Powerball to lower jackpot starting point and increases due to plunge in sales

Comment #75

KY Floyd — Sat, 04 Apr 2020 20:17:28 GMT

I also assumed they'd go back to $40M minimum and $10M increases when this is back to normal.

I suspect that at the very least they'll continue it as an experiment after things go back to normal. Assuming we'll know what and when normal is. Even when they first adopted the $40 million starting jackpot they were well short of fully funding the advertised annuity until getting through several drawings without a winner. Even skimming 50% off the top they could still have a net loss if somebody... [ More ]

Comment #74

noise-gate — Sat, 04 Apr 2020 01:05:13 GMT

Why did you stop, it's just $2. Chances are, however slim that once you grind your game to a halt, next thing you know, the winning ticket is purchased at that same watering hole you purchase your tickets at. Don't be a casualty of shoulda,coulda,woulda.

Just saying...

Comment #73

Raven62 — Fri, 03 Apr 2020 20:55:04 GMT

Life After Powerball

Comment #72

SaraAnnRapp — Fri, 03 Apr 2020 14:54:46 GMT

Well my state did cancel the $50,000 April raffle the day before it was to begin. They claim they don't want the game to contribute to the Covid crisis but ignore the fact that they are continuing to offer the regular games, go figure.

I'm not really complaining as I never win anything in these raffles even though I have played every single one they have offered over the years.

Comment #71

HoLeeKau — Mon, 30 Mar 2020 19:46:52 GMT

I also assumed they'd go back to $40M minimum and $10M increases when this is back to normal.

But what I really hope they'd do is overhaul it to make the million dollar 2nd prize easier to win. Yes, a whole bunch of people don't play unless the top prize is astronomical, but there are plenty of us who'd play for a million if we had a shot in aitch at winning it. I might even purchase the power play to get 2 - 10 million, which I haven't bought in a decade or more. I don't know how long it's e... [ More ]

Comment #70

bobk215 — Mon, 30 Mar 2020 03:09:31 GMT

Ripoff game any how. Bad enough states only pay half your odds on pick3@4 games. I will pass on government run lottery.

Comment #69

Bleudog101 — Sun, 29 Mar 2020 18:00:09 GMT

If I put in a post about this ventilator debacle, it would be a very long post. Some of you know I'm a retired US Army trained Respiratory Therapist and then did another 20 in a PICU. Besides no staff to manage these patients, there are humongous obstacles in regards to the ventilators. IM me and I'll answer individually. Been waiting patiently on FB for an RT to mention this and so far none...scary stuff my friends. I could literally make a killing if I were to travel to a big city, one pays $1... [ More ]

Comment #68

Unluckyone — Sun, 29 Mar 2020 16:25:43 GMT

MM has had a bunch of $5 million increases which for the unforeseeable future may be the norm.

Comment #67

purelutz — Sun, 29 Mar 2020 02:04:33 GMT

remember folks, the house always wins.

Comment #66

noise-gate — Sun, 29 Mar 2020 00:43:41 GMT

You would not trust Doctors.

During this crisis or in general? Death with honor huh, being placed in an unmarked grave will do just fine? Going out like Mozart, sewed into a linen bag tossed with others in an open trench in a field? You gotta stand for something- What a guy

Comment #65

Big Joey — Sat, 28 Mar 2020 22:55:12 GMT

I would not trust doctors at all making life, or death decisions, race, ethnicity, age, greying hair, could play a part in the decision making process.

Comment #64

Stack47 — Sat, 28 Mar 2020 22:52:56 GMT

They scroll the Online scratch-off like game winners first name, city, and the amounts they won. Only winnings and not deposits can be withdrawn and it usually takes about 24 hours. Friday and weekend withdrawals won't hit the bank account until Monday.

Comment #63

noise-gate — Sat, 28 Mar 2020 20:41:36 GMT

Regardless of whether they raise or lower the jackpot, that sucker is hard to hit.

* On a side note, l have noticed that just about every 3rd person out here is wearing those masks,the ones covering the nose mouth. Read a W.H.O piece where it states that those units are useless. Constantly breathing that bad air you have trapped should be freed, expunged since it's unhealthy. Plus, once that mask gets wet from your exhale, it needs to be tossed. One mask is not meant to be worn for hours.... [ More ]

Comment #62

andl — Sat, 28 Mar 2020 20:13:13 GMT

You are right. I made an assumption. If they do not go back to 40 million 10 million increase I can see MM being the new top game.

Comment #61

cbr$ — Sat, 28 Mar 2020 18:20:54 GMT

In my opinion all the state lottery gaming business. As well as regulars business's will continue to have sagging

sales with the COVID- 19 corona virus. The projective income off the sale of tickets will continue to drop, this is

just the first wave of this virus. I believe the adjustment to the games pay outs are now in line with the true sale

of the game. Now, it base on what they can guaranteed to pay out. Think of the changes as a safety net for them and for us.

Comment #60

TheMeatman2005 — Sat, 28 Mar 2020 15:59:16 GMT

Yes, the lottery is a business and probably not covering their guaranteed raises with the current ticket sales, but I didn't read anywhere that they will go back to the $40 mil start and $10 mil raises after this pandemic is over.

Comment #59

Bleudog101 — Sat, 28 Mar 2020 15:41:58 GMT

Thank you Stack 47. Maybe they will go anonymous with all those 'winners' that just say where the ticket was purchased and nothing else?

So after this one is finally won and it goes to $20 million and $2 million with each no jackpot drawing I will do my best to purchase one ticket semi-annually since it'll take forever to get to $100 million, like about 20 weeks or so. Then my regular purchasing would commence.

The new PB is not fair and think they are being greedy. cut off ones nose to sp... [ More ]

Comment #58

Stat$talker — Sat, 28 Mar 2020 15:35:29 GMT

PB Lottery Officials aren't trying to increase ticket sales,.. They're trying to keep from going broke..!!.

But if they were fair, they'd drop the $2. ticket price in half, along with the halfened starting jackpot amount..

Or like other businesses, offer some kinda incentives to save the business, like playing online up to a REASONABLE cutoff time to keep ticket sales up..! (like 10:55pm)

Proof that There's no honor among thieves ..!!

They've been rippin off players for yrs, now..... [ More ]

Comment #57

Teddi — Sat, 28 Mar 2020 15:00:10 GMT

You have that wrong. That isn't what was said. They said that without enough beds and ventilators and staff, masks, gloves, equipment, this is what they're going to be forced to do.

Meaning, give them what they need to try to keep everyone alive. It is literally nothing like ethnic cleansing. It IS like having a moron in charge during the worse pandemic in generations and having that moron tell those trying keep people alive that he'll only help if his ego is stroked well enough.

We're se... [ More ]

Comment #56

Teddi — Sat, 28 Mar 2020 14:44:26 GMT

Rubbish. Not a single thing they're doing now will increase sales, just the opposite.

They could lower the cost of the ticket or push to make the game available online or improve the odds. Their actions are only guaranteeing that more people play MegaMillions instead, which will decrease sales even more. What then? Lower the starting point again?

It's not as if this pandemic is going to be wrapped up in a few weeks or even a few months. Not with the idiots we have running the show. So they... [ More ]

Comment #55

Stack47 — Sat, 28 Mar 2020 04:09:29 GMT

Saw where there was a $10,000 Online winner recently and a $100,000 winner a few months ago. There are several Online games where players can win over $100,000 including PB and MM. Haven't seen any five figure winners in either of those game.

The KY lottery issued first and last names and apparently they stopped doing that, but it's been about a years since the last time I looked so have no idea when it was discontinued.

Comment #54

noise-gate — Sat, 28 Mar 2020 03:33:22 GMT

l read where Texas LT Gov suggested that Grandparents are willing to die for the US economy.

His words No one reached out to me and said as a senior citizen, are you willing to take a chance on your survival in exchange for keeping the America that all America loves for your children and grandchildren? Patrick said And if that's the exchange, lm all in.

Sounds like Do not resuscitate to me. You go Dan

Comment #53

Big Joey — Fri, 27 Mar 2020 23:09:34 GMT

This is a Chastisement / Plague on the whole world.

Now doctors, as seen on television, are talking about only saving those worthy of being saved.

They're talking about automatic do not resuscitate for Coronavirus patients. And, nobody over 60, gets a ventilator, that's evil, vile, racist, heartless.... That's like ethnic cleansing. A doctor takes one look at you, and you're going to die....

Comment #52

HoLeeKau — Fri, 27 Mar 2020 21:34:24 GMT

Exactly. If they didn't lower the jackpots, they would probably go broke. This is an act of god, an unforeseeable event. They have to do whatever they need to in order to stay in business.

I'll keep playing till this jackpot is won. After that, I'll still play my regular line of numbers, but I'll have to decide at that time whether to play any quick picks with the lower jackpot.

Comment #51

andl — Fri, 27 Mar 2020 20:27:46 GMT

The lottery is a business. The lottery isn't covering their guaranteed jackpot raises with the current ticket sales. They will not lose money. The rules will go back to normal when the pandemic is over and people are buying their tickets again.

Comment #50

noise-gate — Fri, 27 Mar 2020 20:20:10 GMT

Changing the rules whenever you please. Isn't that like your significant other telling you l want to eat lobster on a regular basis moving forward in life. Should you respond, but it's pretty expensive, you told You've been getting the best from me for years, you think l am not worth it?

That exactly what they telling us We lowering the start up JP, but we have always been here for you

Comment #49

gvpazkn — Fri, 27 Mar 2020 18:44:34 GMT

I'm now playing less and less. Changing the rules in the middle of the game? NOT FAIR

Comment #48

gvpazkn — Fri, 27 Mar 2020 18:42:20 GMT

I just don't understand how you can change the rules of the game whenever you please. The going gets rough, and you change the rules to make it easier on the lottery pocketbook.

Comment #47

dpoly1 — Fri, 27 Mar 2020 16:42:48 GMT

I am not responsible for sagging Powerball sales

Comment #46

jjtheprince14 — Fri, 27 Mar 2020 16:07:22 GMT

Time to boycott

Comment #45

Bleudog101 — Fri, 27 Mar 2020 15:05:54 GMT

Maybe Stack 47 can back me up with this. Just went to KLC website and all the Instant Game winners (on-line) it just had a first name. On regular scratch tickets many said such and such a ticket sold that won $2500 (for instance). There were very few pictures.

My point is best of my knowledge nobody has won MM or PB playing on line.

After PB is won and new format comes on I'll TRY to just play CB 225 with my four tickets daily=$4.

Comment #44

Raven62 — Fri, 27 Mar 2020 11:42:52 GMT

The FTC has some guidelines about what is bait and switch advertising and what isn't.

Comment #43

VenomV12 — Fri, 27 Mar 2020 01:22:55 GMT

The problem with playing online is that in the insanely rare chance you do actually win, you have essentially given up you ability to be anonymous since it's bought on an account with your information. I'm not sure you can even set up a trust or anything after the fact

Comment #42

VenomV12 — Fri, 27 Mar 2020 01:18:38 GMT

The Powerball and Megamillions have essentially become worthless games that I only play just on the off chance I might actually win. It's almost impossible to win even the lowest prize, truly a rare occasion. When it was the old game with lower numbers and only cost $1, you could win something fairly often, now you can count on one hand when you get some money back from them. Luck for Life costs the same but has much better lower prizes and odds. If you are going to halve the top prize you shoul... [ More ]

Comment #41

HoLeeKau — Thu, 26 Mar 2020 18:43:49 GMT

Good to know other states have it set up so well. Hopefully others follow suit. If lack of sales due to something beyond our control doesn't induce them to sell online, I don't know what will.

Comment #40

Bleudog101 — Thu, 26 Mar 2020 18:25:49 GMT

Remember the deal the KLC had with retailers? They would not sell pick 3 or pick 4 to appease the retailers.

Personally I said the eff bomb when I read about PB changes and going to try, though may fail, to curb buying them. Cashball 225 is what I've been playing everyday now and can play here or @ the end of my short street!

Good luck Stack47.

Comment #39

Bleudog101 — Thu, 26 Mar 2020 18:22:22 GMT

That is a subscription service and can only play one set of #'s for during of your ticket, plus no Powerplay or Megaplier is ever available. Out of staters can play Megabucks Doubler, but as I stated months ago they outsourced this and really soak out of staters. Since I'm from there could have folks buy them for me but though with feeding their coffers!

Other states, like Kentucky, have on-line sales of a host of tickets including the aforementioned ones without the burden of subscription se... [ More ]

Comment #38

Stack47 — Thu, 26 Mar 2020 18:14:48 GMT

The KY Lottery paid out less than $1 million when 888 was drawn today. Triples are close to or usually sold out. It looks like going out to play lottery games is not a priority right now. Hopefully all the drawn games will be available Online. It sure would help during this crisis for those needing a fix.

Comment #37

HoLeeKau — Thu, 26 Mar 2020 18:09:32 GMT

If they changed it tomorrow to better odds, how many of us wouldn't be tempted to dash out and buy a few

Comment #36

Stack47 — Thu, 26 Mar 2020 18:03:57 GMT

If going out just to buy PB or MM tickets is a number one priority, those people need help.

Comment #35

HoLeeKau — Thu, 26 Mar 2020 17:53:10 GMT

I think it would be irresponsible to do something that would encourage people to leave their homes just to buy a lottery ticket. Those that are buying anyway will pick up their tickets during a grocery and supplies run.

Comment #34

HoLeeKau — Thu, 26 Mar 2020 17:51:48 GMT

Hopefully lack of income from lottery during this time will encourage more states to sell Mega and Powerball online, to residents within their state. If Mass can do it, so can the rest of the states.

Comment #33

Bleudog101 — Thu, 26 Mar 2020 17:13:58 GMT

Notice how the Mega millions jackpot has really slowed down?

Am thinking two things: Folks have lottery fatigue and #2 this will drive sales down even further. How about changing the odds a bit to help out your players

Comment #32

faker-tracker — Thu, 26 Mar 2020 16:03:26 GMT

It won't. It's like selling a dozen donuts which comes with only 8 to make up for the slow business. Stupid

Comment #31

CDanaT — Thu, 26 Mar 2020 13:17:13 GMT

Might be time to start playing Lotto America again,once the PB jackpot has been won...Only $1 a pick..... Odds are about the same as the TX lottery.....

Comment #30

rcbbuckeye — Thu, 26 Mar 2020 12:42:50 GMT

YW!

Good luck with whatever game you play.

Comment #29

TheMeatman2005 — Thu, 26 Mar 2020 12:33:33 GMT

It's possible the NYS Lottery site is wrong. I'll go with the results on https://www.usamega.com/

Thanks RC

Comment #28

rcbbuckeye — Thu, 26 Mar 2020 12:25:33 GMT

Hmmmmm.

I had just checked on USAMega.

Comment #27

TheMeatman2005 — Thu, 26 Mar 2020 12:20:49 GMT

On the NYS Lottery website https://nylottery.ny.gov/powerball/past-winning-numbers it shows:

DRAWING RESULTS

DATE

WINNING NUMBERS

POWERBALL

POWER PLAY

03/25/2020

05-09-27-39-42

16

X2

POWERBALL + NO POWERPLAY

0 winners of $150 Million.

2 second-prize winners of $1 Million. Winning tickets sold in CO.

PRIZE LEVEL

NUMBERS MATCHED

PRIZE

NY WINNERS

1ST

$0.00 0

2ND $1,000,000.00 0

3RD

$50,000.00 1

4TH $100.00... [ More ]

Comment #26

reddog — Thu, 26 Mar 2020 12:07:45 GMT

Comment #25

rcbbuckeye — Thu, 26 Mar 2020 12:05:49 GMT

One from Georgia with powerplay, and one from Oregon with powerplay.

Comment #24

ErikB14 — Thu, 26 Mar 2020 12:02:46 GMT

I believe the Power ball /Mega millions should be replaced' for a Yearly Raffle, like EL Gordo(The fat one$$)...with a guaranteed 400,000 winners.

Im not longer interested in playing the Powerball' until they reduced the wager price to $1 buck per line.

Comment #23

TheMeatman2005 — Thu, 26 Mar 2020 11:58:14 GMT

In last night's Power Ball drawing there were no jackpot winners, so the annuity amount does go to $160 mil.

There were two tickets that matched 5 of 5 without the PB # for a $1 mil prize and two tickets that added the Powerplay and won $2 mil.

The two tickets without the Powerplay were sold in Colorado and the two with the Powerplay were sold in Oregon.

I wonder if each of the two tickets were purchased by the same person.

Some people buy the same set of numbers twice so if there a... [ More ]

Comment #22

Rushingwind$ — Thu, 26 Mar 2020 06:45:52 GMT

Comment #21

kao1632 — Thu, 26 Mar 2020 05:31:49 GMT

cash value is (I assume) based on cash on hand .

The annuity value (aka the jackpot ) is what they can buy with the cash value.

My records seem to indicate that the cash value is actually increasing (last cycle (when the jackpot got above $160m) next is worth $171m, with a cash value of $116.2m...

$116.2m is less than the current ($160m jackpot) cash value of $122.4m.

Comment #20

JAMORA — Thu, 26 Mar 2020 05:22:57 GMT

Stay home people!

And this change certainly didn't entice me to buy a ticket....lol

Comment #19

Big Joey — Thu, 26 Mar 2020 05:07:18 GMT

Self isolation. It might be better to not play at all. Don't risk the lives of your household for non-winning lottery tickets, be ultra safe.

Comment #18

Teddi — Thu, 26 Mar 2020 04:25:41 GMT

So instead of decreasing the ticket price or improving the odds, they've opted to make the jackpot less appealing to John Q Public. Yeah, makes perfect sense

Comment #17

Stack47 — Thu, 26 Mar 2020 02:10:52 GMT

making changes to the multi-state lottery game's jackpot due to sagging sales

How will lowering the jackpot create better sales?

Just wondering.

Comment #16

SaraAnnRapp — Thu, 26 Mar 2020 02:07:03 GMT

I too have stopped buying tickets for these games. Right now I'm going to wait until April to see if my state runs the planned raffle. If so I will buy tickets for that. But I don't know when I will go back to playing PB and MM.

Comment #15

SaraAnnRapp — Thu, 26 Mar 2020 02:01:48 GMT

Ain't that the truth

Comment #14

Ranett — Thu, 26 Mar 2020 01:50:56 GMT

It would interesting to see what happens after the COVID crisis is over. I haven't bought a powerball ticket in 6 or 7 weeks so it won't change my habits anyway.

Comment #13

Unlucky fool — Thu, 26 Mar 2020 00:36:29 GMT

Lower jackpots for an impossible odds game will surely help sell more tickets.

Comment #12

Think — Thu, 26 Mar 2020 00:29:53 GMT

They have been making the games worse and worse and they had been looking for a convenient excuse to make them worse yet...bingo they got lucky and found one.

Powerball and MegaMillion have not been good for at least 5 to 7 years.

Next step is for them to find a way to get a multi-trillion dollar jackpot that nobody wins except once every 30 years.

Comment #11

NY10 — Thu, 26 Mar 2020 00:02:20 GMT

How so ?

I thought cash value is based on the cash on hand after expenses of the game

Comment #10

andl — Wed, 25 Mar 2020 23:59:09 GMT

Cash value is based off the 30 Year treasury rate. Right now the 30 year rate is near historic lows. That is why the cash value is so high.

Comment #9

MsBee18 — Wed, 25 Mar 2020 23:36:22 GMT

I must admit the recent cash payout has been generous.

Comment #8

MsBee18 — Wed, 25 Mar 2020 23:32:37 GMT

Sales are probably down because it's so freaking hard to win a prize.

Comment #7

hearsetrax — Wed, 25 Mar 2020 23:15:45 GMT

Would love to see it hit the billion mark ... but highly unlikely by May

but maybe by the later part of July at the rate things are going

Comment #6

kao1632 — Wed, 25 Mar 2020 23:00:04 GMT

It won't just be reduced sales... there is also the matter of how much cash they have to front up with for those $10m increases or $20m start...

The ratio of cash value to announced jackpot has hit 80% (three draws ago.. Jackpot $120m cash $96.1m -- 80.8% of jackpot.)

Meanwhile, the Jan 13, 2016 draw.. jackpot of $1,586.4 million.. cash value $983.5m is a rate of 62% (@62% $96.1m cash would dictate a jackpot of $155m)

@62% $40m start needs cash of $24.8m

@80.8% $40m start needs cash... [ More ]

Comment #5

andl — Wed, 25 Mar 2020 22:42:57 GMT

MM has went up only 6 million. I'd imagine PB would do the same.

Comment #4

En ReVal — Wed, 25 Mar 2020 22:36:27 GMT

I agree, you want to start at a smaller amount but want $2. I hope both lotteries reach a billion by May

Comment #3

hearsetrax — Wed, 25 Mar 2020 22:09:54 GMT

Comment #2

noise-gate — Wed, 25 Mar 2020 22:06:47 GMT

Is that the way you gonna play huh? Well, how about dropping it to $1 a line as well. Or $2 a line, but pick from 50 balls from one barrel 10 mega balls. Fair is fair.

Comment #1

NY10 — Wed, 25 Mar 2020 22:01:12 GMT

LOL

what is Mega Millions waiting for

Powerball to lower jackpot starting point and increases due to plunge in sales

Lottery Post — Wed, 25 Mar 2020 21:57:09 GMT

Coronavirus strikes again

Today the Powerball Product Group announced it is making changes to the multi-state lottery game's jackpot due to sagging sales caused by the COVID-19 coronavirus.

Following the next grand prize win, Powerball's starting jackpot will reset to a guaranteed $20 million (annuity) with minimum roll increases of $2 million between drawings.

Previously the starting point was $40 million, with guaranteed $10 million increases between drawings that did not produce a ja... [ More ]