The only reason for doing this is to milk more money out of those in society who can least afford it. Many of the people that play the lottery are those with lower incomes who dream of hitting it big. These people will continue to play with the increased ticket price only now they will be spending twice as much money. I have nothing against the lottery, but this move is a little ridiculous and it targets the dreamers who really can not afford the extra buck.

very true 2 thumbs up....if your going to gamble ,write it down on a large calendar what you spent in a day....and the end of each week ,count what you spent and what you won....end of each month add up what lost and on and on....guaranteed ....you'll give up gambling...or you just like beat you and your family up...if it was a way to get rich everyone will win ...rite!!!

forgot to mention this is one other way the "man "gets to take from the poor n give to the rich...don't gamble, make him squirm for his wealth...knock the smile off his face

Wait...the gambling expert from U. Mass.-Dartmouth is named Clyde Barrow? That's got to be a joke. What...Is he married to Bonnie Parker? That cannot be his real name. High larious !!

Well, to put the lottery in the most simple terms - it's just a voluntary tax. Funk that! I'll keep my money right in my pocket, thank you very much.

JS

I think people of all socioeconomic levels play the lottery.

Those with lots of money are less motivated but it seems the winners are usually mid to upper income, or retired.

Often it is won by people that work together pooling their money.

I agree with Mike, Megabucks unless the big guys get way up there. I usually don't buy in until it hits $300 Million.

I've been playing for years - the minute it goes to two dollars, I'll stop playing. I'm switching to Mega bucks.

Another interesting point - wasn't it Powerball that just had a 77 million dollar ticket that was never claimed? Where did THAT money go?

Instead of a $2 powerball ticket I can by a $1 MegaMillions ticket and a $1 Texas Lotto ticket.

The lottery officials/idiots will lear the hard way, like Netflix did. Kill the goose that lays the golden eggs.

I power play the power ball and the mega so it won't cost me anymore since I just won't power play the power ball and will have a chance to win 1 million just like before. It is kinda funny to read others saying not to waste your money on playing the lottery. they way I look at it a lot of people that do not play the lottery waste more money than I do in a week eating out for lunch and drinking coke's, etc day after day. I don't eat out but one time a week and I only drink water during the day and at supper (from the tap) 98% of the time.

I won't pay more than a buck for a little fun and a chance to win. Goodbye, Powerball.

The article stated that more people play when the jackpot is at 140 million or higher. What they don't state is that the gambling addicts and the poor are the ones to get the jackpot to that point.

I play 20 bucks for five weeks on lottery, 10 draws for the Mega and 10 draws for the Powerball, nothing more except the occasional spot buy when the jackpot is over 300 million. Now they are upping the ante to 30 bucks a month which is more than I am willing to pay for something that is next to impossible to win. That dream isn't worth a 100% increase in price.

The odds are 1 in 175 million that you will win the jackpot. Now lets look at it the way it should be written, 1 in 175,000,000-----that doesn't really look better than 1 in 192,000,000.

The government is now the worlds biggest bookie and drug dealer. You can play the lottery but you can't play poker. You can drink and smoke but don't do any other drugs or you will go to jail. If we can't control it and tax it, you can't do it. But, please play responsibly.

How about posting the salaries of the people that run the lottery, before and after this increase so we can truly determine who benefits the most.

Toll bridges has gone up, fuel & oil prices are said to be going up even higher (no thanks to Iran) and now this. Why can't these S.O.Bs. do a survey to see if what they are saying is true. Why? Because they are the people who were born rich or were born from either a low or middle class, made their way up and forgot where they came from. The majority of the people who buy lotto are poor or struggling to make ends meet and are hoping to see if they win something, to pay their bills or to retire sooner. Give us a break!

I, for one am not going to support this scam. I think I would be o.k. winning 20 million (of course 40 mil would be better) but if you look at the odds of winning vs the number of tickets bought, I would rather have more chances(more tickets) so I think I'll play Mega millions @ $1.00 per drawing. If enough people boycott this perhaps they will reconsider.

Yeah why is online poker illegal. In a so called FREE society? Guess we are not that free.

Really? It took the lottery raising prices to come to that conclusion? Wow...Just Wow...

[Most] online poker is illegal because it is offshore. Foreign casinos (physical or online) have no obligation to report any winnings to Uncle Sam. Therefore, Uncle Sam has no reliable way to tax any winnings. So they pass laws making it illegal to send money to foreign-based online casinos. In theory: If you can't send money to them, you can't bet; if you can't bet, you can't win; if you can't win, there's no untaxed income.

It all comes down to taxation. If they could tax it, it probably wouldn't be illegal.

[Most] online poker is illegal because it is offshore.

Actually, online poker is offshore BECAUSE it is illegal here. This is where most of the money is so this is where most of the poker would be if we weren't so concerned about protecting everyone from themselves. Most of the "thanks" goes to conservatives on this one.

Now Im going to play the Mega Millions. They can shove those $2 up their @!$%#s!

yup poker is gambling....the Lottery....ANY lottery is pure dumb luck....that is the difference. One is reliant on some obtuse skills and the other is just the luck of the draw. Neither is worthy of the effort required.

........ so is Bingo.... granny is hooked on gambling

Backcountry164: Most of the "thanks" goes to conservatives on this one.......

Yeah, because everyone knows conservatives are all about more laws and government regulation!

Yup, greed is alive and well! Let's just hope these schemers learn the same lesson BofA learned with their debit card fee, Netflix learned with their new scam, and Verizon learned with their payment fee.

@Brent981

Yeah, because everyone knows conservatives are all about more laws and government regulation!

Well, everyone knows they CLAIM to be opposed to those things but lets not play dumb shall we? When it comes to social issues republicans have no problems throwing out a ton of laws. As for regulation, I'm just going to assume you were alive in 2000-2008 since you can read. Bush Jr passed more regulation through his first three years than Obama has in his.

FYI, I'm a libertarian so if you think you can convince me that republicans are opposed to laws and regulation you're sadly mistaken. That is a bandwagon they have only recently jumped on and I sure as hell wouldn't wager it's one they'll stay on!

RedWingFan, you nailed it on the head but it also shows the glaring double standard. Corporations can send jobs overseas and get tax "breaks". We can also import goods from other countries that don't follow the same manufacturing standards that we do and charge minimal tariffs.

It's not that they want the taxes, it's who they want to pay the taxes. The lottery is billed as a good thing but for every one person or group that wins the jackpot how many losers are digging themselves a deeper hole? It's not the 1% putting money into the lottery, it is the 99% dreaming of becoming the 1% that do.

The article stated that half of the ticket sales go back to the states that sell them to help fund government programs, in other words, it's a tax.

Now let's call it what it really is, the PowerTax and Mega-Tax although it might not sell as much.

@Browns Backer

...go back to the states that sell them to help fund government programs, in other words, it's a tax.

No, it's not a "tax", governments raise money by other means also. If it were a tax you'd be REQUIRED to pay it. It's more akin to a donation than a tax. Why anyone would want to donate money to our wasteful government at any level is beyond me but it's no secret where the money goes so if people choose to do so it is their right.

And the reason those online poker sites moved offshore is because the Republican congress made it illegal in 2006.

I can afford $1 for each game, and enjoy playing both powerball and mega every week. However, not for $2 a ticket. I've decided to purchase 2 mega million tickets each time, instead of the powerball. I looked at the odds, and it is a no-go for me. I have not seen anyone mention it yet anywhere on the sites, but unless I am really stupid (it's been known to happen), Mega Millions jackpot alone odd are 175,711,536.0000 and Powerball's odds are 175,223,510.00. Overall, they are Mega's 1 in 39.89 and Powerballs 1 in 31.85. Like 488,026.00 difference. Yes, but look at the other categories! I may win $1,000,000 in the match 5 in powerball but they are 1 in 1,248,931.85 chance less than winning $250,000.00 in Mega. I'm only buying Mega until the price of powerball goes back to $1, or the jackpot reaches $400,000,000. Then my odds spending the $2 will even out for the $2 I did not spend every week in the weeks leading up to the $400,000,000 in Powerball. Do yourselves a favor. Don't just hear that the odds are improved...pull up the odds for Mega and Powerball and put them side by side. There is where you will see the real truth. Then decide which game to play. There is only one thing that would really bother me, and that is if Mega raises their game to $2 as well!!!

there are going to be less numbered balls...so the odds of winning will go up...that's what the deal is....

Yeah, the odds dropped from 176M -1 to about 150M-1! But the price doubles. I played twice a week---- I stress........ PLAYED! It's about greed, not bigger jackpots. Megamillions here I come!

Why don't you read the whole article? Comments like this make me sick. Oh the idiocy.

And of course everyone noticed that the LOWER prizes remain the SAME. In other words, now pay $20 for a FIVE game ticket with power play to win the same $7 to $35, or $20 to $100, while the real lucky ones who get 5 numbers without the powerball number will win up to $$1,000,000.

How did the author come up with this one:

Simple, he did more than just read a headline.

Again you did not read the article

The "enriched Powerball game" will still have participants choosing their first five numbers from a pool of 59, but the numbers available for the Powerball itself will drop to 35 from 39. That will raise the odds of winning to 1 in 175 million from 1 in 192 million.

It does not matter how many people play the odds never change with the amount of tickets purchased the only thing affected by the amount of players is the size of the jackpot if there are multiple winners. I will still buy tickets but as Mike said I will just play Mega and let it build up before I spend the extra money.

Then Mega will increase the price as well, because so many suckers are switching over.

'Grady-1071322' wrote: "... I have been playing it twice a week for over 20 years now and the most I ever won at one time was $10.00"

REPLY: Grady, this is just in response to your comment, not intended to be personal (just using your example). If you had 'invested' that $2,080 over twenty years in a simple IRA, invested in no load Index Funds -- rather than flushing it down the lottery toilet on a game of chance -- your two dollars a week over twenty years would have resulted in a nice little tax deferred nest-egg of more than $35,000 today. That's what I would consider winning! Instead of $35,000+ today, you have $0.

Games of chance are perfect entertainment for losers, by definition, because nearly everyone losses.

Pay yourself first. Save, and invest prudently (no matter how small the incremental investment) and grow rich slowly. It's nearly foolproof, and it's never too late to start.

Robert,

You might be correct (I'm certainly not going to check your math), but most of the people that play the lottery don't have the discipline to put any amount of money in the bank for 20 years. Even if they did, they would eventually pull it out when the transmission in their car needed repair, or they were strapped with a thousand other unexpected expenses that a middle class income doesn't allow the luxury of covering.

I'm not putting these people down, believe me. I am one of them. I was able to put a small percentage of my income in a company supported 401-K which lost 40% of it's value thanks to the collapse of the financial markets in the last 4 years, so that didn't work out that great either, although I do have more that if I would have bought lottery tickets with the money.

hope you win it all grady...

Robert....

You do realize that there's a difference between someone not winning on a lottery ticket and someone being a loser don't you? You're no better than anyone else. I like scratch offs personally. I won a nice amount once and it was, like all games of chance, pure luck. I make sure I fund my 401k, add money to my savings account each month, and faithfully pay my mortgage. But I'm not going to be a savings drone without enjoying life. What's the point of that. Everyone wastes a little here and there. Hopefully they enjoy what they spend on.

Can you imagine how much money people would have today if twenty years ago they saved that $1.50 they spent on smokes? Figure two packs a day...$3.00 times 30 days= $90.00 and the prices are twice that now!

I marvel at the folks who have no money for a new car or a dentist...but find as much as $8.00 a day for smokes. That is $240.00 a month...every month. But we all make our choices.

'Interaffairs' wrote:
"Robert....You do realize that there's a difference between someone not winning on a lottery ticket and someone being a loser don't you? You're no better than anyone else.

REPLY: Yes, of course I realize there is a difference, 'Interaffairs'. And I was careful to write (in my comment, above) "...losers, by definition, because nearly everyone loses."

*Definition: "loser", noun, 1. a person, team, nation, etc., that loses:

The visiting team was the loser in the series.

You inferred I was judging; I was not. I was actually only making a simple point. The way to wealth and financial security, for most of us, should be "pay yourself first." Regardless of one's socio-economic circumstances, disciplined saving and diversified investing in a simple IRA, over time, will grow wealth. And even very small amounts of saving and investing (like $2 per week, rather than spending that money on games of chance) will pay large rewards. :)

'mark from Minnesota' wrote:

"Robert .... I was able to put a small percentage of my income in a company supported 401-K which lost 40% of it's value thanks to the collapse of the financial markets in the last 4 years, so that didn't work out that great either"

REPLY: Yes, Mark, me too. However 401-K and IRA accounts are intended to be for long term investment (and growth); and then long term withdrawal in retirement, while the invested principal continues earning.

For most who simply left their 401K/IRA plans alone these past four years, that "loss" was just a big, but temporary 'hiccup' (on paper), which is well on the way to being erased by market value growth; despite tepid economic growth.

When equities (stocks, securities) prices are down, the dividends paid (and reinvested) will buy more shares than when equities prices are higher. So when the equities prices recover, even without further investment, the investor will actually have more account value than before the temporary paper loss.

Those who responded to the markets fall by increasing their contributions to their 401K/IRA will reap even greater reward. Those who responded to the markets fall by reducing their contributions, or cashing out, have lost big, indeed.

Yes, it was a scary time (and still is in many ways). But it's also a great time to redoubling ones commitment to "pay yourself first." Most people whom are not yet retired should first maximize their contribution to their 401K/IRA retirement accounts, and forego the games of chance, in order to be a "winner." :)

'Interaffairs' and Mark, I'm not judging anyone. I too occasionally will buy a $1 ticket (when I walk by the machine at the grocery store and see that there is an absolutely ENORMOUS jackpot value; HA!). My point is that rather than see fellow Americans whom are disciplined enough to spend $2 per week, every week, on games of chance, ... I would like to see those whom can least afford such pursuits to recognize that our financial security is very much in our own hands.

In the current American political environment there would be outright rebellion if state and local governments increased our taxes by $2 per week. Yet we think nothing of throwing away that amount on games of chance, which return relatively little to loca governments for the provision of greatly needed social services, public safety and investment in regional economic development (... while the private gaming (gambling) contractors pocket the real bounty).

By regular, even very small, investment in our American companies/markets through disciplined contributions to or own retirement plans (every pay period), we help boost the local and national economy. Pay yourself first, and ALSO boost the regional and American economy. That's "win! Win!", any way you look at it.

-----------------

Here's some interesting trivia (again using the S & P 500 index, just for example):

The S & P 500 index Highest ever close, on October 9, 2007 was 1,565.15 pts.
As the greatest economic crises since "the Great Depression" unwound the index fell to a 13-year low closing on March 9, 2009 at 676.53 pts.
That was an approx. 56.8% loss from the high.

Yesterday, January 3, 2012, less than 3-years later, the S & P closed at 1,277.06.
That's an increase of 88.77% from the low March 9, 2009.
That's an average growth of 2.61% per month over the 34-month period!

And even including the dramatic fall of the markets from Oct. 9, 2007 to March 9, 2009, the Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) is over 8.75% for the past 20 years.
And the 20-year growth of index value (approx. 400 pts. at the end of 1991, approx. 1,100 pts. at the end of 2011) has been about 275%.

Looks to me like THAT would be a much better strategy for wealth.

:)

Lotteries, a little fun and a few dreams for the price of a dollar (or two). John Stephenson, a taxing person that thinks he is worthy of judging other peoples spending habits.

I bet as John typed that out he was doing so on his Mac while sipping his Starbucks.

schoolyard, so if you don't play with a grizzly bear and a polar bear on the same day, would that decrease your odds of getting mauled?

I think what we will see, is more people having to share the pot, which means you will get LESS for your extra money.

I know the odds are ridiculous, but then I watch an episode of the lottery changed my life or some crap and I am right back buying a ticket. For me spending a few bucks a week on a chance is nothing, and the proceeds here go to schools, so I am fine with that.

i'll still buy ...2 bucks... for a chance at millions... and keep on troll'n...

I would like to see people who get 3 numbers and the powerball win a decent amount rather than winning $100 to $500 or getting 4 numbers and the powerball and winning only $100,000 while ONE BIG winner wins $250 Million.

BlueMist wrote "Here we go with the comments about wasting money on lotteries. Where else can you buy an opportunity to win millions of dollars for a dollar or two? Nowhere. Are the odds astronomically high that I won't win? Yes, but I definitely won't win if I don't play."

You still won't win. Hopefully, a few $1 tickets will buy you more peace from a mundane life than a bottle of wine.

Actually, I have already won 5 out of 6 on Lotto (not quite the odds of 6 out of 6, but ridiculously high nonetheless). I have to say that it was great to go to the main lottery office to pick up my check. But it's just a matter of luck. Either it's my lucky day or it isn't.

This is entertainment. I am not looking for peace in lottery tickets, nor do I have a mundane life. I also do not have to pick between wine and lottery tickets. I can buy plenty of both with no problem.

Perhaps you should try it, as you sound absolutely miserable. Do you enjoy telling sick people their odds of dying, as well?

Helps the schools? Haven't you read the news where they cant pay teachers, shutting schools down and reorganizing districts because States DON'T have the money? Don't get me started on budget cuts that continue to close schools...

That's a HUGE rock you live under. Most of the "school" money goes into the pockets of the Administration running the game.

And it's LOSING not LOOSiNG. Looks like your school didn't have enough money either.

The fine print when it states help the schools is: Supports higher education.

The states actually take the money from lotteries and switch it with the property tax. Lotteries are really a scam by the states.

Actually, here in CT the biggest problems with education are the so called "magnet schools". People don't realize that they are just publicly funded private schools and they are everywhere. They've spent billions on these places, for what? 150 million dollars for a 500 student school. WTF!!! thats 300,000 per student. And we have dozens of these things. Talk about waste. Take the money and invest in the schools we have already, hire more teachers etc.

If it's not used on schools as they say it is, than guess we've been "had" again.

If I had that kind of money, I wouldn't mind paying my fair share.

The odds are better to win the jackpot only. The number of powerballs is less than what they were. The regular balls have the same amount of balls.

An interesting note - if you win, say one million dollars, they give you two options, take the whole amount now, and they remove the taxes up front (about one half), or take it over twenty years (while they put that amount in a savings - they're paying you mostly the interest earned on a million). Then, at the end of twenty years, they still have (most of) their million. They are raking in TONS of money, while you are STILL being taxed on practically everything you buy. And none of us knows where all that money is actually going!

Try Panera or Dunkin' Donuts. They have good coffee a lot cheaper.

super x,

In Eastern MA, a LARGE latte at McDonald's is $2.00 plus tax and VERY good... try it, I think you'll like it

Vote for Obama if you want to be a slave.

no matter who wins ...we the people will always loose...

I thought this article was about the lottery.

maze-1548920: You have NO idea what a ponzi is....................

Yeah, you can count me out of the Powerball from here on out. Ill stay with Mega Millions.