01:36 GMT

Just brought our groups Mega Million tickets with Megaplier in Oklahoma today when I got off work we play both Powerball Mega Millions.

Comment #28

gocart1 — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 01:52:08 GMT

Thanks Todd for being a standup guy if you win.And i hope you do win one day.Thanks again for all your efforts for making this website so informative..

On another note ,now i can sleep late on saturday mornings because the old lady and i don't have to drive to Connecticut any more.It was interresting to see the ruckus that started when i asked a few times on this website about how the taxes would work out being that i live in New York and hit the jackpot in Connecticut..

Comment #27

Todd — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 21:14:19 GMT

I started this site because I wanted to do something I loved. Why would I close it if I won a jackpot?

I might have to run it from an island though... (Just gotta make sure it has a fast Internet connection

Comment #26

CAL-LottoPlayer — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 19:51:18 GMT

Don't worry. You're not missing much. At odds which are worse than 195 MILLION to ONE, you'll never win. In fact, the Powerball odds are even WORSE than the Mega-Millions. Stick with the Super Lotto Plus. At 41 million to 1 odds, at least you have a chance of winning in your lifetime... if you play $1,000!!!

At 176 million to 1 odds, I rarely play Mega-Millions. I only play when the jackpot is above $200 million.

Comment #25

Classic47 — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 16:45:33 GMT

Yep, powerplay is the way to go. An average of 3.5 times the amount of normal prizes for only twice the amount. At the very least, you'll double your prize. Instant million IN CASH for matching all five without the bonus. What's not to like about that

Comment #24

Nino224 — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 16:24:46 GMT

Hey Todd,

I just had a scary thought...

What happens if you win a huge jackpot and move to Bora Bora to sip rum on the sand? Will that be the end of LP?? NOOOOO

Comment #23

Nino224 — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 16:22:51 GMT

I haaaate yooouuu, FLORIDA!!!!!

Boooooo Booooo Hoooo.....

Comment #22

AuntiePat — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 15:35:22 GMT

Sorry, Bagent--the only thing universal lotttery will do is keep out of state winners from having to pay taxes to both where they live AND where they bought the tkt.

The government and states are already WAYYYYYYY ahead of us poor wanna-be winners and have figured all the tax wrinkles--besides--why would you want to cheat any government out of their fair share for roads, health care, industry tax abatement for industry, fact finding missions to China--hmmmm--on the other hand maybe I better

Comment #21

kumazi30 — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 06:32:29 GMT

I bought 5 Powerball tickets here in Michigan with power play. I spent 10 dollars. Remember everybody to use the power play! We never know.

Comment #20

Todd — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 05:51:29 GMT

I picked up some Powerball tix in NJ tonight. Very strange to see those familiar pink tickets with Powerball at the top.

Comment #19

NYSlugger 777 — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 05:45:46 GMT

I bought a $1 qucik pick tonight for Wednesday's draiwng. I hope its the winner! The quickpick gave me power ball # 1

Comment #18

Classic47 — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 05:42:35 GMT

Got my powerball ticket and my lucky numbers! I think I was the first at that store to buy PB because the clerk wasn't aware they sold them until I bought them. I hope I have better luck on powerball than I have Mega Millions. And I hope I can do it with just one set of numberss.

Comment #17

joshuacloak — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 04:44:16 GMT

thank god tennessee has mm now, i use to cross state lines to Georgia to play mm

, sense my state tn has 0% tax rate and Georgia: 6% State Tax on jackpots

you can go screw your self now georgia, you never catch me buying lotto tickets in georgia anymore

i really hate tax's, govt should funding should be ran like charity funding donations

if the govt does not do a great job, no more money for them,

it would be the ultmate check and balance of power

the pocket book,

Comment #16

LckyLary — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 04:25:30 GMT

They will be able to tell because (probably) the tickets look different but more because the serial number on the ticket I assume is also linked to where/when the ticket is sold (or even using the Agent # on the ticket). What will BE confusing is people not knowing which game is which. I urge all Stores put up big signs explaining the difference!

Nice to have in nj because my prg. does better if using the most current info. This is hard to do when PB requires a 40 mi. trip to PA meaning playi... [ More ]

Comment #15

sully16 — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 03:39:49 GMT

Powerball comes to michigan.

Comment #14

Bagent — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 02:46:32 GMT

I have a strange, well for me it is, question. Since Washington has just started allowing Powerball which has been only available in Oregon, how will the states be able to tell where there tickets were purchased? Oregon has 8% tax while Washington has no tax. I see a lot of folks rushing off to Washington who normally buy in Oregon to try and bypass the taxes. Does anyone have opinion/insight about this

Comment #13

destiny2008 — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 00:33:15 GMT

I think I'm gonna win - we all do -- thats why we play - L O L

Comment #12

lottocalgal — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 23:10:01 GMT

I am soooooooo jealous. California will be the last holdout. My only chance is going to my husband's family reunion with him in Texas and get a few powerball tickets with the powerplay but thats months away.

Comment #11

dphillips — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 22:45:11 GMT

Let the games begin

Comment #10

megamillionaire — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 22:10:01 GMT

Bought my first powerball tickets with powerplay this morning. Seems a few others were also getting their feet wet in the new game in town.

Comment #9

Rowen — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 22:05:58 GMT

Too bad MM pot is small but PB is nice chunk to play with. Nice to rotate between the 2

Comment #8

Palmmer — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 21:32:20 GMT

I bought my first Kentucky MegaMillions ticket this afternoon. Woo-hoo! Nice to be able to buy both PB and MM here.

Comment #7

rdgrnr — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 21:16:28 GMT

More cheese

Comment #6

ThatScaryChick — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 20:06:41 GMT

I just bought my Mega Millions Tickets for Tuesdays drawing! I'm very excited

Comment #5

Rowen — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 19:54:28 GMT

Don't worry we will not turn your money down...lol

Comment #4

coolmoney — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 19:35:42 GMT

I didn't know that Mooky, I'll keep my money then LOL

Comment #3

mookyb75 — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 19:21:25 GMT

nc is one of the states for what good it'll do nc never have a winner in pb only one time when it first started so i'll just give the other 44 states my money lol

Comment #2

Rowen — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 19:07:08 GMT

It begins...

Comment #1

teamhazard — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 19:04:43 GMT

Best News Of The Year Besides President Obama Speech 3 Words New Record Jackpots

Mega Millions, Powerball lottery ticket cross-sales begins today

Lottery Post — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 18:46:11 GMT

Today marks the first time both of the USA's huge multi-state lottery games can be purchased within the same state.

Dozens of states begin selling both Mega Millions and Powerball tickets today, moving the U.S. a step closer to having a national lottery.

By the time the remainder of the states with a lottery sign on to the new arrangement as early as this spring the nation's two biggest lotteries will be sold in 45 jurisdictions: 43 states plus Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands... [ More ]