Has there been any organized pressure against MM (or PB) to give some more respectible non-jackpot prize payouts? MM's 4+0 pre-tax payout is less than 1% of the odds.
So this gets me thinking...
If MM intends to keep my interest in their game, they must increase the non-jackpot prize payouts to a minimum 10% of the odds.
The current odds, payouts (where applicable) and percentage of payout
are as follows:
5+1 1:175,711,536.00 $JACKPOT
5+0 1: 3,904,700.80 $250,000 6.40%
4+1 1: 689,064.85 $ 10,000 1.45%
4+0 1: 15,312.55 $ 150 0.98%
3+1 1: 13,781.30 $ 150 1.09%
3+0 1: 306.25 $ 7 2.29%
2+1 1: 843.75 $ 10 1.19%
2+0 1: 18.75 $ - -
1+1 1: 140.63 $ 3 2.13%
1+0 1: 3.13 $ - -
0+1 1: 74.80 $ 2 2.67%
0+0 1: 1.66 $ - -
Who comes up with these payout percentages? They are all over the place.
What is the higher priority, advertising big annuity values or increasing non-jackpot prizes to generate more ticket sales?
Answer: They both serve to increase ticket sales. But how to achieve both goals?
In order to increase non-jackpot prize payout AND still get large annuity values, I recommend changing the matrix from 56c5+46 to 56c5+56. One play should remain one dollar.
The resulting odds and recommended 10% payouts (rounded down to the nearest dollar) are as follows:
5+1 1:213,909,696.00 $JACKPOT
5+0 1: 3,889,267.20 $388,926
4+1 1: 838,861.55 $ 83,886
4+0 1: 15,252.03 $ 1,525
3+1 1: 16,777.23 $ 1,677
3+0 1: 305.04 $ 30
2+1 1: 1,027.18 $ 102
2+0 1: 18.68 $ 1
1+1 1: 171.20 $ 17
1+0 1: 3.11 $ -
0+1 1: 91.06 $ 9
0+0 1: 1.66 $ -
Extrapolating the number of current winners versus the projected number of winners with a matrix change, I am confident the jackpot annuity value will not reduce from one drawing to the next if there is a significant non-jackpot prize payout.
Advertising that all the non-jackpot prize payouts are increased across the board, one by more than 10x (see MM 4+0), will only serve to increase interest in the game, thus generating the ticket sales the states now depend on for revenue.
This is fair to both the player and the state. A win-win situation.
The jackpot is just a dream. It might happen but not likely. The non-jackpot prizes do hit but the payout is embarrassing.
My state's lottery machines play "We're in the money!" when it scans a winner. I am almost embarrassed to hand over my MM ticket and get $2 back. This is expecially true when it takes 40 plays just to win anything. (Overall odds of winning are 1:40.)
The alternative to poor payouts is to start playing the daily. The daily pays out 50%. Yes, the jackpot will never happen, but odds are, I will win more in a lifetime.