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do you think the powerball matrix will be changed in 2005?

yes

[ 10 ]

[ 45.5% ]

[ 7 ]

[ 31.8% ]

maybe

[ 5 ]

[ 22.7% ]

Total valid votes

[ 22 ]

Discarded votes

[ 0 ]

dvdiva

United States
Member #2,338
September 17, 2003
2,063 Posts
Offline

Mar 1, 2005, 5:59 pm

Powerball is really in the dumps right now. People really excited about the low jackpots should skip multi-state games and just play state lottery games since in the case of powerball the jackpot would be higher and the odds MUCH better than powerball.

I would hope they could push the odds to around 180 million to one soon. Otherwise their sales will really tank as an improved Megamillions goes on line.
weshar75

Mcminnville, Oregon
United States
Member #3,013
December 13, 2003
6,173 Posts
Offline

Mar 1, 2005, 7:33 pm

I wonder if their is a state that will be ready to join the powerball this year so they can change the matrix to rival mega milliions?
Annual Payments

Houston, TX
United States
Member #9,841
December 23, 2004
236 Posts
Offline

Mar 1, 2005, 8:00 pm

no! it'll make it harder to win. It's already hard enough.
dvdiva

United States
Member #2,338
September 17, 2003
2,063 Posts
Offline

Mar 2, 2005, 12:06 am

I don't think you get it. The difference between 135 million and 180 million to win isn't very much per ticket but would be enough to get much higher jackpots. If 135 or 180 is too much that's what state lotteries are for. Eventually dwindling sales will force them to change. No one wants a game with crummy jackpots and high odds. Its either low jackpots and low odds (some state games), high jackpots and low odds (like the Quinto game right now) or very high jackpots with really bad odds.

Even quinto with it's 2.6 million to one odds is still a very remote win.

States make lotteries like powerball possible so as to generate tax revenue. Powerball sales are saging as this long string of low jackpots continue.
Blalron

Oregon
United States
Member #11,764
February 23, 2005
46 Posts
Offline

Mar 2, 2005, 2:23 am

They ought to at least double the minimum guaranteed jackpot. 10 million just doesn't excite me much, especially knowing that it's only about 3.3 million after lump sum and taxes figure into it.
LOTTOMIKE

Tennessee
United States
Member #7,853
October 15, 2004
11,352 Posts
Offline

Mar 2, 2005, 3:11 pm

i haven't played powerball in a couple months,i'll stick to the pick 5......
weshar75

Mcminnville, Oregon
United States
Member #3,013
December 13, 2003
6,173 Posts
Offline

Mar 2, 2005, 3:19 pm

I would rather have long odds of winning than higher ticket prices.
ryanm

Morrison, IL
United States
Member #4,657
May 13, 2004
1,885 Posts
Offline

Mar 2, 2005, 5:36 pm

Quote: Originally posted by Blalron on March 1, 2005

Cash is simply tbe best option if you like having more money. Ask any financial expert and they will tell you the same thing. As far as I can tell, every single Powerball winner from the past two years has chosen cash instead of annuity. There's probably a reason for that.
If you want an annuity you can get exactly the same effect by investing in treasury bonds (which is what the state does for you if you pick annuity) and if you get sick of the Annual Payments later down the road and change your mind, you'd still have the option of cashing in those bonds and getting your "lump sum" back.
If you choose the annual payments option, you are stuck with annual payments and you can't reverse your decision.

Well, you people have changed my mind about what option I'd choose if I won a jackpot. I always thought the annuity was better, but now I guess it's cold hard cash. I'd even go one step farther and instead of treasury bonds, I'd invest in municipal bonds so I could receive interest tax-free!
JimmySand9

United States
Member #1,826
July 11, 2003
2,645 Posts
Offline

Mar 2, 2005, 6:32 pm

Quote: Originally posted by weshar75 on March 2, 2005

I would rather have long odds of winning than higher ticket prices.

(insert signature here)
CASH Only

United States
Member #379
June 5, 2002
11,296 Posts
Offline

Mar 2, 2005, 6:38 pm

Blalron:
CA, NY, and TX require the cash/annuity choice when you PLAY, instead of after winning.
MPJO

Redmond WA
United States
Member #5,966
July 29, 2004
71 Posts
Offline

Mar 2, 2005, 7:21 pm

I think Powerball will go 5/53 and 1/49.
Florida would do the best with Mega Millions.
CASH Only

United States
Member #379
June 5, 2002
11,296 Posts
Offline

Mar 10, 2005, 2:47 pm

PB will reduce the red balls IMO.
LOTTOMIKE

Tennessee
United States
Member #7,853
October 15, 2004
11,352 Posts
Offline

Mar 19, 2005, 6:50 pm

i played one quick pick for tonight.....
LOTTOMIKE

Tennessee
United States
Member #7,853
October 15, 2004
11,352 Posts
Offline

Mar 29, 2005, 4:33 pm

anyone heard anything else on the matrix changes?
LOTTOMIKE

Tennessee
United States
Member #7,853
October 15, 2004
11,352 Posts
Offline

Apr 1, 2005, 12:32 am

after the march 30th drawing they need to start thinking of changes or powerball will end up with more winners than losers before long......

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