Powerball at $300 Million

[dgridley]

If you won, would you take the lump sum or go for the whole amount? I'd take the lump sum as I think I could survive on $140 million quite nicely!

U.S. retailers prepared for a crush of ticket buyers as the jackpot for the Powerball multistate lottery reached $300 million, the game's fourth-largest prize.

Separately, there were no winners in last night's Mega Millions drawing, pushing the drawing on Aug. 28 to $250 million, according to a statement by the New York State Lottery released by PR Newswire. Twelve tickets matched the numbers for a second- place prize of $250,000 each.

Powerball numbers will be drawn in West Des Moines, Iowa, at 9:59 p.m. local time tonight. The jackpot rose to $300 million, or $140.3 million for those who take their winnings as a one-time cash payment, the lottery said. Tickets cost $1 and sales end about two hours before the numbers are picked, depending on the state.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20670001&refer=&sid=aeoncPO3Yf2E

 

[mis_chiff]

We should put in a $1 each, post all nic's in it
and split it :D:

 

[.X.]

I had three sets of numbers in last nights drawing, I got the megaplier of course, Never know when you just might hit the 5 numbers, so the megplier is worth $1 per number line, Get those 5 numbers, and the lowest you will win is $500,000 , Winning One million is a great chance too, I didn't do any good in last drawing, I will give it another try next drawing

 

[viciouscircle]

Due to inflation and low interest rates, taking the lump sum is a much safer bet IF you win.

Of course, by winning, you would have to play Powerball, which means you're probably not too concerned about odds...

 

[dgridley]

There should be a thread.. post a pic of your powerball ticket. If you post your ticket, you agree to share equally with all others who also post their ticket for that drawing. I wonder if that's legal and or binding?

 

[mis_chiff]

There should be a thread.. post a pic of your powerball ticket. If you post your ticket, you agree to share equally with all others who also post their ticket for that drawing. I wonder if that's legal and or binding?

In Canada it could be written on a piece of
gum, it's binding.
But the ticket buyer/holder
should write a G in the corner of all the tickets
and that indicates it's for a group.

and of course, we would have to know where you live :tri:

 

[.X.]

oh yea...i forgot to add in my last post, I always take the "Cash Value Option" If i am ever that lucky to win, I want it ALL , And right now too!

 

[dgridley]

Then again, if you don't play at all, you have no hope of winning.. zero!

Due to inflation and low interest rates, taking the lump sum is a much safer bet IF you win.

Of course, by winning, you would have to play Powerball, which means you're probably not too concerned about odds...

 

[gramma]

One winner of the 300 million dollar powerball last night
the winning ticket was sold in indiana

 

[.X.]

One winner of the 300 million dollar powerball last night
the winning ticket was sold in indiana

And only one winner,,,If i were them, I would have passed smooth out-LOL....They aren't rich, They are on a freakin mission, They can go and do as please for the rest of their life, as long as they don't go buying las vegas, they are set for life.

 

[dgridley]

I hope it someone who uses the money wisely.. I've always said that if I ever won, I'd plow a big portion back into my community.

 

[Travis]

I would get the whole amount. By doing so, it would control the amount I actually spend at any given time.

 

[BoutiqueMusic]

You always want to take the lump sum in case you get hit by a bus or some other fate before the prize is payed out. If you leave it to your will to decide, there will be a lot of fighting over the validity of the will. Greed is a powerful motivator.

I recently saw a show on E! called "The Curse of the Lottery". It highlighted some people who's lives were destroyed by the lottery and at the end there was one person who was careful and is still solvent. It was not that surprising to see these peoples lives destroyed rather than improved by all that money.

 

[wikes82]

There were still no winner for mega million .. the jackpot now $325 Million (http://nylottery.org)

 

[namebug]

The Mega million is at about 330 mil. Just looking at the back of the slip, if you buy one ticket your odds of winning are 1:175,711,536 . Seems like if you bought 12 tickets ( all 56 numbers excluding the powerball) then at least on one ticket your odds would be 1:689,065 or better, because some of the tickets have to include a winning number . Think I'd still have a better chance of being struck by lightning on the way to the quicky mart than winning though .

 

[.X.]

I am still getting 3 sets of numbers per drawing, I have my sights set on getting just the 5 numbers with out the power ball, That pays from $500,000, up to a 1 million, with the megaplier option, Some one is due to hit the big one now though. it's at 330 million.

 

[notlikeyou]

Think I'd still have a better chance of being struck by lightning on the way to the quicky mart than winning though .

Odds of being struck by lightning: 576,000 to 1
Odds of winning Mega Millions 175,711,538 to 1

Yes, but someone has to win.