Powerball jumps, though Mega Millions worth much more
Powerball jumps, though Mega Millions worth much more
Powerball’s jackpot rose last night by $19 million – a sign that lots of lottery players failed to recognize a better deal.
Mega Millions had more than triple the jackpot for half the price.
Per dollar, Mega Millions even has better odds.
And the two lottery games have identical territories: the same 43 states, the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Before last night, the Powerball jackpot stood at $81 million vs. $257 million for Mega Millions through Tuesday, then vs. $291 million for Mega Millions on Wednesday.
The new Mega Millions cash payout of $157 million was nearly double Powerball’s annuity, payable in 30 yearly installments.
And yet Powerball sold enough $2 tickets to nearly double its minimum $10 million increase and land at $100 million for the annuity, $56.1 million for the cash.
The rollover, of course, happened because no ticket matched all the numbers drawn last night: 6, 9, 11, 31 and 44, with a Powerball of 25.
Two players, in Missouri and Washington, D.C., won $2 million each for matching the first five numbers while having the Power Play prize-boosting option. Three Oklahoma tickets and one apiece in Indiana and California won $1 million apiece, for matching the first five without the Power Play.
Perhaps the news about October’s overhaul of Mega Millions has yet to sink in.
For more than a year and a half, Powerball had been kicking Mega Millions’ keister. Not one of Mega Millions’ last 21 jackpots topped $200,000, but during the same period 10 Powerball jackpots did. Seven topped $300 million, with two surpassing $580 million.
So, on Oct. 22, Mega Millions made a bunch of changes. Longer odds, so jackpots were more likely to roll over. Higher second-tier prizes – a new minimum of $1 million, a new max of $5 million with the Megaplier option. A minimum jackpot of $15 million (up from $12 million), and minimum increases of $5 million when no one hits. Without raising the $1 price of a ticket.
Powerball’s jackpot rose last night by $19 million – a sign that lots of lottery players failed to recognize a better deal.Mega Millions had more than triple the jackpot for half the price.
Per dollar, Mega Millions even has better odds.
And the two lottery games have identical territories: the same 43 states, the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Before last night, the Powerball jackpot stood at $81 million vs. $257 million for Mega Millions through Tuesday, then vs. $291 million for Mega Millions on Wednesday.
The new Mega Millions cash payout of $157 million was nearly double Powerball’s annuity, payable in 30 yearly installments.
And yet Powerball sold enough $2 tickets to nearly double its minimum $10 million increase and land at $100 million for the annuity, $56.1 million for the cash.
The rollover, of course, happened because no ticket matched all the numbers drawn last night: 6, 9, 11, 31 and 44, with a Powerball of 25.
Two players, in Missouri and Washington, D.C., won $2 million each for matching the first five numbers while having the Power Play prize-boosting option. Three Oklahoma tickets and one apiece in Indiana and California won $1 million apiece, for matching the first five without the Power Play.
Perhaps the news about October’s overhaul of Mega Millions has yet to sink in.
For more than a year and a half, Powerball had been kicking Mega Millions’ keister. Not one of Mega Millions’ last 21 jackpots topped $200,000, but during the same period 10 Powerball jackpots did. Seven topped $300 million, with two surpassing $580 million.
So, on Oct. 22, Mega Millions made a bunch of changes. Longer odds, so jackpots were more likely to roll over. Higher second-tier prizes – a new minimum of $1 million, a new max of $5 million with the Megaplier option. A minimum jackpot of $15 million (up from $12 million), and minimum increases of $5 million when no one hits. Without raising the $1 price of a ticket.
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