Multi-State Powerball Odds To Increase In Search For Bigger Jackpots
By The News Service of Florida // July 9, 2015
Florida joined the game in 2009
TALLAHASSE, FLORIDA – With bigger payouts typically drawing more players, the multi-state Powerball lottery game is increasing the odds to win jackpots.
Starting with the Oct. 7 drawing, the odds of matching the numbers on a single $2 ticket with the numbers on the drawn balls will grow from 1 in 175,223,510 to 1 in 292,201,338.
Florida Lottery Secretary Cynthia O’Connell said in an email Thursday that since the state joined the game in 2009 there has been a push for larger jackpots.
“Over time, the standard for what is considered a ‘big jackpot’ has changed and we must respond to that,” O’Connell said in the email.
“Our sales prove that more Powerball tickets are sold when the jackpot is bigger, and sales decline significantly when jackpots are at lower levels.”
While winning jackpots will be tougher, odds are being eased for smaller payouts. Also starting Oct. 7, the odds of hitting four correct numbers will go from the current 1 in 111 to 1 in 92. The odds changes are being made by altering the sets of numbers on tickets.
The changes come as sales of Powerball nationally have dipped 19 percent in the past year due to a lack of large jackpots.
Powerball, the highest-generating terminal game in the Florida Lottery’s arsenal, accounted for $375 million of the state agency’s record-setting $5.58 billion in sales during the fiscal year that ended June 30.
However, the number was well off the $469 million generated a year earlier.
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