Bigger jackpots, smaller everything else

The good news is that under a proposal by the Texas Lottery Commission, your odds of winning the jackpot will increase. The bad news is, the payout for everything else will decline.

Currently, players can win the Lotto Texas jackpot by matching five numbers between 1 and 44 and one bonus ball numbered from 1 to 44. The proposal calls for players to select six numbers between 1 and 54 with no bonus ball.

Adding the bonus ball worsened the odds of winning the jackpot from about 1 in 26 million to about 1 in 48 million. The odds will return to 1 in 26 million if the changes are made.

The proposal calls for devoting a larger share of ticket sales to the jackpot, which starts at $4 million and traditionally grows by at least $1 million each time no tickets match all six numbers.

That is expected to help the jackpot climb faster, and Lottery Commission spokesman Bobby Heith said research shows more players buy tickets as the grand prize grows.

But to keep the game profitable, smaller shares of ticket sales would be earmarked for prizes when players match three, four or five numbers.

Lottery watchdog Dawn Nettles said that will upset loyal ticket buyers who have come to expect a formidable payday anytime they match four or five of the six numbers.

Well, yeah, but the slow-to-increase jackpot amounts was also a problem. Maybe what they need is more casual players, who don't pay much attention to anything beyond the numbers on the billboards. Hell if I know, since I never play, but it's worth a shot, I suppose.

Posted by Charles Kuffner on January 08, 2006 to Jackpot! | TrackBack