# $1,300,000,000. You gonna play? (powerball) **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 11, 2016, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1-300-000-000-you-gonna-play-powerball/742754 "2016-01-11T00:43:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2016, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1-300-000-000-you-gonna-play-powerball/742754/41 "2016-01-11T21:33:36Z")
First time player. I bought ten. If I break even, I’ll be happy. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Parker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/35a633/32.png) [@Richard\_Parker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Parker)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2016, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1-300-000-000-you-gonna-play-powerball/742754/42 "2016-01-11T21:47:12Z")
To those seeking to rationalize, the expected value of the bet is not significantly better than at a lower payout. After taxes and taking into account the likelihood of a split payout, it’s still a slightly negative expected value. Of course, if your fantasies of winning are worth more to you when there’s a higher jackpot, that could change the equation. But I have to admit that my $500 million fantasies are pretty similar to my $1.3 billion fantasies. ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2016, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1-300-000-000-you-gonna-play-powerball/742754/43 "2016-01-11T21:57:37Z")
> [@Richard\_Parker](#): > > Of course, if your fantasies of winning are worth more to you when there’s a higher jackpot, that could change the equation. But I have to admit that my $500 million fantasies are pretty similar to my $1.3 billion fantasies. You are clearly forgetting the power of being able to say, “Sure! I’ll take two of 'em!” ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2016, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1-300-000-000-you-gonna-play-powerball/742754/44 "2016-01-11T22:21:14Z")
If I buy ten tickets with the same set of numbers on all, and it wins, I get ten shares of the win, right? This is gonna be good. j/k, I will let the machine pick randomly ---
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2016, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1-300-000-000-you-gonna-play-powerball/742754/45 "2016-01-11T22:40:39Z")
If I calculated this right, if you buy the lottery, you get the jackpot plus an additional $93,466,048 for the winning, non-jackpot tickets: ```auto Numbers occur Power Match Non-power Payout matched count value ball (*25) 0 7,624,512 $ 4 $ 0 $ 30,498,048 1 3,176,880 $ 4 $ 0 $ 12,707,520 2 416,640 $ 7 $ 0 $ 2,916,480 3 20,160 $ 100 $ 7 $ 5,544,000 4 320 $ 50,000 $ 100 $ 16,800,000 5 1 $800,000,000 $1,000,000 $825,000,000 ---------- ------------ Totals 11,238,513 $893,466,048 ``` You’re taxed on the non-jackpot, but no annuity reduction. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2016, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1-300-000-000-you-gonna-play-powerball/742754/46 "2016-01-11T23:01:59Z")
> [@PSXer](#): > > no > gambling is degeneracy And I’m a degenerate. Already got our ticket. ---
**Author:** ![Sarabellum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sarabellum/32/3492_2.png) [@Sarabellum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarabellum)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2016, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1-300-000-000-you-gonna-play-powerball/742754/47 "2016-01-13T01:03:41Z")
Bought my ticket! I figure I’ll get $2 worth of fun fantasizing about winning until tomorrow night. ---
**Author:** ![NJ22](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/4af34b/32.png) [@NJ22](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NJ22)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2016, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1-300-000-000-you-gonna-play-powerball/742754/48 "2016-01-14T02:06:20Z")
playing for the first time since it’s worth a billion If I win I am going to the bunny ranch on nevada ave;) ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2016, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1-300-000-000-you-gonna-play-powerball/742754/49 "2016-01-14T02:54:47Z")
I had a couple scratch-off thingies I was given for my birthday in the summer. I used the $6 from those to buy three Powerball tix. Why not. ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2016, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1-300-000-000-you-gonna-play-powerball/742754/50 "2016-01-14T04:03:15Z")
Whoa, I won! Bought 5 tickets, and 1 of them hit 1 number + the Powerball, so I win $4!! Meaning I only lost $6 overall. Sweet deal! Also, the official Powerball website seems to be crashing repeatedly. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2016, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1-300-000-000-you-gonna-play-powerball/742754/51 "2016-01-14T04:11:00Z")
Those numbers look pretty ripe for multiple winners. I’m guessing it’s gonna be split at least three way. We’ll see. ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2016, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1-300-000-000-you-gonna-play-powerball/742754/52 "2016-01-14T04:11:32Z")
I didn’t realize until today this jackpot has been rolling over since November 7th, and even with all tonight’s sales there were still 15% of number possibilities unpurchased. Will be interested to see how many winners. ---
**Author:** ![NJ22](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/4af34b/32.png) [@NJ22](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NJ22)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2016, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1-300-000-000-you-gonna-play-powerball/742754/53 "2016-01-14T04:13:01Z")
I rather wait until tomorrow to find out if I won when I see my coworkers outside doing backflips ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2016, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1-300-000-000-you-gonna-play-powerball/742754/54 "2016-01-14T06:04:40Z")
I hit the Powerball!!! #10 Powerball for the win. I wish I could have gotten some others right too but that pays $4 on my $2 ticket. A round of water for everyone is on me. . ---
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2016, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1-300-000-000-you-gonna-play-powerball/742754/55 "2016-01-14T06:08:12Z")
If you’re reading this and bought a ticket, but haven’t checked to see if you’ve won yet…and bought your ticket in Chino Hills, CA…you might be in for quite a surprise. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2016, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1-300-000-000-you-gonna-play-powerball/742754/56 "2016-01-14T16:38:14Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Those numbers look pretty ripe for multiple winners. I’m guessing it’s gonna be split at least three way. We’ll see. Looks like I called it! 🙂 (OK, not _that_ impressive a prediction.) ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2016, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1-300-000-000-you-gonna-play-powerball/742754/57 "2016-01-14T16:44:51Z")
Only just checked my tickets. Got 2 and the powerball, for a whopping win of $7. (It was an encouraging spread of numbers, too, with all being under 40, and five being under 30). Spent $12 on tickets, though. Oh well. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2016, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1-300-000-000-you-gonna-play-powerball/742754/58 "2016-01-14T16:59:54Z")
I was hoping for a lucky #7 powerball, since three of my five quick picks had that number. (Side note: I’ve noticed when I do multiple QPs on one ticket, I get a lot of the same numbers. I guess I need to start buying single tickets in multiple locations.) ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2016, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1-300-000-000-you-gonna-play-powerball/742754/59 "2016-01-14T17:21:02Z")
> [@Shoeless](#): > > I was hoping for a lucky #7 powerball, since three of my five quick picks had that number. > > (Side note: I’ve noticed when I do multiple QPs on one ticket, I get a lot of the same numbers. I guess I need to start buying single tickets in multiple locations.) Nah, that’s just normal. While three of five is a little unusual, ff you order five tickets, you have about a 1 in 3 chance of a Powerball being duplicated. Order one more ticket, and it’s about 50-50. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1-300-000-000-you-gonna-play-powerball/742754.md?page=2)