How To Win Mega Millions and Powerball

Mega Millions Match Prize Odds 5/56+1/46

5+MB = Jackpot Prize 1 in 175,711,538
5 = $250,000 1 in 3,904,701
4+MB = $10,000 1 in 889,065
4 = $150 1 in 15,313
3+MB = $150 1 in 13,781
3 = $7 1 in 306
2+MB = $10 1 in 844
1+MB = $3 1 in 141
MB = $2 1 in 75

Overall chances of winning a prize: 1 in 40
   
      
Powerball Match Prize Odds 5/55+1/42 
 
5+PB = Grand Prize 1 in 146,107,962 
5 = $200,000 1 in 3,563,608.83 
4+PB = $10,000 1 in 584,431.85 
4 = $100 1 in 14,254.44 
3+PB = $100 1 in 11,927.18 
3 = $7 1 in 290.91 
2+PB = $7 1 in 745.45 
1+PB = $4 1 in 126.88 
PB = $3 1 in 68.96 
 
The overall odds of winning a prize are 1 in 36.61.

Two big fat bloated Pick-5 games and I thought Florida was tough 
to beat at 1 in 23 million, these are six to seven times harder. 

Your odds of winning a jackpot are effectively zero whether you
buy one ticket or one hundred tickets. 

The real truth comes out when we look at the 5of5 prizes.

Mega Millions 5of5 = $250,000

Powerball 5of5 = $200,000

These second prizes are well within the reach of local Pick-5
games at 5/36 to 5/39 odds. If $200,000 or $250,000 would make
your day, play these smaller games instead of Powerball and
Mega Millions.  

Sorry, maybe I haven't caught Powerball Mega Millions fever as
Florida doesn't offer these games.  However, Florida lotto has
announced Powerball will start in 2009, though members of the
Florida legislature are pointing out the same lottery director
who is saying this also said Florida would never go multi-state.

Ah well, I'm prepared with a plan for when they do and I'll 
share it with you right here and now. 

With games this big, it's a waste of time and money to play 
the standard abbreviated wheels. A 3if5in45 numbers wheel
takes over 400 lines to win what? A $7 prize, whoopee!!!

How To Win Mega Millions and Powerball

Here's how to make the directors of all Pick-5 games sweat 
a little. 

Form your numbers into groups of 2's and 3's your research
indicates are likely to hit together.  Or in groups of 2's
and 3's that are well balanced, a low and a high number, a
odd and two even, an even and two odd, etc. 

You do not need to have an equal number of each, but do not
duplicate any numbers, they must all be unique totaling no
more then the game's 55 or 56 numbers. 

These are pointer numbers, you can use any numbers you like.

[01-02-03] [04-05]
[06-07-08] [09-10]
[11-12-13] [14-15]
[16-17-18] [19-20]
[21-22-23] [24-25]

What we do is play each set of 3 against every set of 2 for
a total of 5x5=25 sets. Get any 3 number and 2 number set
correct = automatic second prize worth $200,000 to $250,000.

A standard 3if5in25 number wheel requires 64 lines to cover.

If we choose to use 6 sets of 3 numbers and 4 sets of 2
numbers, they would combine to make 24 sets or lines. All
55 numbers as 11 sets of 3 and 11 sets of 2 = 121 lines. 

01 02 03 04 05
01 02 03 09 10
01 02 03 14 15
01 02 03 19 20
01 02 03 24 25
06 07 08 04 05
06 07 08 09 10
06 07 08 14 15
06 07 08 16 20
06 07 08 24 25
11 12 13 04 05
11 12 13 09 10
11 12 13 14 15
11 12 13 19 20
11 12 13 24 25
16 17 18 04 05
16 17 18 19 10
16 17 18 14 15
16 17 18 19 20
16 17 18 24 25
21 22 23 04 05
21 22 23 09 10
21 22 23 14 15
21 22 23 16 20
21 22 23 24 25
end 25 lines 3 + 2 = JP

Think about what we've done here.  We've walked right around
the 3if and 4if nonsense and gone right for the second prize.

Even so, the opportunity for lower tier prizes remain, as you
can see. Get 2of3 and 2of2 right that's a 4 number prize or
get 3of3 and 1of2 right, that's a 4 number prize and 5 of the
3 number prizes.  Get 1of3 and 2of2 right that's a 3 number
prize. 

Alternative Method

Read the chapter Win Your Lottery parts 2,3,4 and apply the
Drill Down technique to your Mega Millions Powerball game.

What about the Mega Power Ball? 

There are three basic strategies for dealing with Mega Power
type balls. The one to use is best determined by watching what
has happened in the game over time to see where the winning
Mega Power Balls come from. 

1. Does the Mega Power Ball tend to repeat or skip a draw and
repeat? 

2. Does the Mega Power Ball tend to come in 8 or 9 draws since 
it was last drawn, give or take a draw or two?  

3. Does the Mega Power Ball tend to come from the 3 to 5 longest
out since last hit?

Strategy: Take the 3 to 5 most likely Mega Power Balls and 
randomly rotate them against the lines you are playing.