Friday, the Texas Lottery Commission voted to propose rule amendments to the Mega Millions multi-state lottery game, which aim to make the game bigger than ever.
The proposed changes come after the California Lottery announced last month that it plans to become the 12th lottery member to join the multi-state game.
"We welcome the opportunity to work with the California Lottery, and having them as an addition to the Mega Millions game will help generate those larger jackpots that players like," said Reagan E. Greer, executive director of the Texas Lottery Commission. "Since Texas joined the game in December 2003, sales in Texas for Mega Millions and the Megaplier feature total more than $343.1 million. Of those sales, more than $136.3 million has been transferred to the Foundation School Fund, which helps support public education in Texas."
The new Mega Millions game is expected to begin this summer, and is projected to generate more than $67 million in additional revenue for Texas alone from sales for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2005 through Fiscal Year 2009.
"There are certainly some new aspects of the game changes that our players will want to be aware of," said Greer. "Overall though, I believe these changes will create a positive scenario for all players and the participating states."
Some of the proposed changes to Mega Millions include:
New Matrix: Players will choose five numbers from 1 to 56 and then a Mega Ball number from a second field of 1 to 46.
Higher Starting Jackpots: The starting grand/jackpot prize amount will change from $10 million to $12 million.
Higher Payouts For Second And Third Tier Prizes: The second prize level will change from $175,000 to $250,000 and the third prize level will change from $5,000 to $10,000.
Odds To Win Grand/Jackpot Prize: The odds of matching all the numbers and the Mega Ball for the grand/jackpot prize will change from 1 in 135 million to 1 in 175.7 million.
Better Overall Odds: The overall odds of winning any prize will be approximately 1 in 40.
There will be no changes made to Texas' Megaplier feature, in which players have the chance to double, triple or quadruple any non-grand/jackpot Mega Millions prize. That means players could have the chance to win up to $1 million for matching the first five numbers, but not the Mega Ball (second prize level) if the Megaplier number drawn is a 4.
The proposed changes will be published in the Texas Register for a 30-day public comment period, and a public hearing to comment on the proposed changes is scheduled for April 7, 2005, at 9 a.m. at Lottery headquarters in Austin.
It's not deception. Since Mega Millions is run by the states themselves, they each need to approve the changes within their state. Each state will go through a similar exercise.
Mega Millions rules are not imposed by one director, they are arrived at through consensus. This story indicates that the new rules will almost certainly go through with no problems.
I am just one who is not fond of the big Jackpots but if they did change it. My gosh the odds are overwhelming now at 1:135 million to change it to 1:175 million wow I am sure that there would be some huge JPs. But my opinion is of little value as I am sure the lure of big JPs will win out which is OK. I am fortunate enough to live in an area that borders a Power ball state so I shall just put that extra into power ball rather than Mega Millions
For those of you who do love the big JP's I also think that this is great for you>
bigger JP's and bigger second tier and third tier prizes. woo hoo!
I myself just don't see it------ the overwhelming desire for huge jackpot records and such but that is just me................ I would rather see 20- 10 million dollar winners than one 200 million dollar winner
Quote:Originally posted by MPJO on March 14, 2005
And besides if you win a big jackpot and you feel it's to big you can always share it with the members on this site.
Nobody ever felt the jackpot they won was too big, just the jackpots won by others.
i meant wait and see how ticket sales in california for mega millions turns out first before trying to change the matrix and such. This way we can get it right instead of just trying to guess how people in california are going to play. I'd like to see the new rules take effect Jan 2006.
Odds of winning the jackpot goes up 30%
The 2nd and 3rd prizes go up more than 30% so kinda nice.
Quote:Originally posted by jsk2001 on March 14, 2005
i meant wait and see how ticket sales in california for mega millions turns out first before trying to change the matrix and such. This way we can get it right instead of just trying to guess how people in california are going to play. I'd like to see the new rules take effect Jan 2006.
Odds of winning the jackpot goes up 30%
The 2nd and 3rd prizes go up more than 30% so kinda nice.
I agree with you. I'd rather that they wait, but lottery directors do not seem like patient people.
Quote:Originally posted by fxdwg on March 14, 2005 I am just one who is not fond of the big Jackpots but if they did change it. My gosh the odds are overwhelming now at 1:135 million to change it to 1:175 million wow I am sure that there would be some huge JPs. But my opinion is of little value as I am sure the lure of big JPs will win out which is OK. I am fortunate enough to live in an area that borders a Power ball state so I shall just put that extra into power ball rather than Mega Millions
, but huge jackpots remains to be seen. Btw, I won't be playing... not with those new odds!
Quote:Originally posted by jsk2001 on March 14, 2005
i meant wait and see how ticket sales in california for mega millions turns out first before trying to change the matrix and such. This way we can get it right instead of just trying to guess how people in california are going to play. I'd like to see the new rules take effect Jan 2006.
Odds of winning the jackpot goes up 30%
The 2nd and 3rd prizes go up more than 30% so kinda nice.
Exactly. I posted similar words a short time ago. My reasoning is paper does not always parallel reality.
I for one will continue to play. I play $3.00 per draw and will continue - regardless of the odds. My chances of winning may be mathematically better at 135 million to 1, but in reality if it's meant for me to win, I'll win even if the odds are 1 billion to 1....
Adding four more numbers to the matrix is really not that big a deal in the big picture. Reducing the Mega ball to 46 would be good, but not important. I personally play Mega Millions as a 5-25 game and aim for the $750,000 prize. I don't hold my breath on the mega ball side of the game. Here in Texas, as you-all know, we have the Megaplier feature. I wish all states in the system could have it because, under the new matrix, you would risk $2 to win $1,000,000. Not a bad deal on a 5-56 game. Keep pushing for the Megaplier, you deserve the option.
Quote:Originally posted by fxdwg on March 14, 2005 I am just one who is not fond of the big Jackpots but if they did change it. My gosh the odds are overwhelming now at 1:135 million to change it to 1:175 million wow I am sure that there would be some huge JPs. But my opinion is of little value as I am sure the lure of big JPs will win out which is OK. I am fortunate enough to live in an area that borders a Power ball state so I shall just put that extra into power ball rather than Mega Millions
Playing Powerball might not be a good alternative as they're considering increasing the odds of winning the jackpot as well.
I doubt WA state will even have a public discussion on what changes are to be made. Too bad its only 1:175 million, might not be enough of a change considering the number of new players. With Texas deciding things I have a feeling that it's already decided unless New York or California decides differently.
I personally would like to see even less Megaballs with greater odds coming from an increase in white balls with bigger prizes for 5 white balls and no Megaball.
Quote:Originally posted by dvdiva on March 15, 2005
I doubt WA state will even have a public discussion on what changes are to be made. Too bad its only 1:175 million, might not be enough of a change considering the number of new players. With Texas deciding things I have a feeling that it's already decided unless New York or California decides differently.
That extra 40 million combinations should be enough to increase the average jackpot size. Even without the changes, Mega Millions seems to have longer jackpot runs recently than they did in 2003.
I don't really think a change is needed right now. 1 in 135 million seems like enough for now. I agree with jsk2001 that the consortium needs to simply observe what happens in real life, because predicting players habits is about as impossible as predicting the numbers. Look at the change to the current matrix. They were predicting $400,000,000+ jackpots, and they still haven't broken the old Big Game record yet. Of course there is one player habit that can be counted on, and that's no balls=no players.
I agree. I would like to see no changes until 1 year after CA joins. Before they increase the odds again, they should address why the anticipated and advertised $300-500 million jackpots didn't happen even before TX & CA joined. Personally, I'm glad the $300-500 million jackpot never happened, since I don't think anyone really needs more than $30 million and having more winners makes it more fun. No winner week after week is not only dreary, it reminds you how bad the odds are. But the lottery should be put on the hot seat for an explanation before they change the odds again.
The fact is that 1 in 135,000,000 is bad odds, and 1 in 175,000,000 is only incrementally worse. I probably won't win with 1 in 135,000,000, what's 40 million more? If you are going to overcome impossible odds, why not have them be even more impossible. The positive thing for me is that the odds of winning any prize will go from 1:43 to 1:40. So I'll continue to play one ticket a drawing and hope I can disappoint the lottery by winning the lowest possible jackpot.
Quote:Originally posted by JimmySand9 on March 15, 2005
I don't really think a change is needed right now. 1 in 135 million seems like enough for now. I agree with jsk2001 that the consortium needs to simply observe what happens in real life, because predicting players habits is about as impossible as predicting the numbers. Look at the change to the current matrix. They were predicting $400,000,000+ jackpots, and they still haven't broken the old Big Game record yet. Of course there is one player habit that can be counted on, and that's no balls=no players.
Quote:Originally posted by tg636 on March 16, 2005
... Personally, I'm glad the $300-500 million jackpot never happened, since I don't think anyone really needs more than $30 million and having more winners makes it more fun....
Well now we really get to the root of it. People who like free choice and those who don't. This isn't the CCCP is America and you should have a choice. If you don't like games with big jackpots and terrible odds then don't play. There are plenty of state games with smaller jackpots and much better odds. I want games with really high jackpots, the 100+ million in sales that occurs when record jackpots happen shows lots of other people think the same way. Simple fact is there are people who make far more money from inheritance and business then could ever be won in a lottery. The only way someone like me could get a lot of money is the lottery but lame people like you just want to take whatever snowball chance in hell I have of getting it.
I'm confused.
Texas is just one of 11 states. Does Greer speak for all of them?
When did Greer get appointed head honcho? I thought the guy in Maryland was the executive
director for MM.
What happens should several of the states opt for a different matrix?
I don't think the MM members can have different games.
Hard not to think that this is more deception by TLC.
It's not deception. Since Mega Millions is run by the states themselves, they each need to approve the changes within their state. Each state will go through a similar exercise.
Mega Millions rules are not imposed by one director, they are arrived at through consensus. This story indicates that the new rules will almost certainly go through with no problems.
Maybe if all states had the megaplier i could support this. i'd rather they wait till after California joins before making any changes
They are going to wait. That's the point: they are readying the changes to implement once California joins.
I am just one who is not fond of the big Jackpots but if they did change it. My gosh the odds are overwhelming now at 1:135 million to change it to 1:175 million wow I am sure that there would be some huge JPs. But my opinion is of little value as I am sure the lure of big JPs will win out which is OK. I am fortunate enough to live in an area that borders a Power ball state so I shall just put that extra into power ball rather than Mega Millions
Looks like megamillions is going to set a new jackpot record with the new rule changes.
BTW
For those of you who do love the big JP's I also think that this is great for you>
bigger JP's and bigger second tier and third tier prizes. woo hoo!
I myself just don't see it------ the overwhelming desire for huge jackpot records and such but that is just me................ I would rather see 20- 10 million dollar winners than one 200 million dollar winner
I think this is a good change since California has a population of
about 35 million people which will bring the Mega Millions
states total population to about 150 million people.
All they need to do now is add Florida and we will see a $500 million
jackpot.
And besides if you win a big jackpot and you feel it's to big you can always share it with the members on this site.
i meant wait and see how ticket sales in california for mega millions turns out first before trying to change the matrix and such. This way we can get it right instead of just trying to guess how people in california are going to play. I'd like to see the new rules take effect Jan 2006.
Odds of winning the jackpot goes up 30%
The 2nd and 3rd prizes go up more than 30% so kinda nice.
I for one will continue to play. I play $3.00 per draw and will continue - regardless of the odds. My chances of winning may be mathematically better at 135 million to 1, but in reality if it's meant for me to win, I'll win even if the odds are 1 billion to 1....
OH is currently considering the changes.
Adding four more numbers to the matrix is really not that big a deal in the big picture. Reducing the Mega ball to 46 would be good, but not important. I personally play Mega Millions as a 5-25 game and aim for the $750,000 prize. I don't hold my breath on the mega ball side of the game. Here in Texas, as you-all know, we have the Megaplier feature. I wish all states in the system could have it because, under the new matrix, you would risk $2 to win $1,000,000. Not a bad deal on a 5-56 game. Keep pushing for the Megaplier, you deserve the option.
Orangeman
Playing Powerball might not be a good alternative as they're considering increasing the odds of winning the jackpot as well.
I doubt WA state will even have a public discussion on what changes are to be made. Too bad its only 1:175 million, might not be enough of a change considering the number of new players. With Texas deciding things I have a feeling that it's already decided unless New York or California decides differently.
I personally would like to see even less Megaballs with greater odds coming from an increase in white balls with bigger prizes for 5 white balls and no Megaball.
That extra 40 million combinations should be enough to increase the average jackpot size. Even without the changes, Mega Millions seems to have longer jackpot runs recently than they did in 2003.
I don't really think a change is needed right now. 1 in 135 million seems like enough for now. I agree with jsk2001 that the consortium needs to simply observe what happens in real life, because predicting players habits is about as impossible as predicting the numbers. Look at the change to the current matrix. They were predicting $400,000,000+ jackpots, and they still haven't broken the old Big Game record yet. Of course there is one player habit that can be counted on, and that's no balls=no players.
will oklahoma be a powerball or mega state?
Well now we really get to the root of it. People who like free choice and those who don't. This isn't the CCCP is America and you should have a choice. If you don't like games with big jackpots and terrible odds then don't play. There are plenty of state games with smaller jackpots and much better odds. I want games with really high jackpots, the 100+ million in sales that occurs when record jackpots happen shows lots of other people think the same way. Simple fact is there are people who make far more money from inheritance and business then could ever be won in a lottery. The only way someone like me could get a lot of money is the lottery but lame people like you just want to take whatever snowball chance in hell I have of getting it.
OK almost certainly will join PB.