Lottery players, your chance for millions is about to cost you twice as much.
The Multi-State Lottery Association, which administers the Powerball game, says the price of a single ticket will double to $2 beginning January 15.
"After 20 years at the same price and after watching scratch ticket sales take off with $2, $3, $5, $10, $20, and even $50 tickets, we are going to make the big jump," the association says on its website.
When the price increases, jackpots will start at $40 million, up from $20 million now, and will increase twice as fast, lottery officials say. The average jackpot is predicted to be $255 million, nearly double the current $141 million. The lottery association hopes that will increase sales.
"We know that most folks play for the big jackpots and this game will have more of those more often," it says on its website.
Officials say the odds of winning the jackpot will decrease slightly as the number of red balls, or powerballs, will decrease from 39 to 35.
They also say the pricier game should produce more millionaires, as second prize -Â for matching the five white balls without the powerball -Â increases from $200,000 to $1 million.
The Power Play option, which doubles all prizes except the jackpot, will remain, for an additional dollar on the ticket purchase, according to the lottery's website.
Powerball drawings are at 10:59 p.m. ET Wednesdays and Saturdays. Powerball is available in 42 states plus the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Officials say the cost of a single ticket for the MegaMillions game, drawn on Tuesday and Fridays, will remain at $1. Forty states plus the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands participate in MegaMillions.
oklahoma lottery
This is NOT news !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I agree–What the heck is CNN doing–Making News–
Wow... Where's the throngs of people whining about this price increase?
"When the price increases, jackpots will start at $40 million"- since half the winnings go toward taxes, the jackpot really starts at 20 million. I never liked the idea of someone telling me that I just won something and then take half of it away.
The maximum federal tax rate is 35%...not 50%!
In my state, 70% of all profits off lotteries go to the public schools.
This twice the reason now why I have never bought one.
CNN probability FAIL: "Officials say the odds of winning the jackpot will decrease slightly as the number of red balls, or powerballs, will decrease from 39 to 35."
Epic Failure.
So now you can lose twice as much each time you play....scam
The lottery. An investment program for those with extremely poor math skills.
yes, for liberals, because we all know how terrible libs are at math.
the lottery is one big ponzi scheme, look at those hefty odds people, wow!!!
"Officials say the odds of winning the jackpot will decrease slightly as the number of red balls, or powerballs, will decrease from 39 to 35."
How is the odd's of winning decreasing if the number powerballs goes from 39 to 35? It's 4 less options thusly should increase the odd's of winning.
Crapolla lots,all that lottery,,more skim money for them!! Hide and seek crackpots!!!
Check out all the power ball winners and you will find out that the winners are linked to the authorities and split on a ratio with the so called winners. It is a scam and use stupid ignorant citizens to buy the tickets and generate money for bankers. Why do you think they will not allow a small time lottery for locals in your immediate locality? Maybe because it would finally get around to who is who and show off scams easier than the big ones. It is controlled to who gets the money take it or leave it and go ahead like fools and bid on a losing bid.
if you dont play you win $2
Double the price !!!!!!-Jeeeze CNN, its just a Buck to start with.–What the H–l is the problem. CNN is making news rather than just reporting it–Boy–
I OFTEN SAY SMALLER AMOUNT, MORE NUMEROUS PURSES WOULD BENEFIT MORE PEOPLE. WHO NEEDS $255 OR EVEN $ 144 MILLION? HOW ABOUT LOTS OF $5,000,$10,000 PRIZES ! THAT'S USEFUL ENOUGH! 25K 30 K 50K 100K 250K...
Che, my fat white cat is getting a little irritated by you using her to make your point...she prefers the term "fluffy" also.
She has never purchased a lottery ticket in her life.
She has neither a golden parachute, nor a stinky ass.
She's quite fastidious, actually.
Leave her out of it, please.