Alaska United States
Member #16,216
May 27, 2005
287 Posts
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I play whenever I have some extra cash or and a good feeling. It doesn't matter what the jackpot is. I think someone is gonna win this Friday. Hope it's me. -Bonnie
United States
Member #2,338
September 17, 2003
2,063 Posts
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The problem is this isn't euromillions. If it were 100 million cash tax free I'd be really happy to play. As it is, you only win 1/3 of the prize assuming you have no state income tax.
USA United States
Member #8,242
October 29, 2004
1,133 Posts
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Powerball is on a streak. We've had one jackpot go over $100 million. How many has MM had this year? I've already lost count. (I think they are about to add another to the list). Anyway, as a powerball player I'm getting jealous of MM. I know not every jackpot is going to get over $100 million but right now it seems like Powerball is in a slump. One good thing that will come out of it... When powerball bounces back to a $200 million PB players should respond well.
You should be happy that someone can win a pot under a 100 million. With mm you get the feeling it's rigged when noone gets lucky and wins a small pot.
Tis true. When was the last time a MM jackpot at $10 million was won? ... or even under $20 million?
FLORIDA United States
Member #5,364
July 1, 2004
88 Posts
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Yeah, but do you play to win, or to raise the jackpot? You seriously would not play Mega Millions at $63 million if you knew it was rigged so there wouldn't be a winner until it was over $100 million.
I play starting at the $100 Million level only 'cause I take a slight trip to get to Georgia to buy the tickets. If Mega was cheating with the first 11 or 12 draws I wouldn't play and something tells me most of the people here wouldn't play.
It would introduce quite a few other options like select a state to win where they have a winner in a state to raise slumping sales. Eventually you know they would get caught and goodbye mega and possibly goodbye most multi-state lotteries.
I don't feel that it's fixed or even ethically challenged like the folks running the Texas lottery appear to be acting at the moment. I think it's just the size of the odds. It's possible that towards the end of the year we run into a series of sub $50 Million runs it is after all a game of chance.
I wont give up on mega yet and neither should you folks that get the game up to $100 Million for me!
USA United States
Member #8,242
October 29, 2004
1,133 Posts
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You know, I was thinking. For maximum credibility-purposes, all lotteries when they can find someone, should have a player who is willing to... be the one to start the televised ball drawing off... a local person, just like you or me.
That and figure out a way to no longer need to record our number combinations.
United States
Member #2,338
September 17, 2003
2,063 Posts
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If powerball had the matrix I suggested (185 million to one) plus the they dumped the rule for record pots only going up by a meager amount they would have jackpots Mega couldn't reach.
Maryland United States
Member #10,465
January 14, 2005
6,369 Posts
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I don't think anyone who has won a 10million dollar jackpot is complaining about their new found fortunes. They may wish it were higher, but I bet you will never see anyone give it back and say "I think I will wait until the jackpot gets larger".
The 10 mill. also gives the true players a more funds to bet on those larger jackpots also if they wish to obtain a larger sum.
I know this comment many tick some of you off, but I'd welcome any big jackpot that's going to pay me anything over a half a mill. after taxes.
FLORIDA United States
Member #5,364
July 1, 2004
88 Posts
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If powerball had the matrix I suggested (185 million to one) plus the they dumped the rule for record pots only going up by a meager amount they would have jackpots Mega couldn't reach.
Could putting the odds too high in comparison to the amount of players available for powerball at this time be counterproductive?
Although we like to think the purpose of the game is to give us a huge check* for millions. The real purpose of the game is to provide the M.U.S.L. members revenue outside of their normal tax bases.
If the odds are too high are we going to see an almost drought of activity till the DSC barrier of $100 Million** is reached? If the game stops bringing in say between $10 to $13 Million per draw in the early stages I thing it's safe to say they'll again tinker with the game.
Of course if the sales drop the opposite tack from higher odds might then be taken by M.U.S.L. where it gets turned back into something similar or even worse than powerball's current matrix. If that knee jerk reaction is taken without forethought it could lead to the game getting hit before $30 Million almost every series of draws.
The one thing I know for certain is I guess I'm too filled with self doubt at times to run a lottery.
* Or checks for our annuity biased friends!
** The Deadsantaclaus $100,000,000 road trip barrier! Where the big-2 games seem to enter into higher sales and interest during a series of draws.
Morrison, IL United States
Member #4,657
May 13, 2004
1,885 Posts
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If powerball had the matrix I suggested (185 million to one) plus the they dumped the rule for record pots only going up by a meager amount they would have jackpots Mega couldn't reach.
Even if that happened, it would still take so long for Powerball to get up to a record level it would be unlikely that there wouldn't be a jackpot winner before it got there. Unless Powerball has an immediate guaranteed hold on Florida and every state that will be new to playing the lottery game, such a matrix would not have much effect, other than possibly more $100+ million jackpots.
United States
Member #16,611
June 2, 2005
3,493 Posts
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I wished that Powerball and Mega Millions makes it harder for to win the jackpot. California SLP had 3 jackpot winners in a row in 2003 and 2004 with their current matrix.