GREENVILLE, N.C. – If you’re a lottery player you may have to start paying more. In just a few weeks Powerball tickets will be going up a dollar. So what does that mean for you?
NC Lottery officials say changes to the Powerball game came from player response.
"Players were saying they wanted bigger prizes and better odds so that's what we gave them,” said NC Education Lottery spokesperson, Van Denton.
What can you expect from the new game?
"The jackpot will start at 40 million dollars instead of 20 million and they will increase between every draw, if its not won by someone, by 10 million dollars,” said Denton.
But the changes don’t come without a price. Starting January 15th Powerball tickets will be $2 a piece. And if you decide to go for the PowerPlay option it will cost you $3.
That may seem like a lot for a Powerball ticket but most people we talked with say its worth it.
Lois Creech plays the lottery every day. She says every little bit counts.
"It really helps me to have a little bit more money but I try to watch though, be careful, not to invest and put so much in it,” Creech said.
That being said, the increased prices won’t be stopping her.
"As long as there's a dollar there's always a ticket,” Creech said.
But other people say the money should be going elsewhere. On our Facebook page Mary Glisson wrote:
"If people would put that $2 into savings each week they might have something for their effort at the end of the year...”
Lottery officials say they hope the changes will create a more popular game and consequently a better return for education in North Carolina.
The first drawing under the new game structure will be January 18th. You can still buy a Mega Million ticket or a Carolina Cash Five ticket for one dollar.
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