Changes Are Coming To Powerball

Earlier in this blog, I told you about the changes coming in January for Powerball’s drawings. Another announcement about some even bigger changes in the game also has been made, but it hasn’t gotten much attention yet in Iowa. Well, we can talk about it here and it will be our little secret!

To see the announcement I’m talking about and read comments from lottery players around the country, click here. You’ll see that when Florida begins selling tickets in Powerball in January, the numbers you can play in the game will change. There will be some additions, some subtractions, longer odds of winning the jackpot, but an improvement in the overall odds of winning a prize. At the same time, Powerball’s starting jackpot will increase from $15 million to $20 million, and the average jackpot offered in the game will increase from an expected average of $95.5 million to $141 million.

The white balls in the game will move from 55 to 59 while the number of red balls will fall from 42 to 39. The net effect is that one additional ball will be added to the mix.

A quick highlight of other changes:

• The percentage of money from the sale of tickets that will be dedicated to the Powerball jackpot will increase from 30.3 percent to 32.5 percent, a change designed to produce bigger, faster-growing jackpots.
• The $200,000 prize for matching the first five numbers but missing the Powerball will have a guaranteed 5X multiplier for those who choose the Power Play option. That will push the prize to $1 million, which will be paid in one lump sum.
• The overall odds in the game will be reduced to add more than 3 million extra prizes won per year.

The price of Powerball tickets will remain the same, at $1 with the option of adding the Power Play option for an additional $1 per play. The Power Play option will continue to offer a random multiplier of 2X, 3X, 4X or 5X for all prizes except the jackpot. But as I mentioned earlier, the Match 5 prize will have a guaranteed 5X multiplier, turning that cash prize into $1 million with the Power Play option.

The changes will take effect in early January and will mark the fifth redesign for Powerball since its start in 1992.

I’ve seen the comments in some of the postings around the country and they’re split between those who criticize the upcoming longer odds for winning the jackpot vs. those who appreciate that there will be bigger, faster-growing jackpots and better overall odds of winning a prize. I expect that the same arguments will be made here in Iowa as word about the changes spreads.

I think the bottom-line issue for everyone to remember is that from the first discussions about starting a game like Powerball, it was designed to be a big-jackpot game. And it takes long odds and a big population base playing the game to produce those huge prizes. The addition of Florida to Powerball definitely will increase the population playing the game, which will mean good things when it comes to the size of the jackpots.

Comments

[Ann]

INEVER WIN.

I still buy tickets thinking this may be the one.

Maybe I get A DOLLAR.

[Mary Neubauer]

LOL, Herb! I have to admit I don’t know what the statistics are on getting run over while on your way to the mailbox, but that would be bad, so please be careful! J Powerball has always been a big jackpot game, and with those big jackpots come long odds. It isn’t really possible to have one without the other. We do offer a lot of other games that you can play if you’re frustrated with Powerball. Hot Lotto, for example, has Powerball-style play, but with easier odds. The jackpot in that game is currently at $7.39 million. And Iowa’s $100,000 Cash Game is an Iowa-only game with drawings Monday-Saturday. The top prize is $100,000 and we have lots of jackpot winners in it. An Algona woman just won the game’s top prize on Friday! Great to hear from you. Mary N.

[Mary Neubauer]

It looks like Gary and Karen are both asking the same question, just in slightly different ways. Powerball has been redesigned a few times over the years to add new features and keep the jackpots growing. One thing that has never changed, however, is Powerball’s focus on big jackpots. For all those who say they’d like to see the jackpot split amongst more people when it reaches a certain level there are just as many folks who says they only play when the jackpot gets up there. I know that for now, Powerball will remain a big jackpot game. But we’re always looking for feedback and ideas, so I’ll keep your comments on hand and share them with other folks in the Powerball system. Love your comments! Keep them coming. Mary N.

[Michael]

The one thing I would like to know is the TEST numbers that come up BEFORE the actual drawings.........the fact that two set of same numbers coming up is very high and players should know so that have this info when playing their numbers.

[Herb Peshel]

I have bought power ball tickets from day one and have never gotten more than three numbers. The red one maybe twice. I hav e a better chance of getting run o ver going to the mailbox.