To MUSL and the Mega group

Reply #12

dvdiva — Thu, 05 Oct 2006 03:14:07 GMT

Eventually they will have to be $2 because of inflation. When most lotteries decided to set the price of a ticket at $1 in the 80's a nice house was around $250k in the Seattle area. Now the same house would have a million in front of it.

I think Mega could more easily make the change especially with a lowering of the odds.

I don't think players are coming out of anywhere now to get tickets since sales in Mega is realitively stable until it breaks 60-75 million. Also when Canada's 6/49 g... [ More ]

Reply #11

ryanm — Wed, 04 Oct 2006 23:45:46 GMT

Unfortunately, I think one day Powerball and Mega Millions tickets will be $2. If that happens, I will quit playing Mega Millions and play only Powerball again (I currently play both). Also, I do agree that a $2 ticket price may actually slow jackpot growth, since it may cut ticket sales by more than 1/2. Many players that buy only one ticket will not play as much or not play at all anymore, while the "system" players who regularly buy many tickets will probably only buy half as much. The ja... [ More ]

Reply #10

guesser — Wed, 04 Oct 2006 18:42:18 GMT

And one day we will look back, remembering when 1 in 146 million were GOOD odds........

Reply #9

Just6ntlc — Wed, 04 Oct 2006 18:38:19 GMT

On second thought, I think MM and PB should keep the odds where it is or increase the odds against winning a jackpot. I think they should keep it at $1 (except $2 for PP).

Reply #8

GASMETERGUY — Wed, 04 Oct 2006 18:06:08 GMT

If PB goes to $2 a ticket, I will cease buying. If Tennessee Cash 5 goes to $2 a ticket, I will cease buying.

Like so many others, I will toss $1 in change at the lotto when I buy something. At $2, I will keep my money in my pocket.

Reply #7

guesser — Wed, 04 Oct 2006 18:03:14 GMT

Yeah, I get a kick out of the 'I only play when it gets big' folks myself.

The way I see it, 15 million is 15 million more than I have now, and 150 million is 150 million more than I have now.

If I choose not to play, or skip a game or two, it's not because of the payout, it's because something doesn't make sense to me, like the

odds of it hitting 4 in a row.

It doesn't take much to win the lottery - all you have to do is guess the right numbers.... [ More ]

Reply #6

Prob988 — Wed, 04 Oct 2006 17:35:39 GMT

If the idea is to get bigger jackpots, I don't think it will work at all. It will effectively reduce the expectation value of the game and make more players frustrated. Most players don't think about the expectation value, but they do know that they are continually losing and making the situation worse will probably lead people away from the game.

In any case, the sales value of giant jackpots is not what it used to be. People are getting jaded.

There was a time that $15M was thoug... [ More ]

Reply #5

RJOh — Tue, 03 Oct 2006 17:36:54 GMT

Both groups in the past have had surveys for players to express their feelings about spending more money for a ticket and they have alway decided to keep it at a dollar. As a system player I prefer to buy more tickets and improve my chances of winning when I spend more money. With PowerBall and MegaMillions in Texas, players can chose to pay $2 for their tickets and at least double their winnings if and when they win one of the lower tier prizes.

Most losers alway feel they spent too muc... [ More ]

Reply #4

weshar75 — Tue, 03 Oct 2006 17:23:19 GMT

If I am going to shell out $2 for one line and then $2 for a powerplay the prizes better get alot better before I put $20 in Powerballs pocket each drawing for the chance at their jackpot. All of the prize levels should double if you are going to spend more money. I do not think it will happen.-weshar75

Reply #3

guesser — Tue, 03 Oct 2006 17:12:19 GMT

BAD idea IMO. (for PB)

MOST sales are to people that just want a QP - and they don't mind throwing a single dollar at something like the lottery.

Now, I said 'most people', those of us here buy more than one ticket, and there is a method to our madness, but the fact is, most tickets sold number less than 5 per person. You put $22 of gas in your car, you probably throw away a buck or two in change to a ticket or two.

Pack of smokes for $3.90 - throw them a $5 and splurge the... [ More ]

Reply #2

CASH Only — Tue, 03 Oct 2006 16:29:49 GMT

I've suggested that MUSL experiment with a $2 game by doubling the price of a Hot Lotto ticket. As many of you know, HL is a mini-version of PB, available by just 9 lotteries (10 next month).

Reply #1

Just6ntlc — Tue, 03 Oct 2006 06:58:29 GMT

dvidva, I think MM should increase the ticket price to $2 and increase the odds of winning jackpot from 176 million to 1 to about the odds of the current PB.

To MUSL and the Mega group

dvdiva — Tue, 03 Oct 2006 06:25:14 GMT

Grow a spine and raise the price of the ticket to $2.

Eventually it will be your only real option since raising the odds are a loosing game after a while. Jackpots were low in the Canadian 6/49 rarely reaching $12 million and sales were low and stagnant. They raised the price to $2 from $1. Many complained and whined. Now jackpots routinely break $20 million in cash and sales are fine. Euromillions started with a 2 euro ticket and holds the world record for highest cash prize with odds 100 m... [ More ]