we ought to have a nation-wide Lottery system to replace the IRS and the income tax. -g
Better yet, let's have a WORLD-WIDE Lottery system and do away with the United Nations -LOL
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Modifications to Powerball, PowerPlay Add More Interest
BUSINESS WIRE - September 30, 2002 13:51
MIDDLETOWN, Pa., Sep 30, 2002 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- The Pennsylvania Lottery announces upcoming changes to the Powerball(R) game and to PowerPlay(R), effective with the October 9, 2002, Powerball(R) drawing.
The Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL) - a non-profit, government-benefit association owned and operated by its member lotteries, including the Pennsylvania Lottery - has made the changes. These modifications have been made to further enhance the game and to add even more interest to the game and to make the PowerPlay(R) option more attractive to players. The changes are as follows:
Four white balls added / No new red balls
To accommodate the Pennsylvania Lottery's participation in Powerball(R), a matrix change was necessary. Powerball(R) players now will select five white ball numbers from 1 to 53 rather than from 1 to 49. The four ball numbers will be added to the drum for the October 9, 2002, Powerball(R) drawing. The number of red balls - the red Powerball(R) balls - will remain the same at 42 red ball numbers.
The Powerball(R) game is designed so that, while the odds of winning the jackpot prize will increase from 1-in-80 million to 1-in-120 million, the odds of winning a prize for matching the red Powerball(R) alone will actually decrease, from 1-in-73.7 to 1-in-70.4. So, it now will be easier for players to win the prize for matching the red Powerball(R) number alone.
The overall odds of winning a Powerball(R) prize will increase slightly, from 1-in-35 to 1-in-36. The higher jackpot odds and the increased number of players will mean that the jackpot will climb higher and faster.
This is only the second change to the Powerball(R) matrix in the game's 10 1/2-year history. The current game has seen jackpots climb to over $130 million six times since 1997, twice reaching nearly $300 million. The newest version of Powerball(R) is expected to see jackpot amounts climb even higher!
PowerPlay(R)
Currently, at the beginning of each Powerball(R) drawing, a spinning wheel with 12 slots numbered 1 through 5 is used to select the PowerPlay(R) number (the wheel features two 1s, two 2s, two 3s, two 4s and four 5s). If a player purchases the PowerPlay(R) option and qualified for a cash prize in a Powerball(R) game, the prize amount (except the jackpot) is multiplied by the PowerPlay(R) number.
One of the most significant Powerball(R) improvements is a change to the PowerPlay(R) feature - the "1" multiplier has been removed from the PowerPlay(R) number wheel!
The new PowerPlay(R)(R) wheel will be conducted the same way, but it now will have 15 slots with numbers ranging from 2 to 5. The current wheel has four 5s. The new wheel will have six 5s and three 2s, three 3s and three 4s! Thus, the chance of 5 being the PowerPlay(R) number has increased from 33 percent of the spins to 40 percent of the spins!
With this improvement, PowerPlay(R) players who win any of the eight fixed prizes will be guaranteed winnings multiplied by at least two times!
Match 5 Bonus Prize
Powerball(R) players will see another new addition to the Powerball(R) game - a Match 5 Bonus prize feature at no additional cost. The new bonus prize becomes effective whenever Powerball(R) reaches a new record jackpot level.
Every time Powerball(R) reaches a new record-setting jackpot high, part of the prize money will be used to create the Match 5 Bonus pool. Then, when there is a jackpot winner, the money in the new Match 5 Bonus pool will be divided equally among the winners of the Match-5-White-Balls-Without-The-Powerball(R) prize level. For some drawings, this could mean enhanced prizes of $1 million or more in cash as the Match 5 Bonus will be paid in a single, one-time, lump-sum payment!
The new Match 5 Bonus prize pool is a first for a lotto game. As record-setting jackpot levels in Powerball(R) continue to climb, we could see 100 winners receiving $1 million or more in cash. The new Powerball(R) will be unique in that Pennsylvania Lottery players who do not win the jackpot still could become millionaires!
The Match 5 Bonus pool will go into effect the first time a Powerball(R) jackpot reaches $320 million. Players dream of hitting the "big" jackpot, but at such a level, we believe our players will be delighted to see prize money shared to create even more big winners.
Remember: The Match 5 Bonus is in operation only when the jackpot is at a record level AND there is a jackpot winner.
Annuity Prize Payments
Although most players take the cash option, Powerball(R) now will extend the current annuity option from 24 years (25 payments) to 29 years (30 payments). Annuity winners will receive their first payment soon after filing a claim and will then receive a guaranteed return and annual payments for the next 29 years after their win.
With the annuity option, the Lottery can invest the entire cash amount before taxes and will guarantee the return and the annuity payments to the winner. Adding five more annual payments will mean additional guaranteed returns for the winner without substantially reducing each annual payment.
Claiming a prize
Currently, all jackpot claims for Powerball(R) prizes must be filed at Pennsylvania Lottery headquarters in Middletown, Dauphin County. Effective with the October 9, 2002, Powerball(R) drawing, all jackpot claims for Powerball(R) prizes AND all claims for matching five white balls without the Powerball(R) (the second-tier prize) also must be filed at Pennsylvania Lottery headquarters. All other Powerball(R) cash prize winners still may claim their prizes at any licensed Pennsylvania Lottery numbers games retailer.
The Pennsylvania Lottery remains the only state Lottery that designates its proceeds to benefit older citizens. Since inception more than 30 years ago, the Lottery has contributed $12.9 billion to programs that have expanded to include property tax and rent rebates, free and reduced fare transit for older Pennsylvanians, a co-pay prescription drug program (PACE and PACENET) and the 52 Area Agencies on Aging, including 650 full- and part-time senior centers, located throughout Pennsylvania. Players must be 18 years of age or older.
CONTACT: Pennsylvania Lottery Sally A. Danyluk, 717/986-4768 717/805-8552 - Cell phone sdanyluk@state.pa.us
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