Powerball Power Play Number Almost Always 2 ?Prev Topic Next Topic

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Callahan

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March 27, 2014
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Mar 27, 2014, 7:07 am

Hi ... just joined LP today ... been reading for some time. I have been waiting for someone to make a comment about the PB Power Play number almost always being a "2". I don't usually play the extra dollar but for some reason I did for the whole month of March. Seems to be kind of a waste playing the extra dollar.

Is PB controlling that in someway or are there more 2s than 4s and 5s in the mix of numbers. Is each number from 1 to 5 equal in the draw or are there more 2s than any other number. I noticed this earlier ( a few years ago) with Mega Millions I think but it could have also been the PB ... the 2s always seem to be drawn much more than 4s or 5s.

Of course the states save money with the 2 being drawn but is this looking somewhat suspicious to anyone and is the extra dollar really worth it?

This month (March) with PB drawings, the 2 has has appeared 6 out of 8 draws and since PB has made the change back to the Power Play with 19 drawings so far, 2 has come out 12 times with 3 coming out 4 times ... 5 has only been out once. This doesn't seem right to me, something being controlled here or are there more 2s mixed in with the total numbers from 1 to 5. I am not sure about that and maybe someone here also finds this interesting and has a possible answer.

Thanks ... I don't think I will be playing the extra dollar on PB anymore, just on Mega Millions.

Good luck to all ...
rcbbuckeye

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Texas
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October 23, 2007
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Mar 27, 2014, 7:51 am

I have noticed that too. Looking at the odds there are more chances for "2" than the other powerplay numbers. I also don't pay the extra dollar, especially since the second prize payout would only be $2 million. Actually, the whole prize payout is out of wack on this game. Can't figure out what they were thinking when they made the changes.

JUST LOOK AT THE ODDS OF ANY JACKPOT GAME, THAT WILL TELL YOU EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW
helpmewin

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u$a
United States
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Mar 27, 2014, 8:11 am

Welcome Callahanand Good Luck to you
Callahan

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March 27, 2014
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Mar 27, 2014, 11:05 am

That's what I can't seem to find out ... been searching around over the last few weeks to try and find out if there is just one number each for the 1 through 5 Power Play pick or are there a bunch of 2s and 3s over the 4s and 5s. I think it should be only one number for each number 1 - 5. If that is so then it might not be a fair draw ... especially since it is digital and moves so fast.

If there are more 2s in the mix then why would anyone play the extra dollar if your odds are much better at only having a 2 or 3 come out when most players are thinking 5 or 4 ... if a person would be lucky to have a hit in the first place. I haven't watched a PB drawing since the Power Play option started with the 2x to 5x but it used to be a very fast digital draw, if I remember ... I also think those five numbers should be colored ping pong balls bouncing around, not fast moving digital numbers.

Just my opinion ... I know the odds are fantastic with the new Mega Millions but their extra number seem to be more evenly random and to me ... $2 is a better deal than the PB $3 ... with a chance at 4 or 5 million ... again just my opinion.

Thanks for the greet ... helpmewin !

I found this on the Mega site about the new Power Play option.

What is the Power Play?

Power Play is a special feature that allows a winner to multiply the original prize amount. Powerball players can multiply their Powerball prizes by 2, 3, 4 or 5 times (does not include the jackpot).

The Power Play multiplier number is chosen at random by computerized drawing immediately before the regular drawing of winning numbers takes place.

A player must choose the Power Play option when they buy their Powerball ticket, and then the ticket must match one of the 9 Ways to Win (except the jackpot) before the multiplier takes effect. Power Play costs an extra $1 per play.

As a bonus, if Power Play is in effect for a ticket that wins the second prize of $200,000, the prize will be multiplied 5 times, regardless of the Power Play number selected for that drawing, for a total cash prize of $1 million.

.... still not sure but it sounds like there is only one number of each 1 - 5. Too many 2s showing up ... if sales are down and money reserves are low ... could they be playing around with the numbers???
LottoMetro

Happyland
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September 1, 2013
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Mar 27, 2014, 11:21 am
Quote: Originally posted by Callahan on Mar 27, 2014
Hi ... just joined LP today ... been reading for some time. I have been waiting for someone to make a comment about the PB Power Play number almost always being a "2". I don't usually play the extra dollar but for some reason I did for the whole month of March. Seems to be kind of a waste playing the extra dollar.

Is PB controlling that in someway or are there more 2s than 4s and 5s in the mix of numbers. Is each number from 1 to 5 equal in the draw or are there more 2s than any other number. I noticed this earlier ( a few years ago) with Mega Millions I think but it could have also been the PB ... the 2s always seem to be drawn much more than 4s or 5s.

Of course the states save money with the 2 being drawn but is this looking somewhat suspicious to anyone and is the extra dollar really worth it?

This month (March) with PB drawings, the 2 has has appeared 6 out of 8 draws and since PB has made the change back to the Power Play with 19 drawings so far, 2 has come out 12 times with 3 coming out 4 times ... 5 has only been out once. This doesn't seem right to me, something being controlled here or are there more 2s mixed in with the total numbers from 1 to 5. I am not sure about that and maybe someone here also finds this interesting and has a possible answer.

Thanks ... I don't think I will be playing the extra dollar on PB anymore, just on Mega Millions.

Good luck to all ...

As you mentioned, it is RNG drawn. Neither the multipliers in Power Play or Megaplier have all-equal chances of occurring.

Power Play Probability of Prize Increase

5X 1 in 10

4X 1 in 10

3X 1 in 3.33

2X 1 in 2

With odds of 1 in 2 for the 2X Power Play, it's no surprise that it is showing up so often.

Megaplier Probability of Prize Increase

5X 6 in 15

4X 3 in 15

3X 4 in 15

2X 2 in 15

Megaplier is definitely the better deal. Recall that PB caps the 2nd prize at $2 million, whereas MM allows 2nd prize to go to $5 million.
- If the chances of winning the jackpot are so slim, why play when the jackpot is so small? Your chances never change, but the potential payoff does.
- If a crystal ball showed you the future of the rest of your life, and in that future you will never win a jackpot, would you still play?
- I believe Joan Ginther ("world's luckiest woman") merely played lottery as a tax strategy. Evidence: zero prize claims through 10 years after her last Lotto Texas annuity payment!
Callahan

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March 27, 2014
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Mar 27, 2014, 11:39 am

OK ... so there are more 2s and 3s knocking a person's chance that the extra dollar will probably be a smaller hit ... so the odds say. I rarely play the extra dollar so I never gave it much thought that there are more 2s and 3s in the mix and that my "hoping" for a 4 or 5 was slim to none or just slimmer.

I didn't see that information anywhere that you posted on the odds of the five numbers ... thanks for posting and also posting about the Mega Millions. So each of us can figure if the extra dollar is a good bet or not ... sure is good on the MM with a person having a chance at 4 or 5 million for an extra dollar.

thanks ...
rcbbuckeye

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Texas
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October 23, 2007
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Mar 27, 2014, 11:47 am

Quote: Originally posted by LottoMetro on Mar 27, 2014
As you mentioned, it is RNG drawn. Neither the multipliers in Power Play or Megaplier have all-equal chances of occurring.

Power Play Probability of Prize Increase

5X 1 in 10

4X 1 in 10

3X 1 in 3.33

2X 1 in 2

With odds of 1 in 2 for the 2X Power Play, it's no surprise that it is showing up so often.

Megaplier Probability of Prize Increase

5X 6 in 15

4X 3 in 15

3X 4 in 15

2X 2 in 15

Megaplier is definitely the better deal. Recall that PB caps the 2nd prize at $2 million, whereas MM allows 2nd prize to go to $5 million.

According to the MM "how to play" chart on Texas Lottery's website the odds for the megaplier are as follows:

2=1:7.5

3=1:3.75

4=1:5

5=1:2.5

JUST LOOK AT THE ODDS OF ANY JACKPOT GAME, THAT WILL TELL YOU EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW
LottoMetro

Happyland
United States
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September 1, 2013
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Mar 27, 2014, 11:52 am
This info is in the official rules but it isn't publicized by most lotteries....they just want you to hear the potential multiplied amounts.

And yes, the odds on the lottery's charts are for "1 in ..."

2X = 15/2 = 7.5

3X = 15/4 = 3.75

4X = 15/3 = 5

5X = 15/6 = 2.5
- If the chances of winning the jackpot are so slim, why play when the jackpot is so small? Your chances never change, but the potential payoff does.
- If a crystal ball showed you the future of the rest of your life, and in that future you will never win a jackpot, would you still play?
- I believe Joan Ginther ("world's luckiest woman") merely played lottery as a tax strategy. Evidence: zero prize claims through 10 years after her last Lotto Texas annuity payment!
noise-gate

* In hot pursuit of $ *

White Shores- California
United States
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December 12, 2012
7,258 Posts
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Mar 27, 2014, 1:00 pm

Welcome Callahan- you also get " stars" for getting your feet wet in the forum.
Unfortunately for us, California wants nothing to do with that " extra dollar" you speak of.
Peace.
Callahan

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March 27, 2014
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Mar 27, 2014, 2:27 pm

Thanks for the greet noise-gate ... I didn't know CA didn't have the extra dollar. I normally don't play Powerball and Mega Millions all that much since all these new changes with higher odds. However, when March started I decided to play both games with the extra dollar for the whole month ... so I have these tickets and have won nothing to date ... still have Fri and Sat ... but I started to notice all the 2s coming out this month for the Power Play option. If I hadn't already spent the money I would have dropped the extra dollar last week. It doesn't seem to be a worthy investment, especially with the one million top prize staying at one million.

I have decided to probably go with the MM from now on with the extra dollar ... if Lady Luck drops out of the sky, well you know the rest!

GLTA ...
maringoman

Massachusetts
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April 14, 2006
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Mar 27, 2014, 6:24 pm

Interesting observation. The MP for MM is all over the place but the PP seems stuck at 2.

That money's gone fo ever
rdgrnr

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The Hall Of The Mountain Kings Tennessee
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April 28, 2009
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Mar 27, 2014, 6:31 pm

At $3 a line with Power Play, they oughta get rid of a couple of those 2 balls in the mix.

Especially since PP doesn't affect the 2nd prize.

All these 2's are startin' to piss me off.
temptustoo

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April 2, 2010
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Mar 27, 2014, 6:42 pm

just start playing the 2 's ... better than being pissed on.......... unless u like that sort of thing...
rdgrnr

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The Hall Of The Mountain Kings Tennessee
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Mar 27, 2014, 6:54 pm

Quote: Originally posted by temptustoo on Mar 27, 2014
just start playing the 2 's ... better than being pissed on.......... unless u like that sort of thing...

You can't play the multiplier picks.
Callahan

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March 27, 2014
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Mar 27, 2014, 7:14 pm

Thanks rdgrnr, I was getting ready to reply as you did but I wasn't sure if temptustoo didn't know or was joking around. It's all random and digital and if dollars are scarce with the jackpots not growing very large, as many people wait for a larger jackpot before they start buying tickets ... might they manipulate the lower numbers (2 and 3) to hit more often?

I don't know ... that's the only part of the PB drawing that "could" be messed with since the other numbers are balls bouncing around in full view. I don't know why they don't have those four PPlay numbers bouncing around also. It would only be a second or two for a 2, 3, 4, 5 number to appear.