The good days of $100's abound seem to be over Matt...your decision whether it's discouraging or not
to other players, might be a good choice. I found a $100 winner on the new $20 ticket, it had 2 cash
stacks..winning amount shown underneath was $50 for each..ticket #011. I had to buy 2 of them from
the machine (my fav store) to get it.
If I was on friendlier terms with the ticket hawk/clerk at my store I'm sure she would be able to tell
me the same thing...they just aren't doing as well as they once did. She plays these things like they're
going out of style so I'm sure she sees the change.
If a player is solely looking for thrill factor in playing the instants, that will always be there...it's an instant
game, no waiting for a draw and you can instantly find out whether you win or lose and if you're lucky
enough to uncover a decent amount..then yay! but if a player is looking to get ahead...sadly, I think it is
going to either be happening at a slower pace....or for some, depending on their play-style, not at all.
The odds in my opinion got worse over the months, the releases for the past 6 months or so have been
so-so and winning $100's turned into winning $50's for a lot of tickets..I think you noticed that too.
Don't worry about discouraging ME! I'll always keep on scratching but I don't have my head in the clouds
nor am I 'chasing' the big prizes...you just can't stand at a machine with the notion that the next one
(or the next, or the next, or the next) out is a Million dollar winner.
I feel like I always did, if it's there and meant for me, it will be the first or second one out on the $20
tickets.
I think that James can relate and testify that even buying packs doesn't secure a top prize or better
your chances at nabbing even a higher level prize. The $1,000s and up exist, it's just they are
well placed and numbered that out of millions of tickets printed a player must always keep in mind
the chances of finding a needle in a haystack.