N.Y. looks to join Powerball lottery

Apr 17, 2009, 1:06 am (19 comments)

Mega Millions / Powerball

ALBANY, N.Y. — The New York Lottery is seeking to enter the 32 jurisdictions currently selling the Powerball lottery as a way to increase state revenue and stop jackpot seekers from heading to other states to play.

The New York Lottery is expected to get the go-ahead to enter Powerball through a provision in the 2009-10 state budget that allows the state to enter more than one multi-jurisdictional lottery. New York participates in the 12-state Mega Millions lottery.

Lottery Director Gordon Medenica said Thursday it could take up to 12 months to get Powerball operational in the state.

Mega Millions is played on Tuesdays and Fridays. Powerball is played on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

New Yorkers now can go to Connecticut, Vermont or Pennsylvania to play.

The state expects to bring in $11 million in the 2009-10 fiscal year from the new lottery, and $21 million in subsequent years.

Sales of Mega Millions tickets have widely outpaced sales of the state's traditional Lotto game since Mega Millions was introduced in New York in 2002.

"What it would mean is that people would not have to run over to Connecticut or Pennsylvania to buy their Powerball ticket. They can buy them right here," Medenica said.

"Our sense is that people love the big jackpots, and we've seen a situation for some time throughout the country of jackpot fatigue - where it's the bigger jackpots that get people excited," Medenica said.

But some groups warn that expanding the lottery will lead to more problem gamblers.

"Our society keeps relying on gambling more and we haven't been putting enough focus on problem gambling," said James Maney, executive director of the New York Council on Problem Gambling.

The expansion of the lottery is one of the few wins for the state's gambling industry in the state budget. Lawmakers shot down attempts to expand the hours of the state's Quick Draw game and video-lottery parlors, as well as letting the parlors install electronic table games like roulette and blackjack.

Also, legislators rejected a proposal by the Lottery to more aggressively invest the $1.3 billion lottery fund into the stock market.

"I thought it was a bad way to go, especially when you look at our current stock market," said Senate Racing and Gaming Committee Chairman Eric Adams, D-Brooklyn.

Some communities that host the video-lottery parlors are getting their state aid cut due to a new funding formula based on poverty levels. Batavia and Genesee County; Farmington and Ontario County; and Nichols and Tioga County are getting their aid cut by about half.

Saratoga and Saratoga County are losing the roughly $4.4 million they shared in state aid. But some communities are getting the same aid as last year, including Vernon, Monticello and Buffalo.

Yonkers will still receive $19.6 million, which is used to fund local schools.

Thanks to chasingadream for the tip.

Star Gazette

Comments

MaddMike51

Problem gamblers?

 

Isn't that a person that has a problem finding a game to bet on?Wink

Halle99's avatarHalle99

Hmmmmmmm amazing....

DC81's avatarDC81

Seems like NY has a case of the lottery greed, especially after posting record sales.

bambini

Hmmm.....I going to put on my psychic  cap.....I predict the winning powerball jackpot  tickets.....will follow the trend of the  NY lotto jackpots and Mega millions jackpot winners .....the winning   tickets will be bought in NYC.....and/or on Long Island, NY.....

JWBlue

Won't PB and MM have something to say about a state playing more than one multi state lottery?

KY Floyd's avatarKY Floyd

Just as much as Coke has about businesses selling Pepsi.

ricky p

That sounds good. I can't wait for this bill to pass.

megamillionaire's avatarmegamillionaire

The clerk where I buy my tickets told me a couple of weeks ago that we were going to be able to buy Powerball in NY. I can't wait. Now, as the article said, I won't have to go to Connecticut anymore to buy the tickets.

The HoodedClaw

Aaaiieee, then PowerBall will screw with the odds AGAIN, and make the big prizes more difficult to win!  I certainly hope this doesn't happen.

megamillionaire's avatarmegamillionaire

No Pity!  No matter what the odds are, somebody at sometime will win. Let Powerball begin in New York, I'm ready and waiting.   Cheers

spy153's avatarspy153

I personally would like to see TN get MM too.  That would tickle me pink !

thousandair's avatarthousandair

Come one and come all have a few good hits in NY and you become a member of the 60/40 club the state gets the 60 and you get the 40 wow .

gocart1's avatargocart1

Quote: Originally posted by megamillionaire on Apr 17, 2009

The clerk where I buy my tickets told me a couple of weeks ago that we were going to be able to buy Powerball in NY. I can't wait. Now, as the article said, I won't have to go to Connecticut anymore to buy the tickets.


I can't wait for this to happen...I'm from NY and also drive to CT on the weekends for PB tickets....I had asked a few months back in a posting about how would I be taxed if I hit in CT but live in NY...Some really nice helpfull people  had some great information ...Now I just hope that I got to use that information.....PartyCheersParty

Seachelle

I wish SC would get Mega Millions! It would be very good for the state in my Opinion cause GA have MM and NC has the powerball, so the state would visitors from the neighboring state for one of our Jackpot lottery.

foragoodcause's avatarforagoodcause

To be honest it will not matter because NY state rarely wins the 1st prize multi state jackpot ,the Mega is an example,NY state has bad luck.

HaveABall's avatarHaveABall

Oh, MaddMike51, you're one heck of a good modern day term definer! Banana

HaveABall's avatarHaveABall

Of course, it depends how close the New York resident lives to Connecticut, Vermont or Pennsylvania.  Because if they can drive once a month (buying 'advance plays' for next 10 games), each of these states charges a lower "Lottery Tax" than New York does, so they will NET MORE $$$.

State Lottery Tax is:  Connecticut = 5%, Vermont = 6%, or Pennsylvania = 0% NOTHING

So, strive to drive to Pennsylvania after every 10 drawings, where winning tickets are State Taxed at an exciting 0% I Agree!

dpoly1's avatardpoly1

I want to play MegaMillions in PA along with Powerball !!!!!!!!!!!!

Dance

maringoman's avatarmaringoman

Quote: Originally posted by foragoodcause on Apr 19, 2009

To be honest it will not matter because NY state rarely wins the 1st prize multi state jackpot ,the Mega is an example,NY state has bad luck.

What!?? If you say NY has bad luck when it comes to MM jackpots what will you say about Massachusetts?? Ever since I moved to MA about 6 years ago only 1 jackpot has been won, 1!! otoh NJ is the haven for jackpots.

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