Huge Lottery

[minimetoo26]

Add Kansas. More potential BB winners!

[CarShark]

So there were three jackpot winners: one each in Maryland, Kansas, and Illinois. They'll receive $213 million each, less taxes. Meanwhile, 161 people won $250,000 and 897 won $10,000.

[minimetoo26]

So there were three jackpot winners: one each in Maryland, Kansas, and Illinois. They'll receive $213 million each, less taxes. Meanwhile, 161 people won $250,000 and 897 won $10,000.

This site has the breakdown of the California parimutuel amounts: http://www.usamega.com/mega-millions-dr ... =3/30/2012

Second place gets less than $250,000 but third gets more than $10,000. They list 158 second prize winners but the numbers add up to 161, so I assume the other three came from D.C. and USVI.

[starfish1113]

Well, the Maryland ticket was bought at 7:15 pm last night at a 7-11 located about three miles or so from where I grew up. I live about 30 miles from there right now, though, and was nowhere near there last night, so I can't play the "what if" game. Well, I can, but I probably shouldn't.

[CarShark]

I hope you don't mind the huge bump, but with the Powerball back up to $425 million on Wednesday, I was curious as to who was playing again.

[earendel]

I hope you don't mind the huge bump, but with the Powerball back up to $425 million on Wednesday, I was curious as to who was playing again.

I live in fear that the people in my office, who have pooled their money to purchase tickets, will win and retire en masse, leaving me to staff the office alone. I have moral objections to the lottery and do not play even when the potential payoff is astronomical.

[SportsFan68]

Ever since Powerball doubled to $2 per chance, I don't buy until it gets into ORB territory, more than $200M.

I'm all set for tomorrow night's drawing with five Quick Picks. If I win, I'll call in rich Thursday.

[Evil Squirrel]

Ever since Powerball doubled to $2 per chance, I don't buy until it gets into ORB territory, more than $200M.

I'm all set for tomorrow night's drawing with five Quick Picks. If I win, I'll call in rich Thursday.

We'll be in the money!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[MarleysGh0st]

I hope you don't mind the huge bump, but with the Powerball back up to $425 million on Wednesday, I was curious as to who was playing again.

I live in fear that the people in my office, who have pooled their money to purchase tickets, will win and retire en masse, leaving me to staff the office alone. I have moral objections to the lottery and do not play even when the potential payoff is astronomical.

The fear of being the only one in the office left out of a winning pool is a big draw for participation. If you still won't participate, you'll have to bear that risk!

[earendel]

I hope you don't mind the huge bump, but with the Powerball back up to $425 million on Wednesday, I was curious as to who was playing again.

I live in fear that the people in my office, who have pooled their money to purchase tickets, will win and retire en masse, leaving me to staff the office alone. I have moral objections to the lottery and do not play even when the potential payoff is astronomical.

The fear of being the only one in the office left out of a winning pool is a big draw for participation. If you still won't participate, you'll have to bear that risk!

I console myself with the thought that their chances are extremely remote - I should worry more about a meteorite striking the building and wiping out the office (except for me).

[minimetoo26]

500 million now...

[BackInTex]

500 million now...

Wish I could buy my ticket in Kansas. I believe they allow winners to remain anonymous, if desired.

While I wouldn't mind having that kind of money, I would mind others knowing I have that kind of money.

[CarShark]

earendel, what are your moral objections to a lottery?

[TheConfessor]

We should take up a collection and if we win $500M, move the Bored to a faster server.

[earendel]

earendel, what are your moral objections to a lottery?

I'm not sure that I can articulate them sufficiently, but briefly I object because lotteries are designed to take advantage of people's weaknesses. They are intended to raise revenue usually on the backs of those who can least afford it - in Kentucky, at least, the lottery was seen as a way to avoid raising taxes to pay for improvements to schools. And there are enough stories of people whose lives were ruined by winning lotteries to serve as a cautionary tale about getting what you wish for.

Which brings to mind this exchange from Fiddler on the Roof:
Perchik: Money is the world's curse.
Tevye: May I be stricken with such a curse! And may I never recover!

[minimetoo26]

earendel, what are your moral objections to a lottery?

I'm not sure that I can articulate them sufficiently, but briefly I object because lotteries are designed to take advantage of people's weaknesses. They are intended to raise revenue usually on the backs of those who can least afford it - in Kentucky, at least, the lottery was seen as a way to avoid raising taxes to pay for improvements to schools. And there are enough stories of people whose lives were ruined by winning lotteries to serve as a cautionary tale about getting what you wish for.

Which brings to mind this exchange from Fiddler on the Roof:
Perchik: Money is the world's curse.
Tevye: May I be stricken with such a curse! And may I never recover!

Yeah, but I can afford to buy tickets (although I have yet to get off my lazy butt and actually do it... ) and know to get financial advice before claiming any large jackpot (FSM willing) so while you can personally choose to not participate you can drop the moral objection just because there are a few knuckleheads out there.

The other day I was in line at the service desk to return empty glass milk bottles for deposit (yeah, I live in the 1950's ) and the women ahead of me were buying Powerball tickets. I told one she was wasting her money and she looked a bit stunned for the half second before I told her it was because I already had the winning ticket, and she burst out laughing. I guess people who buy tickets are used to being looked down upon. It's a choice. Like the guy who was telling the kids at Wawa that the Red Bull wasn't good for them--as he was buying a 12-pack of beer...

[littlebeast13]

The other day I was in line at the service desk to return empty glass milk bottles for deposit (yeah, I live in the 1950's ) and the women ahead of me were buying Powerball tickets. I told one she was wasting her money and she looked a bit stunned for the half second before I told her it was because I already had the winning ticket, and she burst out laughing.

She wouldn't be wasting her money if she just copied off of your winning numbers! Duhhhh!

lb13

[minimetoo26]

We should take up a collection and if we win $500M, move the Bored to a faster server.

I found us a faster server:

[Cleopatra]

$550 MILLION

[christie1111]

I bought 3 tickets.

Why not!

[elwoodblues]

I just bought a ticket. Since I just turned 55 my chances of winning are about the same as my chances of finding a job.

[CarShark]

The winning numbers tonight were 5, 16, 22, 23 and 29 with a Powerball of 6.

All low birthdate-friendly numbers probably means we have a winner tonight, although there probably needed to be another single-digit in there. Maybe ages. That's four kids and a couple grandkids.

[CarShark]

As I suspected the jackpot was knocked off today, in a big way. Two tickets got all six numbers, but was remarkable to me was that 66 tickets had the five numbers right, minus the Powerball. 58 for a cool million and 8 Power Plays for $2 million. Also, 532 tickets won $10,000. None of them, of course, were bought by me. Oh, well. See you in a few months, I guess.

[SportsFan68]

One jackpot winner in AZ, one in Missouri, according to the Powerball site.

[TheConfessor]

My $20 spent on 10 tickets produced one "winner," matching the Power Ball + 1 other ball. This pays $4, which seems wrong, since you also get $4 if you match the Power Ball and no other balls. Oh, well.