Record Powerball result of changes to boost sales (boosted to $500 million on Tuesday)

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP-Excite

By DAVID PITT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - The historic Powerball jackpot boosted to $500 million on Tuesday was all part of a plan lottery officials put in place early this year to build jackpots faster, drive sales and generate more money for states that run the game.

Their plan appears to be working.

Powerball tickets doubled in price in January to $2, and while the number of tickets sold initially dropped, sales revenue has increased by about 35 percent over 2011.

Sales for Powerball reached a record $3.96 billion in fiscal 2012 and are expected to reach $5 billion this year, said Chuck Strutt, executive director of the Des Moines, Iowa-based Multi-State Lottery Association, the group that runs the Powerball game.

FULL story at link.


Read more: http://apnews.excite.com/article/20121127/DA2QGB502.html

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A customer fills in his numbers on a Powerball ticket for a chance to win the $450,000 jackpot Monday, Nov. 26, 2012, in Houston for a chance to win the $450,000 jackpot. (AP Photo/Pat Sullivan)

[Purveyor]

1. OK...I'll spend $2 for a ticket but not one penny more! eom

[KamaAina]

2. Want to raise even more revenue?

Bring it to California! We've got one-eighth of the country's population, but no Powerball. (By contrast, Mega Millions presently stands at a paltry $49 million.)

[former9thward]

8. The news just had a story about a big line of people buying tickets at an AZ border town.

Thanks Cali! We can use the money!

[KamaAina]

9. I certainly hope they were all white

otherwise they might end up having to cash their ticket in pesos, once your newly empowered cops got hold of them.

[MiniMe]

3. I got my ticket

I only buy one, but it gives me good dreams until I don't win. I make many plans on how to spend all that money.

[RobinA]

13. I Do This Too

yesterday afternoon I spent trying to decide who I would contact to put me in touch with a capable lawyer. First things first.

[Archae]

4. Bought one here too.

I have no real idea on what I'd do with all that cash.

I think I'd like to buy a small RV and travel the country for awhile.

[YOHABLO]

5. I buy the tickets but never check them, it's too disappointing.

[LuckyLib]

6. Don't you mean $450 million? (not hundred thousand?)

[bitchkitty]

7. Yep, I'm going to win this one.

Y'all should start kissing my ass!

[ObaMania]

10. That's just too much money

..why does anyone need 300M anyway?

They really should change the lotteries to have more winners more often.

I've been playing the same numbers in a VA lottery twice a week for 17 years and maybe in that time won a total of 3 bucks.

In that 17 years they changed the lottery (and odds) 3 times by increasing the numbers in each block, thus resetting my chances to win at square one with each change.

[Jimbo S]

11. True

I would rather see 300 winners of $1,000,000 than 1 winner of $300,000,000.

I think I've played Powerball a total of two times ever. Not looking to win the grand prize, more happy to settle with a secondary prize that four or five matches would bring.

[Myrina]

12. yeah, while everyone's waiting in line for this ticket ....

I'll buy a ticket or 3 for a smaller paying, less frenzy-inducing draw.
Figure my chances will be better since all the nutballs are playing for the greed-bucks.
I'd be thrilled to win $1M, or even $100k.

[Fearless]

14. Ahh the lottery...

Voluntary poor tax that people are excited to pay.