Zeta Reticuli Star System United States
Member #30,469
January 17, 2006
11,791 Posts
Offline
The future of Powerball and MegaMillions thread got me thinking about this.
At what point would you see a lottery game as odds just too great to even bother going up against?
5/60, 1/55... 5/65, 1/65, etc...
At what point?
PS
And do you think any lottery commission may monitor this board? There's an awful lot of information here....perhaps a thread like this does some of their own studies for them. Just a thought.
United States
Member #91
January 19, 2002
16,125 Posts
Offline
The future of Powerball and MegaMillions thread got me thinking about this.
At what point would you see a lottery game as odds just too great to even bother going up against?
5/60, 1/55... 5/65, 1/65, etc...
At what point?
PS
And do you think any lottery commission may monitor this board? There's an awful lot of information here....perhaps a thread like this does some of their own studies for them. Just a thought.
I think the odds are just too great now, I continue to play but I have become cheaper in purchasing tickets and I work harder on that Illusive selection of numbers.....Where I would spend $10 & $20 last year this year I just go $5 most of the time with an occasional $10.....
Mcminnville, Oregon United States
Member #3,013
December 13, 2003
6,173 Posts
Offline
I do not see the matrix in Powerball getting that far away from what is now because of the limited number of state that will join Powerball in the future. I only see maybe one or two more states that could possibly join powerball in the next 5 to 10 years. I play Powerball for entertainment any way so if the matrix does change it will not stop me from buy powerball tickets because it is just one big crap shoot.-weshar75
USA United States
Member #1,265
March 13, 2003
9,097 Posts
Offline
I would stop playing both MM and PBf the matrix went any higher. No more fun, no more entertainment which both are bordering on right now.
Sheesh, I believe most lottery commissions monitor this site on a regular basis. Lottery Post is too big, too many members to ignore although they probably erroneously refer to us as 'pajama clad bloggers" for the purpose of minimizing our impact.
However, look at the changes all "bloggers" are effecting all over the place and it's just in its infancy!!!
The Carolinas - Charlotte United States
Member #21,626
September 12, 2005
4,142 Posts
Offline
I would stop playing both MM and PBf the matrix went any higher. No more fun, no more entertainment which both are bordering on right now.
Sheesh, I believe most lottery commissions monitor this site on a regular basis. Lottery Post is too big, too many members to ignore although they probably erroneously refer to us as 'pajama clad bloggers" for the purpose of minimizing our impact.
However, look at the changes all "bloggers" are effecting all over the place and it's just in its infancy!!!
I would continue to play as I run a Lottery Club. The higher the jackpot, the more my group gets excited, even though you all and I both know the odds are so stacked up against everyone. I think the "thrill of the hunt" is what makes many of us play these large multi-state games, even though it is not profitable at best. There's nothing wrong with dreams and hope though...so I would continue to play, even though I am aware of the odds, the tax consequences, the impact of a matrix change, etc.
Now...going on the lottery commissions...YES! I completely agree with them monitoring the board. They are scared you-know-what-less that our de-facto group will render the lottery unprofitable, although considering the odds, it's impossible to do that. Maybe a few people in the long-run profit, but overall, there are WAY too many recreational players who don't understand odds - they figure that means 1, 3, 5, 7, etc. for anyone to make the lotteries lose money.
But I also agree that they have changed some rules as a result of the great family here at LP.
Portland Oregon United States
Member #23,304
October 10, 2005
47 Posts
Offline
Powerball odds of 1:146.1 million
Megamillions odds of 1:175.5 million
I like the idea of having an automatic "$1 million" winner if 5/5 white balls are hit. Forget the Powerplay option, and try to make a lot of millionaires. That is an amount that is worth shooting for, plus the odds of hitting 5/5 white balls is about 1: 3 million. Not too bad. They could even raise the number of white balls to increase the odds of hitting 5/5 white balls (on Powerball). Plus, this way the money is more evenly distributed instead of huge Jackpot winners.
Yes, a certain man at MUSL in Des Moines, Iowa does read the posts on this website. He has admitted it to me. So, keep up the good posts!
The Carolinas - Charlotte United States
Member #21,626
September 12, 2005
4,142 Posts
Offline
Yes, I agree...millionaire (taxes paid) first place winners would be a good alteration of the PB & MM games. In SC, you get your taxes paid for Cash-5 wins, so why couldn't PB & MM for the First Place (5/5 white balls)?
That is funny about the MUSL...I am trying to get in touch with their marketing guy actually in Des Moines for something.
Portland Oregon United States
Member #23,304
October 10, 2005
47 Posts
Offline
CPS10,
They people at MUSL won't give out their names when responding to emails to stay anonymous. But, if you get an email with a BLUE FONT that is this color, he is the GUY to talk to. He is very intelligent, has a good sense of humor, and he is the one that reads the posts on this website. You should try calling them instead of emailing. The phone number is on the website.
The Carolinas - Charlotte United States
Member #21,626
September 12, 2005
4,142 Posts
Offline
WW777 - thanks...yeah, I put in a product idea for them, and the general email response was to forward this idea to the guy (who it must have been anonymous) to see what he thought. Never got a response (this was last week sometime). I already might have the SC Lottery on board, so I wanted to pitch it to the MUSL since they have mass market appeal and a sale would be like hitting the lottery (closer than I could ever come to it! LOL).
There is a general number? I wonder if they have a merchandising department?
Portland Oregon United States
Member #23,304
October 10, 2005
47 Posts
Offline
cps10,
There aren't that many people who work at the MUSL headquarters in Des Moines, so just call the general number and ask for the proper person. Ask for the guy with the BLUE FONT in his emails. LOL. That will trip them out!
The Carolinas - Charlotte United States
Member #21,626
September 12, 2005
4,142 Posts
Offline
WW - I'll do that. Thanks for your help. I hope this is a million-dollar contract, that is, if they like the idea, which they should. I have bounced it around to a lot of people who love it. So, if MUSL bites on it, it's retirement time for CPS10! :)
United States
Member #2,338
September 17, 2003
2,063 Posts
Offline
Instead of changing the matrix (except for Euromillions) they should dump any limits to the jackpot prize and dump lame over inflated annuities. Dump all cap rules and rolldown rules. Dump inflated annuities that pay even less than half as a cash prize. Those are changes that have to be made.
The Carolinas - Charlotte United States
Member #21,626
September 12, 2005
4,142 Posts
Offline
WW - I might do that if the time is right very soon. I am looking into patenting the idea so that it won't get run with...seems like every idea i come up with someone else gets rich off of...LOL
Of course, then again, if I were quicker on the draw, I wouldn't complain about that...:)
The idea in general terms is that it is a trinket (a collectible) that can be produced by one of my contacts that can be sold by MUSL at all 100,000+ outlets of theirs that sell the tickets, and they could generate revenue as well, perhaps maybe increasing some of these first- and second- place prizes in the long run. And since each one would be unique to each state, people who travel and play the lottery can collect all of them.