Is Powerball Ever +EV with a high jackpot?

[Lottery Larry]

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And even more considering you will only receive half the pot by 'cashing out'. Also, I understand as the pot increases so do the odds against. As far as the power play is concerned it just increases the amount you have invested.

[/ QUOTE ]

1) Not really. I don't know why we don't consider the taxes and other costs in any other wager, but insist on factoring it in so obsessively with lottery pools. Besides, for $90M before taxes, do you CARE about the taxes?

2) Unless you have some weird version of the lottery being played, the amount of the money in the "pot" doesn't change the odds of winning that pot.... unless you're increasing the likehood of a split (which ancedotely is around 20% for the big lottery pools)

3) The powerplay is like insurance in BJ, in that it is a separate bet that has nothing to do with your main wager.