Bahamas
Member #114,680
August 5, 2011
422 Posts
Offline
Quote: Originally posted by CDanaT on Apr 4, 2012
Could be because of advanced purchases by players believing of a possible rollover on the 650 million jackpot
I definitely agree that this is a major contributor and then all the press the game has been getting along with the fact that a few very average people have been taking home the money this year.
Maybe a few rookies don't know 3 people won the big jackpot as yet - lol (off the wall I know)
"Freedom of Speech? Keep reading and you will discover that freedom comes at a price!"
Bahamas
Member #114,680
August 5, 2011
422 Posts
Offline
Quote: Originally posted by THRIFTY on Apr 4, 2012
I feel that MEGA MILLIONS and POWERBALL with odds of 1 in: 175,711,536 and 1 in: 175,223,510 should have a $40M starting jackpot for $1.
I agree with increasing the starting amount with MEGA MILLIONS but there is a price differential here. So either POWERBALL increases even more or MEGA goes up to around $25m.
"Freedom of Speech? Keep reading and you will discover that freedom comes at a price!"
NEW YORK United States
Member #90,531
April 29, 2010
13,291 Posts
Offline
Quote: Originally posted by rad242 on Apr 4, 2012
I agree with increasing the starting amount with MEGA MILLIONS but there is a price differential here. So either POWERBALL increases even more or MEGA goes up to around $25m.
MM $12M starting jackpot is a joke. I do not blame those players that wait until MM and PB reach $100M annuity to start playing. When MM and PB hit $100M annuity a higher number of combinations have gone into play.
I usually wait for the $100M plus jackpots because I hate going to lottery retailers frequently, and I do not like to use the advance play feature. I know many players feel the same way. Time is money in this world, it is a matter of time before we able to play the lottery online and at lottery retailers. Lottery players do both in the UK.
Morrison, IL United States
Member #4,657
May 13, 2004
1,885 Posts
Offline
Actually, what WOULD make sense for Mega Millions, considering it's still $1 to play and that for any given ADVERTISED jackpot, the cash value is 25% higher than Powerball's, would be for the game to increase its opening jackpot to $16 million and have minimum increases of $4 million per draw (double its current minimum increases). That would make it the $1 "low advertised jackpot: jackpot cash value" equivalent of Powerball.
Egg Harbor twp.south Jersey shore United States
Member #112,963
June 29, 2011
4,160 Posts
Offline
Quote: Originally posted by THRIFTY on Apr 4, 2012
MM $12M starting jackpot is a joke. I do not blame those players that wait until MM and PB reach $100M annuity to start playing. When MM and PB hit $100M annuity a higher number of combinations have gone into play.
I usually wait for the $100M plus jackpots because I hate going to lottery retailers frequently, and I do not like to use the advance play feature. I know many players feel the same way. Time is money in this world, it is a matter of time before we able to play the lottery online and at lottery retailers. Lottery players do both in the UK.
not a joke to me, i will gladly accept the 4mils clear,
only problem is there is rarely a winner at the start amount,
cause not enough #combos are being bought.
Extraordinary Popular Delusions & the Madness of Crowds -- Charles Mackay LL.D.
NEW YORK United States
Member #90,531
April 29, 2010
13,291 Posts
Offline
Quote: Originally posted by haymaker on Apr 4, 2012
not a joke to me, i will gladly accept the 4mils clear,
only problem is there is rarely a winner at the start amount,
cause not enough #combos are being bought.
"only problem is there is rarely a winner at the start amount,
cause not enough #combos are being bought."
That is my point. NY sweet million rarely has jackpot winners because the playership is very low. Low playership means that less #combos are being bought. I noticed that high playership starts at $40M for Mega millions and at $60M for Powerball.
That is the reason why we have a $2 Powerball game with a $40M starting jackpot. Players have to contribute $2 equally if they want to see a higher jackpot. Players get rewarded for playing at the $40M as much as the $100M level.
Egg Harbor twp.south Jersey shore United States
Member #112,963
June 29, 2011
4,160 Posts
Offline
Quote: Originally posted by THRIFTY on Apr 4, 2012
"only problem is there is rarely a winner at the start amount,
cause not enough #combos are being bought."
That is my point. NY sweet million rarely has jackpot winners because the playership is very low. Low playership means that less #combos are being bought. I noticed that high playership starts at $40M for Mega millions and at $60M for Powerball.
That is the reason why we have a $2 Powerball game with a $40M starting jackpot. Players have to contribute $2 equally if they want to see a higher jackpot. Players get rewarded for playing at the $40M as much as the $100M level.
similar problem w/ pic.6 in jersey, very rare for it to hit at less than 6mil.
more often than not it hits in the 12/18 range, thought about waiting for it to get to 8mil. before i play,
if so i would have to pay more attn.to budget tracking,
and then the odds don't change, just the # of tix sold.
Extraordinary Popular Delusions & the Madness of Crowds -- Charles Mackay LL.D.
Kentucky United States
Member #32,651
February 14, 2006
10,303 Posts
Offline
Quote: Originally posted by THRIFTY on Apr 4, 2012
MM $12M starting jackpot is a joke. I do not blame those players that wait until MM and PB reach $100M annuity to start playing. When MM and PB hit $100M annuity a higher number of combinations have gone into play.
I usually wait for the $100M plus jackpots because I hate going to lottery retailers frequently, and I do not like to use the advance play feature. I know many players feel the same way. Time is money in this world, it is a matter of time before we able to play the lottery online and at lottery retailers. Lottery players do both in the UK.
"MM $12M starting jackpot is a joke."
After thousands of pages discussing the PB and MM jackpots, you still don't understand it. The current $20 million prize is an annuity based on the cash value of $14.3 million from the $25 million wagered on the last drawing combined with what is expected to be wagered on the next drawing. Neither game has a money tree so their starting jackpots are based on expected ticket sales. MM had larger sales following the last run, but it was expected because sales are generally higher after every large jackpot run.
"I do not blame those players that wait until MM and PB reach $100M annuity to start playing."
The last jackpot run started on January 27, 2012 with ticket sales of $18 million and the jackpot was raised to $15 million. Ticket sales for that and the next drawing were $37 million. Ticket sales averaged about $22 million for the next five drawings so there is a core group of players who play regardless of the size of the jackpot. Sales gradually increased the next four drawings and doubled to $46 million on the thirteenth drawing without a winner. Sales tripled to $66 million when the jackpot was $200 million two drawings later.
"I usually wait for the $100M plus jackpots because I hate going to lottery retailers frequently"
There were eight more drawings in the last run after the jackpot was $100 million so thats nine trips to the store. There is some logic based on waiting until you believe the jackpot will be hit, but that's based on ticket sales and not the size of the jackpot. In the last run, March 23 (the sixteenth drawing) was the best time to jump in. The reason $652 million was bet on the last drawing was because players believed the jackpot would be won and probably have multiple winners.
You keep saying "it takes only one ticket to win" but in the majority of drawings, there are no jackpot winners.
Morrison, IL United States
Member #4,657
May 13, 2004
1,885 Posts
Offline
Stack47, you forgot to note that since neither the Mega Millions or Powerball jackpots have doubled at any point in the past five years or more, neither game ever sells enough tickets to fully fund their opening jackpots. Therefore, the opening jackpot is considered a "loss leader," or in the case of Powerball, the first three or four draws are "loss leaders," since the officials obviously don't expect the opening jackpot to be won often.
NEW YORK United States
Member #90,531
April 29, 2010
13,291 Posts
Offline
Quote: Originally posted by Stack47 on Apr 4, 2012
"MM $12M starting jackpot is a joke."
After thousands of pages discussing the PB and MM jackpots, you still don't understand it. The current $20 million prize is an annuity based on the cash value of $14.3 million from the $25 million wagered on the last drawing combined with what is expected to be wagered on the next drawing. Neither game has a money tree so their starting jackpots are based on expected ticket sales. MM had larger sales following the last run, but it was expected because sales are generally higher after every large jackpot run.
"I do not blame those players that wait until MM and PB reach $100M annuity to start playing."
The last jackpot run started on January 27, 2012 with ticket sales of $18 million and the jackpot was raised to $15 million. Ticket sales for that and the next drawing were $37 million. Ticket sales averaged about $22 million for the next five drawings so there is a core group of players who play regardless of the size of the jackpot. Sales gradually increased the next four drawings and doubled to $46 million on the thirteenth drawing without a winner. Sales tripled to $66 million when the jackpot was $200 million two drawings later.
"I usually wait for the $100M plus jackpots because I hate going to lottery retailers frequently"
There were eight more drawings in the last run after the jackpot was $100 million so thats nine trips to the store. There is some logic based on waiting until you believe the jackpot will be hit, but that's based on ticket sales and not the size of the jackpot. In the last run, March 23 (the sixteenth drawing) was the best time to jump in. The reason $652 million was bet on the last drawing was because players believed the jackpot would be won and probably have multiple winners.
You keep saying "it takes only one ticket to win" but in the majority of drawings, there are no jackpot winners.
THE LOTTERY 50/50 RULE=PLAYING THE LOTTERY IS A WIN/LOSE SITUATION NO MATTER HOW MANY TICKETS WE BUY.
BUYING 1 LOTTERY TICKET GIVES YOU A 50/50 CHANCE OF WINNING A LOTTERY JACKPOT.
THE SHOTGUN PLAYING METHOD TO WINNING A LOTTERY JACKPOT.
HITTING THE TARGET.
when a shotgun is fired all those pellets that are crammed into the cartridge spread out so it's easier to hit the target.
Yes you can increase your chances of winning by buying more tickets, but every single ticket will go against the Odds of 1 in 175,711,536.
"Thrifty is right, each individual ticket (one line of numbers) is up against the very same odds, 1 in 175,711,536."
"There is one, and only one set of sinning numbers drawn - not one set of winning numbers drawn for each line played."
THE THREE PLAYING METHODS WITHA LOTTERY STOP LOSS LIMIT.
1) PLAYING MORE OFTEN FOR LESS LINES.
2) PLAYING LESS OFTEN FOR MORE LINES.
3) PLAYING LESS OFTEN FOR LESS LINES.
A LOTTERY STOP LOSS LIMITIS VERY IMPORTANT TO BE A SUCCESSFUL LOTTERY PLAYER OVER THE LONG RUN.
"A LOTTERY STOP LOSS LIMIT IS VERY IMPORTANT and I urge anyone that plays to have a stop loss limit to protect their large sum of ready gambling money. You should have a stop loss limit to avoid losing too much money on a bad day. While setting up a loss limit is a great idea in theory, there are plenty of gamblers who won't have the will power to stick with these limits. These are the same people who will never make any money or come close to breaking even in gambling. It's definitely hard to stick with loss limits because there is so much temptation to keep gambling no matter which way Lady Luck is sending the money. The better you are at sticking with your loss limits over the long run, the more successful and happy you will be at the end of game play."
PLAYING THE LOTTERY MORE OFTEN FOR MORE LINES= SPENDING MORE MONEY= GAMBLING ADDICTION.
REMEMBER THE NUMBER ONE RULE IN BETTING:NEVER BET MORE THAN YOU CAN AFFORD TOLOSE!
United States
Member #124,610
March 16, 2012
3,733 Posts
Offline
I would be thrilled with winning a 12M$ j/p with a 8.6M$CV. And yes, I do realize that by the time I was finished paying taxes and tithes and professional fees that I would have a scant bit over 4.3M$, which would fully fund my retirement. I could then work happily for another 20 or so years - live on what I earn, rather than have to save, ration, and budget. And then in 20 years, retire comfortably on MORE than I was earning previously.
Now THAT is worth it for me with a dollar and that dream!
NEW YORK United States
Member #90,531
April 29, 2010
13,291 Posts
Offline
Quote: Originally posted by maximumfun on Apr 5, 2012
I would be thrilled with winning a 12M$ j/p with a 8.6M$CV. And yes, I do realize that by the time I was finished paying taxes and tithes and professional fees that I would have a scant bit over 4.3M$, which would fully fund my retirement. I could then work happily for another 20 or so years - live on what I earn, rather than have to save, ration, and budget. And then in 20 years, retire comfortably on MORE than I was earning previously.
Now THAT is worth it for me with a dollar and that dream!
Why would i spend $1 on MM with a $12M starting jackpot when it takes less time for me to play for a life changing POWERBALL jackpot? It takes MM a while to reach $40M, Yes PB costs more to play, but you get to play for a life changing jackpot every time it resets.TIME IS MONEY.
Kentucky United States
Member #32,651
February 14, 2006
10,303 Posts
Offline
Quote: Originally posted by ryanm on Apr 4, 2012
Stack47, you forgot to note that since neither the Mega Millions or Powerball jackpots have doubled at any point in the past five years or more, neither game ever sells enough tickets to fully fund their opening jackpots. Therefore, the opening jackpot is considered a "loss leader," or in the case of Powerball, the first three or four draws are "loss leaders," since the officials obviously don't expect the opening jackpot to be won often.
The lowest ticket sales I saw for the MM starting $12 million jackpot was around $14 million and the cash value is under $9 million. The individual states are responsible for paying the secondary prizes out of their sales so while collectively they show a small profit, some states could be in the red. With 5 + 0 paying $1 million in PB, that could definitely create problems for lotteries with smaller ticket sales.
Back in the day when Lotto games started at $1 million, but paid the winners in 20 installments of $50,000, they only needed $50,000 in sales to cover the payout. The starting PB jackpot should always be higher than projected ticket sales, but since even $20 million in sales gives less than a 5% chance the jackpot will be hit, they are willing to take the gamble.
Kentucky United States
Member #32,651
February 14, 2006
10,303 Posts
Offline
Quote: Originally posted by THRIFTY on Apr 5, 2012
Why would i spend $1 on MM with a $12M starting jackpot when it takes less time for me to play for a life changing POWERBALL jackpot? It takes MM a while to reach $40M, Yes PB costs more to play, but you get to play for a life changing jackpot every time it resets.TIME IS MONEY.
MM has 104 drawings a year and while I don't know the exact average of jackpots, 20 is less than 20%. In over 80% of the drawings you have a zero% chance of winning the jackpot.
I'm still willing to pay $1 on MM or $2 on PB for a dream, but I fully understand that out of the 651,915,940 $1 dreams bought on the last MM jackpot, only 3 came true.