Just the Jackpot

Reply #35

Kingofearth — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 04:04:25 GMT

Gosh dammit, the MM change is less than 3 months away and yet no one seems to have a detailed article on the MM changes, especially JTJ. Is it really too difficult for the state lotteries to publish a one sentence press release saying whether they'll join JTJ or not

Reply #34

Kingofearth — Sun, 23 Jul 2017 15:18:48 GMT

You can self-pick them.

Don't know whether it'll be available online given that Texas was the only one to say anything about the game.

Reply #33

WhoaMama — Fri, 21 Jul 2017 16:36:51 GMT

Will Just The Jackpot be limited to quick picks? Or can you choose your own numbers as well?

Also will it be available online in some state lotteries like Michigan

Reply #32

Kingofearth — Sun, 16 Jul 2017 23:36:51 GMT

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mega_Millions#Versions_of_.28The_Big_Game.29_Mega_Millions

When Mega Millions started the odds were 53 Million to 1 to win the jackpot, I know it's unrelated to Just the jackpot but WOW. The old really did have amazing odds back in the distant past.

Reply #31

Kingofearth — Sun, 09 Jul 2017 01:34:05 GMT

Everyone likes to complain that PB only doubles the million dollar silver medal, but the lack of that may be MM's Achilles heel. If even 8 people get 5+0's when the Megapiler is 5, they're screwed. The odds to get a 5+0 are about to get MUCH better from 18 Million to 1 to 12 Million to 1.

Reply #30

Kingofearth — Fri, 07 Jul 2017 22:33:02 GMT

At least in the meantime it would roll and roll until it gets to a large amount. Hopefully the change creates another billion dollar jackpot

Reply #29

RJOh — Fri, 07 Jul 2017 17:57:39 GMT

Looks likes MM is trying to outdo PB, I hope it doesn't outdo itself and can't be sustainable as Ohio's Super Lotto did a few years ago.

Reply #28

Kingofearth — Fri, 07 Jul 2017 06:45:23 GMT

http://www.mega-millions.com/changes-2017

Mega Millions will not only start at 40 Million, but it'll have $15 Million dollar Minimum increases.

Reply #27

Kingofearth — Tue, 04 Jul 2017 18:25:29 GMT

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mega_Millions#October_2017_format.2Fprice_point_change

Looks like Texas, Georgia, Massachusetts, Ohio and South Dakota are adding J the J.

Reply #26

Kingofearth — Wed, 21 Jun 2017 01:38:01 GMT

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mega_Millions#October_2017_format.2Fprice_point_change

Looks like Texas, Georgia, Massachusetts and South Dakota are adding J the J.

Reply #25

Kingofearth — Mon, 19 Jun 2017 18:25:14 GMT

I apologize for my outburst, i misinterpreted what you were trying to say.

I had two questions when i created the thread

1) Is it real - That's been answered.

2) What states are adding Just the Jackpot - The Texas rules don't state who will be in it it or not thus it won't help me to read the minutes as i won t know whether Florida, New York or any other state will offer it or not.

I understand you are trying to help, but that's not what I was asking about. I play for the dreams and... [ More ]

Reply #24

bobby623 — Mon, 19 Jun 2017 18:06:03 GMT

Sorry, didn't mean to upset you or anybody else.

Lets review the facts.

1. There is only ONE Mega Millions game.

2. Yes, just about every state offers the game.

3. Proceeds from ticket sales are divided, according to the contracts between the MUSL and the participating states.

4. There is ONE set of rules governing how the game is played.

5. Participating states must play by the rules.

6. Participating state lotteries must approve the revised contracts.

7. Texas lottery l... [ More ]

Reply #23

Kingofearth — Mon, 19 Jun 2017 17:17:21 GMT

I created this a month before the Texas lottery published the game rules. Are you too blind to see the date or too dumb to not understand?

BTW, Texas lottery rules don't really offer any help for the rest of us, hopefully you understand that there's more states in the US than just Texas.

Reply #22

bobby623 — Mon, 19 Jun 2017 15:24:16 GMT

Why rely on LP comments?

Go to www.txlottery.org , and read the actual, for real, no doubt about it, game rules.

Another example of how little many gamblers know about the games they play.

Reply #21

Kingofearth — Mon, 19 Jun 2017 15:15:12 GMT

Looks like Texas is adding J the J

Reply #20

Kingofearth — Tue, 30 May 2017 04:40:01 GMT

Prepare to wait a lonnnnnnnnnnng time to buy a Just the Jackpot ticket given that a cash option of $856 Million would require a jackpot of 1.4 Billion+ and the probability of multiple winners makes it virtually impossible for you to buy a JtJ ticket.

Reply #19

KY Floyd — Thu, 25 May 2017 06:04:27 GMT

The breakeven point for Just the Jackpot is roughly $454MM cash

Expectation value should be based on what you would really get, and I'd be expecting to pay income tax on the jackpot. Based on living in NY and the current top federal tax bracket I'd put the break-even point at about $856 million.

Reply #18

Teddi — Thu, 25 May 2017 05:07:38 GMT

Agreed. Godawful odds. But I've been waiting on them to rework themselves into becoming Powerball 2.0

It's a lazy way of dealing with the problem. And when the problem inevitably repeats itself, they'll once again raise the price, worsen the odds, and hope we won't notice if they make the starting pot and rollovers larger.

But considering the JP only rolled by $25 million on a quarter billion dollar prize, seems they just don't get it.

Reply #17

LottoMetro — Wed, 24 May 2017 01:43:36 GMT

So I did some calculations on this option and it is actually going to be a better deal for big jackpots.

In terms of per dollar expected value, any cash jackpot over $224,500,000 the player should only play just the jackpot option.

Match Tier White Balls Bonus Probability Prize EV/$ Just the Jackpot EV/$

Jackpot 5 1 0.0000000033 $224,500,000 $0.3710 $0.4946

5 of 5 5 0 0.0000000793 $1,000,000 $0.0397 $0.0000

4 of 5 + MB 4 1 0.0000010741 $10,000 $0.0054 $0.0000

4 of 5 4

Reply #16

Kingofearth — Mon, 08 May 2017 00:19:49 GMT

Occasional players will. Most players buy tickets with the goal of winning the jackpot, hundreds of million dollar silver medals (5+0's) have gone unclaimed after all.

Reply #15

LottoMetro — Sun, 07 May 2017 20:15:01 GMT

Several lotteries have already packaged draw games such that the player gets additional jackpot chances for less than the cost of another ticket. The idea, I think, partially stems from the fact that millions more people throw away more money when the jackpot is enormous (they don't care about the little prizes).

While the details of this option are not yet finalized, I believe that is the angle MM is going for.

Reply #14

Kingofearth — Sun, 07 May 2017 16:01:51 GMT

Thanks

Reply #13

RJOh — Sun, 07 May 2017 15:56:31 GMT

It would be like selling a chance to win the jackpot like a raffle except there's no guarantee someone would win. Who would buy such a ticket at even half the price

Reply #12

LottoMetro — Sun, 07 May 2017 01:30:38 GMT

Yes, this will be a real option. Information is sparse.

Reply #11

KY Floyd — Sat, 06 May 2017 21:25:44 GMT

I'm not sure it passes the sniff test. I haven't dug up the exact numbers for the new version of MM, but it should be pretty close to the breakdown for PB where a $2 ticket generates $1 that goes directly to the state, 68 cents towards the jackpot, and 32 cents towards the other prizes. I would assume that the 2nd line would also be required to pay the same 68 cents towards the jackpot, which would leave 32 cents for the state. They'd also get the 32 cents from the first $2 that wouldn't have to... [ More ]

Reply #10

Kingofearth — Fri, 05 May 2017 02:09:20 GMT

Does anyone know whether this is real and if so what states are gonna offer it

Reply #9

Kingofearth — Wed, 03 May 2017 21:02:10 GMT

It looks reliable but I would think Todd would have included atleast some mention of it in the News thread so I am hoping someone who knows about the source or the potential feature can confirm/deny that it'll be offered.

Reply #8

RJOh — Wed, 03 May 2017 15:32:42 GMT

Why not recheck the original source of that information? Is it reliable

Reply #7

Kingofearth — Wed, 03 May 2017 15:21:55 GMT

Do you know whether it's real or not

Reply #6

Todd — Wed, 03 May 2017 13:17:57 GMT

Reply #5

quicksloth35 — Wed, 03 May 2017 07:01:22 GMT

The undertone of my comment was that the person that won recently, won before all these wacky changes occur.

Reply #4

Kingofearth — Wed, 03 May 2017 01:16:40 GMT

I don't see how your comment is relevant? The feature, if it's real, wouldn't affect their win at all.

Reply #3

Kingofearth — Wed, 03 May 2017 01:14:22 GMT

That 50 cents can mean big savings for a lot of occasional players who are only interested in the huge jackpot that reached their buying threshold.

I'd never buy it because I like to pick my own numbers and so if some of the numbers come out, I'd be very annoyed at myself for not spending the extra money to buy it.

Reply #2

quicksloth35 — Tue, 02 May 2017 22:41:39 GMT

Betcha whoever won MM in CA a few days ago is more and more grateful for the timing of their win

Reply #1

Redd55 — Tue, 02 May 2017 22:23:33 GMT

If true, it is a $0.50 discount in exchange for much worse odds and a waiver of all the lesser prizes. IOW, more reason to say Adios, Mega Amiga

Just the Jackpot

Kingofearth — Tue, 02 May 2017 21:19:13 GMT

There's apparently a new feature that'll come out as part of the MM changes called Just the Jackpot.

Another new feature, called Just the Jackpot, will see participants pay $3 for two lines. However, they will only win a prize if they match all five main numbers and the Mega Ball and will not be eligible for non-jackpot prizes. It will be up to individual states to decide whether they wish to offer this option.

http://www.worldlottery.net/news/mega-millions-rules-to-change

Does an... [ More ]