I've passed through this site on and off since Jack Whittaker. I finally decided to register today because of a disturbing attitude from some members here.
I don't understand how adding the Match 5 pool to the ultimate jackpot winner does the lottery any good. One or two people here are positively foaming off at the mouth at the supposed 'rip off' of not allowing a new record to be hit ('it could roll to half a billion dollars!'), versus making more people winners of bigger cash amounts. I remember the old Lotto America game. There were no prizes for hitting 3 numbers, or 2 numbers or 1 number. The Powerball concept was so attractive precisely BECAUSE so many more people could share in the jackpot. That was when the Powerball starting jackpot was a now humble 2 million dollars, paid out in 20 year installments or cash' and the big winners, the big jackpots were those which reached the ungodly sum of 40 million, let alone 60 million. More people played, more people won, the jackpots increased because so many more people won, and most people were happy.
I love the idea of the Match 5 pool being shared out among ALL winners, from the humble single powerball to the 5 plus no powerball. But I understand why it would be divied up among those who had hit 2nd place in a major record setting jackpot. How heart-breaking to be one number away from nearly a half billion dollars, and to settle for 100,000 (or now 200,000) or the even lowlier 5,000 prize. Sharing the pool out means you still have your record setting jackpot, but now you also have more people feeling good about the lottery because if they don't hit The Big One, they still have a chance to hit A Very Nice Nest Egg.
What is a single powerball winner going to do with the extra money anyway? After a while, it's doesn't mean anything when the numbers are that big. At least, it doesn't mean anything to the already record setting winner. But it will mean something to those lower tier winners who didn't win the jackpot, but can still live a little of the dream of being a multi millionaire or close to it. More winners equals more players down the road.
So... again, why the greed from some here who want a winner take all approach to the jackpot? Why not just go back to the old Lotto America type system, where substantially less people win? Or -- to hell with it -- no winners at all except the jackpot winner? you'll have your super mega record setting billion dollar jackpot pay-out ...... and no players. but that is what you greedy folks want, right?