According to local media reports, Powerball lottery tickets will soon be sold in Maryland and Massachusetts. Other Mega Millions states are sure to follow.
Maryland Lottery Director Buddy Roogow expects the sales to begin in the next four or five months. The decision is a result of lots of negotiations between officials in the states that operate Mega Millions and Powerball over the last seveal months.
Roogow says an official announcement is likely to come in the next few days. He says sales of Powerball tickets in Maryland should bring in $25 million in additional revenue each year to the state. And he expects sales to total $50 million in a full year.
Roogow was asked if the states have agreed to sell each other's big game tickets does that mean the games would be combined into one in the future? Roogow says that is now in discussion but he expects any movement to create a national game to be years away. He says it would take a large amount of software and a big agreement from the states.
Roogow says 34 states now take part in the Powerball game and 12 states play Mega Millions.
"To me it's like going into a store and having your choice of different brands of bread or different brands of milk. Now they will have a choice of different brands of super jackpot games," says Roogow.
He says market research shows that most adults that live in states where big jackpot games are offered end up buying a ticket, so having Powerball and Mega Millions sales in Maryland are expected to drive in more customers.
Roogow says they will need to work out the logistics of selling the Powerball tickets in Maryland in the next few months by working with the lottery vendor.
In Massachusetts, Sandi Austin took a break from her Saturday morning Keno game to applaud this week's decision to bring Powerball — and its enticing and eye-popping jackpots — to the state.
"It's wonderful, because it will help the economy," said Austin, at a convenience store in South Boston, where she said she spends $5 a week on state-sponsored gambling.
But she spends more than that when she visits her daughter in New Hampshire, where retailers are already authorized to sell Powerball tickets.
On Wednesday, the Multi-State Lottery Association agreed to bring Powerball to Massachusetts. The decision is part of a larger agreement that will allow retailers in Massachusetts and 44 other state lotteries to sell both Mega Millions and Powerball tickets.
For Massachusetts, adding Powerball could increase by $25 to $40 million the money the state Lottery already gives to the state's 351 communities, officials say.
But inside the crowded Tedeschi's Food Market, cashier Ghazi Awn said a lot of his customers would be hurt by the expanded gambling options.
As he looked out at the cluster of tired-looking people, sitting at the store's tables, scratching away at lottery tickets, he said, "It may be good for the economy, but it's not good for some people."
Each year, the state lottery hands over a percentage of its earnings to Massachusetts' cities and towns, which can use the money however they want.
Last year's sum was $935 million, which the Lottery said is 23 percent of its revenues, after prizes and expenses were subtracted.
And as state leaders scramble to plug an estimated $600 million gap in the state's budget, Powerball and the money it is expected to generate for the state has been viewed as a much welcome additon.
State Treasurer Tim Cahill, who chairs the state's Lottery Commission, has called the agreement "a win-win for everyone involved, especially the taxpayers of Massachusetts." Cahill, who is running for governor as an independent, called it a boon for local aid revenues.
If all goes as planned, Powerball and its gigantic and well-publicized paydays could be here as soon as January.
Yesterday at Tedeschi's, several gamblers mentioned the four Nebraska factory workers who won a $365 million jackpot in 2006, but none knew that the winners defied the game's 1 in 195 million odds.
Supporters of the expansion agreement say the 45-state pact will increase the frequency, size and scope of the jackpots.
But Linda Masse of South Boston isn't buying it.
"We already have enough games, and you don't ever win those," she said. "This is just going to lower the odds of winning even more."
I hope this also happens in New York soon...Every weekend we take a ride to CT. for Powerball tickets....CT. is a beautfull state but high with taxes....I asked on this form a few months ago about how would i be taxed if i win Powerbal in CT. but live in New York State...If you guys remeber ,it started some really good fireworks...One LP member even called me a morun for taking information about taxes from other LP friends...
This will make it convenient for me, as I will not have to drive so far(De, Pa,DC), save on gas and mileage.
I hope Marylanders will be able to pick up some big wins with the Powerball, because, as it is with Megamillion, wins are pretty hard to come by.
Welcome Maryland!
Can't wait for it to come to Illinois...would save me the short drive to either Wisconsin (least preferred but more convenient for Powerball from Northern Chicagoland area) or Indiana (preferred but hate the 3 hour roundtrip drive...only go on down to Indy if I am headed to Chicago or the south side for any reason). This won't adversely affect people as stated as if people play responsibly like I do (only for the most part buying a ticket for every drawing), it will actually help in cutting down on gasoline consumption. I for one would be able to just run...yes, run with my feet, down to the nearby convenience store and purchase all my tickets for the month all at once. Hopefully, when the Powerball game comes to Illinois, we will be able to play up to 15 advance draws like with Mega Millions. Of course, states like NC have it even better with advance plays up to 52 draws...talk about getting your play in for the next 6 months all at once!
Of course, I also may purchase an additional quick pick or two whenever the jackpot keeps rolling up, but I no longer plunk down $40 or more on a single drawing. I would feel more satisfaction winning just playing less than $5 per drawing than anything larger than that; my lottery playing in no way adversely impacts my short-term or long-term savings/investing goals as I put away nice sums for both purposes. Of course, let my six numbers match up with the next future drawings and I'll be able to put away much more for both purposes, pay off ALL of my consumer debt, and live in the lifestyle I so chose.
I want megamillions to come to North Carolina...
or have north and south carolina have a joint lottery jackpot game.
Quick question, would this mean that powerball would lower the odds of winning the powerball?
I remember when FL and couple other states joined powerball, they made the odds worse to 1:195,000,000.
would they do they same, when Maryland and MA joins the powerball around January of next year?
Right now the powerball odds are the same for every state that has powerball. If you mean will they change the matrix of the game to suite them, that remains to be seen. If they do then they will probably up the odds.
I'm with you on that i like powerball but i don't like driving to DC PA DE for tickets.
As for mega millions wins we have had many 250 grand winners and several of the largest jackpots have been won here.
the fact where about to have the 2 major jackpots,
be played in any state that wants to have both
is insane big news, i say news story of the YEAR for lotto people :D if not decade
cant wait for the "offical press by pb and mm officals talking about the details
i hope tn gets MM and fast,
on the good news they are right about 1 thing
fast growing jackpots =major win for us all, more winners ya, but i feel if whats about to happen, happens
6+ or more states, all joining pb in 1 year, you can bet your ass they are upping the odds also LOL
even more so if CA.newyork, the big pop states join pb
both games will grow so fast in 2010 i can feel it
hell this is better then 1 big national game,
both will be big national jackpot games, so when one gets hit,
i just play the other, whatever is biger if their not both big :D
woot for lotto users ever where, thank god we can all now play both "soon"
i my self have travaled to diff states to play record jackpots in other states, thank god that will soon be over with in the coming year or so
i hope the massive rush of news stories of ever state joining the other game they dont offer each starts really soon,
here to hoping 2010 = year of the big national jackpots, 2 of them comes to life!
lets all witness the epic jackpots that sure to come down the 2010 year leading to this 45-state pact agreement to sell both games in ever state that wants too!
woot woot, hello epic jackpots, they are coming!
i hate to rain on the parade but i think it is giong to suck. it will lead to one big national lottery. the odds of winning has gone down the last few years on both games. i play both games and i have not had a win over 3 for mega in a long time. Powerball is more forgiving but it is hard to with too.
mark my words it will be one game eventually.
if you doubt me read my blog.
I am hoping that this will lead to Idaho also getting Mega Millions!
I hope your assessment is not correct, however offering choice is a great move. I hope Georgia jumps on the bandwagon real soon.
I wouldn't care if MM and PB consolidated into one big national game AS LONG AS:
1) The matrix is not increased from the current Mega Millions or Powerball matrices (preferably take the lower one);
2) The drawings are maintained at 4 times a week...Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday which would mean crazy rollovers when not hit or multiple hits in the week when hit...therefore more excitement.
3) I get hired on to run the whole schebang!
Okay actually the first two are my main points...I would not in any way want to be involved with the lottery as that would mean I would not be able to play it and possibly win it!
OldSchoolPa wrote: Okay actually the first two are my main points...I would not in any way want to be involved with the lottery as that would mean I would not be able to play it and possibly win it!
Why not with a yearly salary in the 7 digits and bonus's inside of ten years you would easily amass the amount of a beginning lottery payout. You wouldn't have to deal with the tremendous odds of winning because you'd already be a winner having secured the most lucrative job of mega- powerball director.
RIP The In-State Jackpot Game : 1970s-2010
sorry, ya i meant the matrix - the overall odds.
My theory goes like this:
If you invite 10 ppl for diner there will be enough food.
If you invite 25, there wont be.
Stop inviting more states! Those who already have a place at dinner wont eat!
MD can keep the Mega, us PA folks dont mind. Just leave the pB to the states that carry the longivity :)
Well the lottery is like Jesus Christ...like JC multiplied 5 fishes and 2 loaves of bread to feed a multitude of thousands, the combination of the two mega jackpot games being available in all associated states will provide those whose hobby is playing lottery the convenient opportunity to do so. You also seem to miss the point of living in America...land of opportunity. Why would one want to deny people the opportunity to partake in both mega jackpot games? The current setup has posed no problem for those who live very close to border states that offered the opposite game, but for those who live in the center or too far away (think south Texas or those poor souls in Montana) of a given state, they are denied the opportunity that is available to those living in Northern NJ or Northern VA or Northern IL. So I applaud this move.
And on second thought, I might just reconsider working for the lottery. You can rest assured that if I were to get hired and worked my way to the top (quickly in my estimation otherwise no thanks), I would put a ban on any RNG considerations. And I would leverage my position to urge all states currently using RNG to revert back to live ball drawings.
I would also make subscription services available in all member states and push for more uniformity in date of ticket expiration.
I want Million Lottery Lottery be introduced in Louisiana along with Powerball Lottery.
Further I want the Louisiana Lottery to be updated like Missouri to hsve two tickets be issued for $1 and two tickets be sold for $1 with a minimum prize of one million dollar.
I smell a lottery bubble comming.
It looks like I will finally be able to quit playing with the skyrocketing odds and the fact that nobody anywhere near me will ever win.
I am guessing that your state already has PB.
I find it funny that people always want the door open so that they can come through, but as soon as they are in they want to slam the door in the faces of people behind them.
I'll believe this will be happening when it's officially announced and a done deal. Wasn't it NJ or NY that were planning the same thing? Look where that ended up.
Besides that I still think this sort of thing would be bad for all players or either game.
Now that they will bring this powerball to MA, New Hampshire will not get any of my money. Earlier this year, NH imposed state taxes on lottery winnings. So in NH you pay 25% federal tax on lotto winnings and 11% state tax, that is 36% in taxes right off the bat. Right now state taxes on lotto in MA is 5%
I know MA will raise state taxes on lotto soon. They cant be outdone by NH when it comes to taxes, no way. There is a reason the state is called Taxachusetts
Just my prediction:
When they add all these new States:
- They will add more white balls. I am guessing from 01 to 156 now on the White Balls,
and from 01 to 89 on the Bonus Balls. The odds of winning $1 back will be worse than
the odds of getting the "Boardwalk" stamp at Mcie-Dees, and the overall odds of the
jackpot will be 494,667,256,180 to one. The whole game will collapse due to people
realizing they would have to outlive the cosmos itself to have any chance whatsoever.
If they are smart they will leave the matrix alone this time, and instead increase the
smaller prizes, realizing that on the upside, $100M jackpots will be up about every 2nd
drawing or so.
On the downside, if nj does this, we will miss having an excuse to go to PA and then
to Hot Dog Johnny's on the way back.
and the new tag line will be:
"With odds like 494 gobzillion to one, how can I NOT lose???"
If you have not already seen it, Michigan is getting the Powerball. It is in official news release on the Michigan lottery website
I would like to see TN get MM to go along with our PB now.
Then at least we'd have two games that aren't RNG selected.
Yeah, I just saw the press release on the MM site about the PB partnership... Interesting yet at the same time I still don't know if I like where this is heading...