Do you wait for the PowerBall to get to a certain amount?Prev TopicNext Topic

• Guru101

  

  Indiana
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  Jan 27, 2007, 9:18 pm

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  There are quite a bit of people who only play the PowerBall when it gets up to a certain amount. I was just curious as too how many of you do this? Also, what is the amount that you wait for it to get to? I myself don't do it. Whether it be $15 Million or $300 Million, either would be nice to me, even after taxes.

  Gonna win.
• LckyLary

  

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  Jan 27, 2007, 10:05 pm

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  The poll question is missing something: does this apply only to people who live in Powerball states? It's a 45 min. trip from here to the PA state line. I have to factor in fuel cost and time cost and sometimes weather conditions. Sometimes I play a few draws ahead just in case there'll be a snowstorm or a projcet to finish. If I am passing through a PB state I'll usually play any jackpot level but mormally I only go play if the PB is much higher than MM or if both MM and PB are 100M plus I like to be in both.
• weshar75

  

  Mcminnville, Oregon
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  Jan 27, 2007, 10:18 pm

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  I do not wait because I like to be in the game for at least one line every drawing that I can.  I have to wait for Mega Millions though because weather and gas money and time dictate whether I can go to Washington to play it.-weshar75
• noahproblem

  

  Roslindale, MA
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  Jan 28, 2007, 7:30 am

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  Usually I wait until the cash value for MM hits $50 million (sometimes I'll play for less if I know I'm about to have a really bad day at work).

  For PB I'd wait longer, since I have to take a train (basically adding a $9 round trip surcharge to the cost of playing) to get down to RI.
• ryanm

  

  Morrison, IL
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  Jan 28, 2007, 11:58 am

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  I play both PB and MM every draw no matter what.
• rda76

  

  nashville, tn
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  Jan 28, 2007, 12:40 pm

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  i voted no because i have one set of numbers of my own that i play each draw and also participate in an office pool.  but i do begin to buy extra quickpick tickets when the jackpot reaches 200m or so.
• guesser

  

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  Jan 28, 2007, 1:06 pm

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  Why wait ?

  I can retire on 15 mill just as easily as I can 250 mill, and besides, the lesser the amount, the less number of people playing, the better my chances (not to be confused with 'odds'). 
• konane

  

  USA
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  Jan 28, 2007, 1:08 pm

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  In response to guesser

  Quote: Originally posted by guesser on Jan 28, 2007

  Why wait ?

  I can retire on 15 mill just as easily as I can 250 mill, and besides, the lesser the amount, the less number of people playing, the better my chances (not to be confused with 'odds'). 

  

  Have fun and the best of luck to everyone!
• JimmySand9

  

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  Jan 28, 2007, 10:34 pm

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  I do wait for the jackpot to get up in the 9-figure area simply as a method of budgeting my purchases. Playing every draw can be expensive. And if a better odds game, like Match 6, is up in the "I can retire on that" range, I won't play Powerball regardless of the jackpot.

  That, and the fact that 4 out of the last 7 jackpots have been won in places I'm not even allowed to play Powerball (or as I have referred to them in the past, "bigot states") has really got me irked and thinking "You've had your chance Powerball, you blew it". I starting to miss Florida Lotto about now.

  (insert signature here)
• JAG331

  

  Greenwich, CT
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  Jan 29, 2007, 11:42 am

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  I wait for the annuitized value to reach $70-$80 million before I'll consider playing.  This allows for a break from the game, and time to focus on the rest of what life has to offer.
• guesser

  

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  Jan 30, 2007, 12:35 am

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  In response to JimmySand9

  Quote: Originally posted by JimmySand9 on Jan 28, 2007

  I do wait for the jackpot to get up in the 9-figure area simply as a method of budgeting my purchases. Playing every draw can be expensive. And if a better odds game, like Match 6, is up in the "I can retire on that" range, I won't play Powerball regardless of the jackpot.

  That, and the fact that 4 out of the last 7 jackpots have been won in places I'm not even allowed to play Powerball (or as I have referred to them in the past, "bigot states") has really got me irked and thinking "You've had your chance Powerball, you blew it". I starting to miss Florida Lotto about now.

  Geez, how much will it take for you to retire on ?   7-8 mill isn't enough ??

  But also, if it's been so long since your state won one, don't you think you are coming due ?  I remember a time when I didn't want to play because PA had like 4 winners in one year.  This stuff all goes in cycles, what goes around, comes around. 
• four4me

  

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  Jan 30, 2007, 12:43 am

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  i wait for the 200 mil dollar range simply because i don't want to drive to DC every week or so.

  when the pot gets big i get extra draws.

  Big John says. You don't hit the number. The number hits you!!!!

                 I'm not Big John, I'm Four4me, Big John's a friend.
• mountainman

  

  Georgia
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  Jan 30, 2007, 4:18 am

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  Either way, I usually wait for the jackpot to get up to about 25 million, but considering there are about 12 states with mega millions your odds are pretty long. Fun but long.
• RJOh

  

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  Jan 30, 2007, 2:48 pm

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  Since PowerBall is played in neighboring states, I wait until its jackpots is $200M before making a trip out of state to buy tickets, I can play to win a MegaMillions $15M jackpot locally.

   * you don't need to buy every combination, just the winning ones * 

         
  
• Pick3forSC

  

  North Carolina (West of Charlotte)
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  Jan 30, 2007, 2:57 pm

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  I wait till PB gets above 80 mill. before i buy my tix.  Yes, i can live off the smaller jackpots should i ever be so fortunate to hit one, but i prefer to save my money till it reaches a higher level. I play a fair amount of Bingo also with pretty good results & i would rather spend some of my fun money against those much better odds at Bingo for a decent $$ prize than chasing the PB 2 times a week essentially losing more than i win on it.