the future of mega millions and powerball

Reply #31

dvdiva — Sun, 26 Mar 2006 21:02:08 GMT

My desire to hang out with idiots like Paris Hilton is already low and I doubt a jackpot win would improve on it.

Any combined game would have to have really high odds so as to have prizes worth winning. A move away from inflated annuities would be a good start. The only reason I play Euromillions is that it's currently tax free and all cash. If it were taxed or another bloated annuity I wouldn't play.

Reply #30

Coin Toss — Sun, 26 Mar 2006 06:14:01 GMT

There are people who will play regardless. Just like casinos, the lotteries are in the greed and ego business as much as they are the gambling and entertainment business.

100 number matrix? I'll be the one to hit it!

Too many people think like that and that's why the matrixes increase.

Reply #29

ryanm — Sat, 25 Mar 2006 18:01:32 GMT

A merged PB and MM should be so big it doesn't NEED an annuity jackpot!! Its cash jackpots alone would be eye catching

Reply #28

LOTTOMIKE — Sat, 25 Mar 2006 14:33:17 GMT

what would you do if it was annuity only on the new game

Reply #27

CASH Only — Fri, 03 Mar 2006 19:50:36 GMT

Then you will lose as soon as the tickets are printed. I won $6 in Texas ($2 with 3x Megaplier) in October. I chose CVO.

Reply #26

Annual Payments — Fri, 03 Mar 2006 19:48:12 GMT

LOL funny.

I'm probably gonna go to TX today. I'm gonna get a Lotto and Mega Millions, Annual payments for both.

Reply #25

CASH Only — Fri, 03 Mar 2006 19:38:29 GMT

No, I'll be with others who got cash. Your nose is telling you to choose lump sum.

Reply #24

Annual Payments — Fri, 03 Mar 2006 19:36:52 GMT

LOL. Oh cool. I was here since August. The drier climate is better for me, except this time of year my sinuses are worst than ever. But I'm dealing with it. I'm sure some annual payments would make me feel much better.

When u get your cash lump sum, which will be about 1/4 of the advertised jackpot after taxes, you'll be hanging with me, my annual payments, and my celebrity friends. You'll bump up to celebrity status, too. We'll vacation together in the caribbean and the south of fra... [ More ]

Reply #23

CASH Only — Fri, 03 Mar 2006 19:18:31 GMT

AP:

You moved to New Mexico? I drove through it in October. Maybe the drier climate will be good for you, and you'll realize lump sum is much better.

Reply #22

Annual Payments — Fri, 03 Mar 2006 19:11:37 GMT

No! I'd need $200 million to hang with stars. Paris will be my best friend and you'll see us in Star magazine together.

Reply #21

CASH Only — Fri, 03 Mar 2006 18:51:35 GMT

I hear there may be a joint offering by MM and PB. A combined game IMO should have a top prize of $100 million. MM and PB should NEVER be merged.

Reply #20

LOTTOMIKE — Tue, 07 Feb 2006 12:49:13 GMT

if the jackpots start getting won on almost every drawing they usually start taking measures for another matrix change.i personally don't think they should change it every time it starts getting hit a lot.

Reply #19

hypersoniq — Tue, 07 Feb 2006 10:38:56 GMT

wow, 5/70+1/60?

726,180,840 :1 on a 5+1 match (12,308,150:1 odds on a 5+0 match)

I doubt it will get this bad.

Reply #18

Down — Tue, 07 Feb 2006 10:17:52 GMT

I think the matrix for Powerball will go up just because there are so many more states playing it, i don't think Mega Millions will change, it might, it all depends on if California stays in or not, we will just have to see this spring. i hope it stays but you never know. But i don't know why they need to change the matrix of the game, has there ever been in any lottery game where you have to choose 5 and a mega number, has the same combination ever come up 2 times? i think the game matrix is fi... [ More ]

Reply #17

justxploring — Tue, 07 Feb 2006 09:08:31 GMT

Coin Toss: Who needs $200 million or so anyway? And the apparent curse that goes with it.

My feelings exactly. I've said it before..if I won about $5M I'm sure I'd be set for life, probably start a small business I enjoy, and then I could spend my spare time volunteering. I've known people who suddenly had so much money it made them miserable (I can't imagine, but it happens)

Anyway, I voted no, but I'd rather vote I hope not. I know monster jackpots attract more people, but I'll ne... [ More ]

Reply #16

dvdiva — Tue, 07 Feb 2006 08:34:46 GMT

The only thing that's a rip off about the games is the annuity. I have a feeling that at some point these backloaded annuities will either go away or get much worse. At some point it might go to 40 years and have to have an asterix next to the number claiming it's for 2046 (or whatever year it is +40) dollars to account for all the inflation that will eat away at what you actually win.

I also don't know if a change in the odds is needed for a high rollover. Both the Canada 6/49 and Euromilli... [ More ]

Reply #15

Coin Toss — Tue, 07 Feb 2006 05:41:34 GMT

Maybe but I'd rather see something with not such a monster prize at the top

but far better prizes than the present for second place.

Who needs $200 million or so anyway? And the apparent curse that goes with it.

Reply #14

ryanm — Tue, 07 Feb 2006 04:49:00 GMT

Why should Powerball go higher than Mega Millions? Mega Millions currently has a population of 60 million more than Powerball (52 million after North Carolina joins), and even if Powerball was somehow able to grab Florida, Alabama, Arkansas, Alaska, Nevada, Mississippi, Hawaii, Utah, Wyoming, and Puerto Rico (assuming the last nine jurisdictions ever get a lottery), under today's population, Mega Millions would still outnumber Powerball by 14 million people.

Reply #13

Just6ntlc — Mon, 06 Feb 2006 23:22:07 GMT

My vote is for maybe. With the population growing, I think Mega Millions, Powerball, and CA SLP should increase the matrix at the end of the decade. I would rather see Powerball increase the red powerball to at least 45 or more because 44 of their numbers already have been the winning numbers of both WB and PB. I think Mega Millions should go 5/60+1/52 and Powerball should go 5/60+1/55.

Reply #12

LOTTOMIKE — Mon, 09 Jan 2006 11:29:31 GMT

LOL,wreakshavok that little video in the left hand corner is a trip

Reply #11

wreakshavok777 — Mon, 09 Jan 2006 06:01:39 GMT

The number of people playing lottery is growing at such a rapid pace it would be easier to count the people who don't play...the lure of easy money will win out every time!Lottery has to be the fastest growing past time in U.S.A....uh oh move over baseball there is a new sheriff in town

Reply #10

Chewie — Sun, 08 Jan 2006 22:47:12 GMT

Looking at the number of jackpots over the last two years, the current versions seem extremely reasonable and playable. Lots of money coming in and lots going out. Millionaires being made all over the place. What other purpose is there - to compete with Bingo

Reply #9

Greg — Sun, 08 Jan 2006 19:58:33 GMT

Once everyone STOPS playing PowerRipoff and MegaRipoff, for at least 3 months, the lottery powers that be will abandon these games with no money coming in OR offer a 5/35 game with a bonus ball field of 1-10 for those of us out here in Lottoland who would be happy with a jackpot of $25.mil. and MORE concerned about a number field that is REASONABLE and somewhat PLAYABLE.

Reply #8

Chewie — Sun, 08 Jan 2006 00:54:22 GMT

BUT - does Joe Blow, on the street, care what the matrix is, or even what it means? Once they start seeing the three digit number, they become pack animals after fresh meat. No matter what the matix is, $200M is the shiney lure and the fish are going after it. Joe Blow doesn't care about annuity or cash values, on the numbers on the TV screen.

Reply #7

ryanm — Sat, 07 Jan 2006 22:26:49 GMT

Actually, Mega Millions announced its matrix change first, because of California. Powerball just changed its as well so it could compete not only with MM's jackpots, but with its second and third place prizes as well.

Reply #6

JimmySand9 — Sat, 07 Jan 2006 19:46:00 GMT

It could happen. But they darn well better put in a 2+0 prize in there.

Reply #5

weshar75 — Sat, 07 Jan 2006 19:45:46 GMT

If powerball has another change in the next five years it will probably be like a 5/57 white balls and 1/42 red balls. That is the only change I see as realistic.

Reply #4

four4me — Sat, 07 Jan 2006 19:31:50 GMT

Doubt we'll see another matrix change for a while. You have to look at the big picture these big money games are about the state making money. They are supposedly set up to help reduce the tax burden. They jumped the gun on the last matrix change. Because of powerballs games produced so many small jackpot winners in a short period of time. The lottery directors panicked and chose to change the structure of the game by making the game harder to win.Then California joined and mega millions followe... [ More ]

Reply #3

Tnplayer805 — Sat, 07 Jan 2006 19:20:51 GMT

I think they will just add another Bonus ball/Mega Ball/Power Ball. Instead of only one drawn there will be two. Hard to see them going higher with the numbers.

Reply #2

ryanm — Sat, 07 Jan 2006 17:26:20 GMT

That would probably kill sales at the starting level, making the game take weeks upon weeks of rollovers to get an eye-catching jackpot, and you think Powerball's rollovers are pathetic now

Reply #1

LOTTOMIKE — Sat, 07 Jan 2006 10:32:26 GMT

this could also be when we might see our first billion dollar jackpot.never say never...a few years back people never dreamed we would see a 100 million jackpot now it happens all the time.just 10 years ago a 10 or 20 million dollar jackpot was big news.this things always expand and evolve.......

the future of mega millions and powerball

LOTTOMIKE — Sat, 07 Jan 2006 10:30:17 GMT

once the matrix is changed again on the powerball and mega millions it could eventually reach 5/70,where you have to choose 5 numbers out of 70,then a power or mega ball out of a field of 60.......near the end of the decade of course......