Powerball Lottery Being Overhauled With Bigger Prizes, More Expensive Ticket
HARRISBURG, Pa. (CBS) - To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Powerball lottery game, some changes are being made -- including an increase in the ticket price.
Starting January 15th, the odds will be better for Powerball. Pennsylvania Lottery spokeswoman Elizabeth Brassell says the Powerball pool of white balls will shrink from 39 to 35, increasing the odds of winning.
And if you do win, prizes will be higher.
"We're doubling the opening jackpot from $20 million to $40 million," she tells KYW Newsradio. "We're also increasing the second prize from $200,000 to a million dollars, and even the lowest prize for matching just the red Powerball will increase from $3 to $4."
Ticket prices will go up, from $1 to $2, to help pay for the changes.
Brassel expects more winners with the new odds, and while lottery sales always soar when prizes reach the hundreds of millions of dollars, she expects the changes and more frequent payouts to be popular.
The Powerball game is sold in 44 states, including Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware.
Reported by Lynne Adkins, KYW Newsradio 1060
