| How is Powerball Changing? |
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On January 15, 2012, Powerball will undergo major changes to produce bigger jackpots, better odds of winning and more millionaires. The cost of a ticket will increase to $2. Here are the key changes:
• Starting jackpot doubles from $20 million to $40 million.
• Jackpots increase by a minimum of $10 million with each roll.
• Odds of winning the jackpot will improve from 1 in 195.2 million
to 1 in 175.2 million.
• Overall odds of winning will improve from 1 in 35 to 1 in 32.
• Match-5 prize will increase from $200,000 to $1 million.
• The Powerball-only prize will increase from $3 to $4. |
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| Is the New Powerball Played the Same? |
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The basic play style is the same; however, the number of red Powerball numbers is being reduced by four. (The number of white ball numbers remains the same.) So, players will select five white ball numbers from a field of 59 and one red Powerball number from a field of 35. |
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| Will Power Play Still Be Available? |
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Yes, but Power Play prizes become set prizes, no longer dependent upon a multiplier. These set prizes are at least double the original Powerball prize and range from $12 for matching just the Powerball number to $2 million for matching all five white ball numbers. The cost is still an additional $1 per play. |
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| Why the Price Increase? |
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The richer benefits provided by the enhanced Powerball game are funded by the price increase. This is similar to how the Lottery positions benefits for its scratch-off games, where the cost of the ticket corresponds to the size of the prizes available and the odds of winning. For those players who prefer a $1 big jackpot game, Mega Millions is a great option. |
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| What is the Benefit to Players? |
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The enhanced Powerball game is designed to give players more draw-style game choices than ever before by offering a premium jackpot game with bigger jackpots, better odds of winning and more million-dollar prizes. Together, Powerball and Mega Millions offer jackpot lovers the chance to play FOUR times a week with Powerball drawings on Wednesdays and Saturdays and Mega Millions drawings on Tuesdays and Fridays. |
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| What About the Multidraw Suspension? |
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Multidraw returns in full for Powerball on January 15th. |
