Get ready for POWERBALL Florida.
Starting January 4th, Florida will join the mega Powerball Lottery. Florida will still offer all current games including the Lotto, but residents will now get to go for those huge jackpots we've been hearing about for years. The Powerball game ties in 31 states (and Washington DC) for a chance at the jackpot. Starting January 4th, the minimum jackpot will be $20 Million and will 'roll-over' if nobody wins.
The actual 'drawing' will move from Iowa to Florida in January too. I don't really know the significance of that move...not like it will give us a leg-up on the chances. January 4th brings some changes to the game as well. With Florida's 18 million residents, more tickets means bigger jackpots when nobody wins...it also means that the odds at winning get even slimmer. But when you do win, it's a whopper.
Here's how it works...along with a few of the changes starting in January 2009-
Players pay $1 per ticket. For each ticket you pick 5 numbers (white balls will be drawn from one 'pot') and 1 Powerball number (a red ball that is drawn from a separate 'pot').
The pool of numbers to pick from for your 5 number selection is 1 through 59 (going up from 1 through 55).
The pool of number to pick from for your 1 Powerball selection is 1 through 39 (going down from 1 through 42).
With there being fewer 'Powerballs' this January...it will actually increase your chances to win the minimum prize of $3. The minimum prize is won when you match the red Powerball and nothing else.
Second prize isn't too shabby. If you match all 5 white balls (but not the power ball), you win $200,000. And if you added the 'multiplier' to your $1 ticket (at a cost of another $1), you could increase your payout from 2 to 5 times...depending on the randomizer picked at the time of the drawing. The only prize the multiplier doesn't apply to is the grand prize. Duh.
Well good luck everyone....and if you just do happen to win the big prize...remember us here at FTLToday
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