Dover DE --The 29 lotteries thatoperate POWERBALL voted this past April to change thenations first big multi-state jackpot game to meet playerdemand for larger and faster growing jackpots. The new changestake effect Sunday August 28 2005 will offer larger jackpotsand the potential for creating many first-time $1 millionwinners from players selecting the Power Play multiplier withtheir POWERBALL tickets.
New changes to the POWERBALL game will include a startingjackpot increased from $10 million to $15 million. In additionto the higher $15 million starting jackpot winners who matchall five white balls (second prize level) will enjoy an increasedcash award from $100000 to $200000. This increase will allowplayers who add the additional $1 for the Power Play optionthe opportunity to multiply their winnings by five and winup to $1 million.
From the time POWERBALL began in 1992 there have beenfour updates to the game structure. In order to offer thesenew adjustments players will select five of 55 instead offive of 53 white balls. The players selection from one of42 numbers for the red POWERBALL option will remain unchanged.The overall odds of winning a cash prize will remain virtuallythe same 1 in 36.60 up slightly from the current 1 in 36.06.Odds of winning a jackpot prize will change to 1 in 146.1million from the current 1 in 120.5 million.
"Since the changes were made in response to POWERBALLplayer preferences were confident that our players willrespond positively to the changes" said Wayne Lemonsdirector of the Delaware Lottery. "Were very excitedabout these new changes to POWERBALL and the potentialfor Delaware players to have more winning experiences."
Since the start of operations in 1975 the Delaware Lotteryhas contributed more than
$2.1 billion to the states General Fund to help finance neededstate services that benefit everyone in Delaware. The Lotteryoffers a variety of games: POWERBALL MULTI-WIN LOTTOPLAY 3 PLAY 4 and assorted Instant Games.