PowerBall and MegaMillions

[RecycleMichael]

Starting at the end of the month is a new lottery game. Now we will be able to throw away our money and have drawings that make us losers on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.

Mega Millions has players choosing five numbers between 1 and 56, then a second number in a range of 1 and 46. The odds of doing so are 1 in 175,711,536. A cash payout is available, but the annuity is 25 years (26 payments) or $38,461 for each million dollars won (before taxes).

Powerball has players choosing five numbers between 1 and 59, then a second number in range of 1 and 39. The odds of doing so are 1 in 195,249,054. A cash payout is available, but the annuity is paid out over 29 years (30 payments) or $33,333 per million dollars won (before taxes).

[sgrizzle]

Isn't Mega Millions statewide only?

[RecycleMichael]

Mega Millions is in 12 states...including Texas, California, Illinois, etc.

http://www.megamillions.com/whereto/

Powerball is in 31 states...including most of the ones without MegaMillions

http://www.powerball.com/powerball/pb_map.asp

[Hoss]

Mega Millions is in 12 states...including Texas, California, Illinois, etc.

http://www.megamillions.com/whereto/

Powerball is in 31 states...including most of the ones without MegaMillions

http://www.powerball.com/powerball/pb_map.asp

Used to be that these two competitors required exclusivity agreements with the states that subscribed.  In November both released that requirement.  Oklahoma is one of the first states to take advantage of it.