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• rdc137

  

  Delaware
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  January 14, 2006
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  Nov 9, 2006, 10:48 pm

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  I apologize if this has been brought up before.

   If the Federal government started a national lottery in a manner similar to Powerball if it were run by the US Government to fund the Treasury Department. Such revenues would be assumed to be used towards general revenue and paying down the national debt.
• JimmySand9

  

  United States
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  Nov 10, 2006, 12:35 am

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  It's a good idea, don't know if I'd play it though, depends on what the game is like.

  (insert signature here)
• guesser

  

  United States
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  Nov 10, 2006, 1:37 am

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  Nope.

  I have yet to see the guv't get involved in much of anything and have John Q. Public come out ahead. 
• ryanm

  

  Morrison, IL
  United States
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  Nov 10, 2006, 8:02 am

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  The odds against winning a jackpot would be at least 325 million to one!!
• Todd

  

  50

  Chief Bottle Washer

  New Jersey
  United States
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  May 31, 2000
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  Nov 10, 2006, 8:22 am

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  Powerball is played in the majority of states already, not sure why it would need to be run by the federal government.  MUSL does a great job of running it, IMHO.

   

  Check the State Lottery Report Card
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• rdc137

  

  Delaware
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  Nov 10, 2006, 1:50 pm

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  In response to Todd

  Quote: Originally posted by Todd on Nov 10, 2006

  Powerball is played in the majority of states already, not sure why it would need to be run by the federal government.  MUSL does a great job of running it, IMHO.

  My rationale would be so all 50 states would be able to participate regardless of the status of a state lottery.
• weshar75

  

  Mcminnville, Oregon
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  Nov 10, 2006, 4:38 pm

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  In response to rdc137

  Quote: Originally posted by rdc137 on Nov 10, 2006

  My rationale would be so all 50 states would be able to participate regardless of the status of a state lottery.

  A national lottery would have to be in the states that first had their own state lottery.  It would be just another game added to each states line up of games they offer to their players.  It does not make sense to have states that do not have lotteries already to have just a national lottery in their own state.  I would propose that the two multi-state games and the larger state lotteries have their directors sit on a panel to over see this new national lottery.  That is if it ever did happen.-weshar75
• konane

  

  USA
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  Nov 10, 2006, 5:13 pm

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  In response to guesser

  Quote: Originally posted by guesser on Nov 10, 2006

  Nope.

  I have yet to see the guv't get involved in much of anything and have John Q. Public come out ahead. 

    The government doesn't need another slush fund for buy pork. 

  Only way I'd consider playing it is if the jackpot were totally and completely free of all types of federal taxes ... and we know that isn't going to happen.
  

  Have fun and the best of luck to everyone!
• guesser

  

  United States
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  Nov 10, 2006, 11:42 pm

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  Let each state VOTE on it.

  Some states are ultra-conservative and don't want it.

  Besides, the more states that get into it, the better the chances are of someone winning it, which means the less chance of BIG jackpots too often.

   

  Isn't it ironic we live in the greatest nation on earth, and yet few of us have a good opinion of our own guv't and how they run things ? 
• CASH Only

  United States
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  Nov 16, 2006, 3:15 pm

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  I would hope that if there is to be a national lottery, that Mega Millions and Powerball would be preserved much as they are now.

  Perhaps a better idea is to have California, NY, and Texas break from MM and form the nation's third major multi-state game, with Florida eventually joining MM (rather than PB).
• rdc137

  

  Delaware
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  January 14, 2006
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  Nov 16, 2006, 3:33 pm

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  In response to CASH Only

  Quote: Originally posted by CASH Only on Nov 16, 2006

  I would hope that if there is to be a national lottery, that Mega Millions and Powerball would be preserved much as they are now.

  Perhaps a better idea is to have California, NY, and Texas break from MM and form the nation's third major multi-state game, with Florida eventually joining MM (rather than PB).

  There's a part of me that wishes Powerball was still a game for the small and less populated states, and the larger states had their own games. Ideally you could a double system: a national lottery played in all 50 states, and state lotteries with their own jackpot games too, with the smaller states clustering together for 2 or 3 games (ie: Powerball pre-Pennsylvania).
• CASH Only

  United States
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  Nov 16, 2006, 3:42 pm

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  In response to rdc137

  Quote: Originally posted by rdc137 on Nov 16, 2006

  There's a part of me that wishes Powerball was still a game for the small and less populated states, and the larger states had their own games. Ideally you could a double system: a national lottery played in all 50 states, and state lotteries with their own jackpot games too, with the smaller states clustering together for 2 or 3 games (ie: Powerball pre-Pennsylvania).

  I'm thinking it would be great if there were THREE separate groups of states competing against each other.

  As for a "smaller" PB, there is such a game, but of course you don't have it nearby (Hot Lotto). I hope someday HL expands to all MUSL members (currently 31) with jackpot odds roughly that of the original PB (1:55 million), but with a better overall chance of winning something, and a somewhat higher percentage of the prize money going to the lower tiers (the original PB was 5/45 + 1/45; matching only the PB won $1).