When the Hot Lotto went to 1-47 I am thinking that it is not worth it. Here's some
calculations I did and maybe Powerball and Mega Millions have a good spot to aim for,
the 5 numbers. Getting the power ball along with the play is good. Perhaps the extra
$1 is worth it. Who knows.
Powerball:
For 175,223,510 odds and starting jackpots at $40 million.
$40 million / 175,223,510 is rounded to 23 cents payout per odd.
$1 million / 5,153,633 is rounded = 19 cents. $2
$2 million / 5,153,633 is rounded = 39 cents. $2 + $1 = powerplay
$10,000 / 648,976 is rounded = 2 cents.
$40,000 / 648,976 is rounded = 8 cents. Powerplay
$100 / 19,088 is rounded = 1 cent.
$200 / 19,088 is rounded = 2 cents. Powerplay
$4 / 55 is rounded = 7 cents.
$12 / 55 is rounded 21 cents. Powerplay
Mega Millions:
For 175,711,536 odds and starting at $12 million.
$12 million / 175,711,536 is rounded to 7 cents payout per odd.
$250,000 / 3,904,701 is rounded = 6 cents. $1
$1 million / 3,904,701 is rounded = 24 cents. $1 + $1 = powerplay
$150 / 15,313 is rounded to 1 cent.
$300 / 15,313 is rounded to 2 cents. powerplay at 2x
$450 / 15,313 is rounded to 3 cents. powerplay at 3x
$600 / 15,313 is rounded to 4 cents. powerplay at 4x
$2 / 75 is rounded to 3 cents. powerplay 2x=6, 3x=9, 4x=12 cents
Hot Lotto:
For 29,144,841 odds and starting jackpots at $1 million.
$1 million / 29,144,841 is rounded to 3 cents payout per odd.
$30,000 / 607,743 is rounded to 5 cents.
$90,000 / 607,743 is rounded to 15 cents. powerplay $1 + $1
$3,000 / 138,785 is rounded to 2 cents.
$9,000 / 138,785 is rounded to 6 cents. powerplay
$3 / 52 is rounded to 6 cents.
$9 / 52 is rounded to 18 cents. powerplay
Oklahoma Cash 5
For 376,992 odds and starting at the max $25,000 payout.
$25,000 / 376,992 is rounded to 7 cents payout per odd.
$500 / 2,432 is rounded to 21 cents.
$10 / 81 is rounded to 12 cents.
For Cash 5 in twelve draws just one $25,000 jackpot was won. But on each draw and
average five to six wins were the $500.
My conclusion is that maybe the middle lottery games are not worth it like Hot Lotto.
Perhaps going back to the Powerball and Megamillions with the powerplay is a good idea.
Can some math buffs out there look this over and see where I may have gone wrong.