Countdown to Powerball in Florida

Reply #39

RJOh — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 16:34:42 GMT

I've read posts of members who were concerned about that too but the way I look at it each drawing is new and what you did or didn't do in earlier drawings doesn't matter.

Reply #38

Guru101 — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 10:38:29 GMT

I can't believe so many people are concerned about which state contributes what. It's the lottery. Everybody is after the jackpot. I'm sure if someone in Florida won the jackpot, they wouldn't care about how much other states contributed.

Reply #37

KY Floyd — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 10:11:40 GMT

Yeah, but what if it was somebody who didn't play until it got over $150 million, or somebody who never bought a ticket until now? Worrying that it might have been somebody from Florida was a completely pointless exercise, regardless of the eventual outcome.

Reply #36

ThatScaryChick — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 05:08:47 GMT

I also wouldn't be surprised. In fact, I would be stunned if they didn't change the matrix. I am guessing there have been talks going on with TPTB to up the matrix with MM.

Reply #35

Badger — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 04:18:53 GMT

My state is a PB state, but to me, what's the difference? Minimum jp 12M or 20M, if I would hit it I could live the rest of my life quite nicely on either of those cash value. I'm not looking to change the world, just live easy.

Reply #34

RJOh — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 02:30:45 GMT

One thing the matrix change did is make PowerBall one up on MegaMillions with a minimum jackpot of $20M while MM starts at $12M and has to roll a couple of times before reaching that amount. I wouldn't be surprised if MM doesn't find a reason to change its matrix and change the starting jackpot.

Reply #33

Badger — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 23:31:12 GMT

So much for the matrix change meaning much. Just like that, BINGO ! we have a Jackpot winner.

Still the same as before D@mn the odds and full speed ahead....if you have the winning combination, you have the winning combination. If its meant to be...well...just ask the Arizona Cardinals

Reply #32

RJOh — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 20:37:33 GMT

Now that the PB jackpot has had its first win since the matrix change and adding Florida and it wasn't in Florida, players can stop worrying about Floridians winning a jackpot that they had not fully contributed to.

Reply #31

BuyLow — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 18:11:14 GMT

I'm gonna keep playing the Fl Lottery and Powerball.

Come on big winner!!! Daddy needs a new pair of shoes. I also plan on helping many people less fortunate than me.

Here's info from the Fl Lottery website:

Starting in January, America s game will be available in Florida! With jackpots starting at $20 million and increasing with each rollover, POWERBALL offers players the chance to win BIG for just $1 per play. And, for an additional $1, players can multiply their non... [ More ]

Reply #30

OldSchoolPa — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 17:19:18 GMT

I sense that 2009 is my year, so it doesn't matter how they change PB. Heck, I even dropped the extra buck or two on the Florida Lotto's new increase the jackpot scheme a couple of times (when I happened to be passing through Florida).

Right now, I have a buck riding on future draws for PB (until this Saturday, then I will play max advance play...will seriously consider powerplay now that 2nd tier prize is guaranteed $1M before taxes), MM, Florida Lotto, and Illinois Lotto (it is now at $25M.... [ More ]

Reply #29

dphillips — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 16:56:21 GMT

I don't want to be pessimistic and say I'll never win the jackpot, but considering the higher odds of winning it, I would be satisfied with the $1 million prize.

So, my lottery resolution for 2009 is to spend less money on POWERBALL, purchasing one or two tickets, instead of my five tickets (with Power PLAY), and concentrating my winning efforts toward Hot Lotto's first prize of $1 million.

Finally, each player's household budget differs: some players need that major jackpot to sustain the... [ More ]

Reply #28

guesser — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 06:00:10 GMT

Bob, I had some great theories; for awhile one hit on one number almost 100% for 6 months, then it went to 80%, then to about 40%, the problem is, that's only ONE number. But couple that with another theory I had, that one hit 95% - and still does, but now, that's only two numbers. And that's not good enough.

Reply #27

guesser — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 05:55:17 GMT

I believe they will have a new MC, and they are not going to RNG's.

And I don't think they raised the matrix BECAUSE Florida entered it.

Reply #26

justxploring — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 00:30:38 GMT

WINK (our local CBS station) just announced that stores will begin selling Powerball tickets on Sunday. It was on the 6:00 news and I just heard Lois Thome repeat it while I'm typing this post! Guess it's big news

Reply #25

RJOh — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 23:58:52 GMT

Florida Lotto - odds of winning jackpot ($3M+) 1:22,957,480

overall odds of winning any money 1:67.3 ($6+)

Mega Money - odds of winning jackpot ($500K+) 1:2,986,522

overall odds of winning any money 1:20.4 ($3+)

PowerBall - odds of winning jackpot ($20M+) 1:195,249,054

overall odds of winning any money 1:35.1 ($3+)

Winning the jackpot is almost impossible no matter which game you play but it's feeling that you can win something that keeps players coming back. The odds of winnin... [ More ]

Reply #24

GamerMom — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 18:07:04 GMT

wow the odds for Fantasy 5 are better than most top prizes on the scratch offs! Thanks for putting that out there for me; I definitely will stick to regular FL Lotto

Reply #23

justxploring — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 17:50:01 GMT

I just picked up the pamphlet the Florida Lottery has on Powerball at the stores. The odds are off the charts. Makes me wish I had purchased more Millionaire Raffle tickets. I realize this has been discussed already, but seeing everything spelled out for me in a brochure about the game makes me wonder why I'd play PB instead of Lotto or FL Mega when the odds of winning even the second prize are higher than other Florida games I haven't won. Still, if your dream is to win a huge jackpot, you prob... [ More ]

Reply #22

dphillips — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 17:11:21 GMT

For me, the matrix is high enough, but I do like the idea of winning all 5 numbers with a $1 million dollar payout. Presently, it is $200,000.

Now, what would the winners of the 4 numbers with the Powerball number receive? Would that payout increase to $20,000 -- instead of the $10,000 payout.

Finally, it seems as if 2009 is going to be an interesting year for Powerball players.

Reply #21

YeeHaw — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 03:40:23 GMT

If any of you guy's have a question, they have a qreat staff to answer any powerball questions. On the

home page of powerball under FAQ is the email link. They answer about 30 questions.

The link right near the bottom for Real Letters is funny. It's just examples of wacky questions they have

received. I wish they had the same sort of thing for Mega Millions. They just put a fun twist to the FAQ.

And make it more player friendly if you want to ask a question

Reply #20

ThatScaryChick — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 19:46:13 GMT

Sadly, I'm guessing no. There are a lot more people who play the lottery then visit here and I think that the matrix change will lead to bigger jackpots which in turn, will lead to more people playing, which will give the powers to be more money to line their pockets.

I wonder though. If Powerball really does start getting much bigger jackpots, how long will it be before Mega Millions decides to change their matrix

Reply #19

KY Floyd — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 07:49:43 GMT

If everyone on Lottery Post stopped playing for a draw, would the lotteries notice?

Not a chance. Even with a minimum jackpot, sales generally start at about 13 million tickets or so. Even if all of the regular posters and 20 times as many lurkers stopped playing completely it wouldn't reduce sales by 1%.

My understanding of both the PowerBall and MegaMillions games is that states are responsible for all prizes except the jackpot

That is how it works, but there are definitely special... [ More ]

Reply #18

RJOh — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 21:25:04 GMT

The fortune cookie PB a couple of years ago resulted in (off the top of my head) 111 or 121 2nd place winners, or which perhaps 15 or 20% had the powerplay option. MUSL could have split the actual amount in the prize pool among all of the winners, but they chose to honor the fixed value.

My understanding of both the PowerBall and MegaMillions games is that states are responsible for all prizes except the jackpot of which each participating state contribute 32% of their sale receipts. MUSL is

Reply #17

BobP — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 19:36:11 GMT

While I agree there is no point where people won't buy a chance if the prize is big enough. I believe there is a point where people will stop trying to win with systems and strategies. Simply too many variables to contend with.

If everyone on Lottery Post stopped playing for a draw, would the lotteries notice?

BobP

Reply #16

KY Floyd — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 06:48:34 GMT

I don't see why people complain about the steeper odds. The odds when PB first started were ridiculously high, and even the odds of any state game with jackpots of $1 million or more are high enough that you don't have any real chance of winning. Even for the relatively low odds of 1 in 10 million, playing $1000 per year would mean you could only expect to win once every 10,000 years. The jackpots are going to get very big every few months, and you can take the chance or not. My guess is that th... [ More ]

Reply #15

KY Floyd — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 06:40:04 GMT

The lotteries always have the ability to protect their own interests. Normally, only the jackpot is paid as a parimutuel prize (with CA being the exception, due to state law), and the vast majority of the time a 5+0 win will get you the fixed prize. OTOH, on those rare occasions where there are an unusually high number of winners, the lottery has the option to pay prizes as parimutuel prizes. AKAIK, that has never happened with PB or MM, and it probably hasn't happened with any game with odds th... [ More ]

Reply #14

Coin Toss — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 19:46:51 GMT

Justx said:

BTW, expect a few people to win in FL because of the population. I'mexpecting some people to post conspiracy theory type comments whenthis happens, but FL is the 4th most populous state next to CA, TX andNY. During the busy season, the population in some areas doubles. Soit won't surprise me to see a couple of million dollar winners in FL,especially from January-March.

This is all news radio, Miami.

After the lottery drawing we will play the new hit by JustX and the Singin... [ More ]

Reply #13

justxploring — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 18:43:23 GMT

Now I'm confused. I thought the $1 million for the second prize was a lump sum and it wasn't split. Is this the way it is with Powerball? I never realized 2nd prizes were split. AFAIK if you get 5 white balls you automatically win a million bucks (less tax)

BTW, expect a few people to win in FL because of the population. I'm expecting some people to post conspiracy theory type comments when this happens, but FL is the 4th most populous state next to CA, TX and NY. During the busy season, the... [ More ]

Reply #12

joshuacloak — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 18:32:29 GMT

onless 70+ plus others do to, and you have to share via a prize pool,

od forbid in 1 draw ever few years they ever have to pay up to 70+ or more winners on the 2nd prize level

they know its a ticking time bomb waiting to happen

so they dealing with such a event before it even happens

, by giving them selfs a loophole

its a cop out by pb ,

they always make a profit, so just pay up when a famous set of numbers gets hit you greedy beeps

Reply #11

MaddMike51 — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 16:37:07 GMT

But I do like the fact that if you get all 5 white balls and you chose the power play option you win a million dollars and there is no annuity on it.

Reply #10

Coin Toss — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 15:15:11 GMT

I'll never understand the 'sharks in a feeding frenzy' reaction to a Multi-state lottery ading another state (except for those who live in the new state and will get a chance to play).

All expansion of the game does is make a game with already astronomical odds have even more astronomical odds.

There should be laws about only being allowed to expand a matrix so much.

Granted, with the new PB matrix one side of the game will be reduced, but watch what happens to the odds against hiting t... [ More ]

Reply #9

MaddMike51 — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 13:36:04 GMT

I hope they still use live dropped balls don't go to RNG's.I hope the drawing is still televised here in Iowa and I hope they replace Mike Pace with someone easier on the eyes (female).

Reply #8

JimmySand9 — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 13:28:08 GMT

What I'm looking forward to most is how the drawings are going to change. Lotto and Mega Money will be held at the same time as Fantasy 5 to make room for the Powerball drawings, which will the Florida Lottery will be conducting from 1/7/09 on. I will miss Mike Pace though.

Reply #7

GamerMom — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 12:50:49 GMT

Reply #6

joshuacloak — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 09:55:44 GMT

maybe this current pb run wont be won before the matrix change happens

that be something, 100 million plus jackpot, with new odds and more players,

it be a nice test to see how fast we can make this thing grow

sense more money per ticket will also go to the jackpot!

here to hoping new jackpot records for 2009!

the second prize level will never be less than 5X with powerplay 1m in cash

but their 1 issue with it

In very rare instances,... [ More ]

Reply #5

Guru101 — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 07:40:02 GMT

I will win.

Reply #4

ch687 — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 05:50:09 GMT

It isn't that bad, but in a way it is because the odds are insane so now its going to be harder to win with another state added and white balls add and PB's removed. I will still play though. I must win

Reply #3

Stew12 — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 05:41:05 GMT

I'm more excited about the drop in PB's than I am discouraged at the raise in WB's.

I'm fine with winning the jackpot minimum though.

Reply #2

justxploring — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 05:29:12 GMT

I think I'll stick to the games I already play in Florida. I already spend too much as it is. I think the odds of winning are way too high.

Reply #1

ThatScaryChick — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 05:24:43 GMT

For me, I am basically done with Powerball. I am not happy about the matrix change. I know there are people who are apparently happy with the thought of more 200 million and 300 million dollar jackpots, but I can't see why one would be happy to see the odds of the game going up. It's hard enough as it is to win anything in the first place (and that includes lower prizes), so now we get more numbers? I think it sucks.

Countdown to Powerball in Florida

BobP — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 04:25:08 GMT

In Florida Powerball tickets go on sale Jan 4th and the first draw is Jan 7th how much does this matter to you? Even if you are in another PB state the game matrix is raised because Florida was added. Is that fair or just a way to grow the prize now that so many more people will be playing?

BobP