DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — If it seems that giant lottery jackpots have people lining up at convenience stores more frequently, just wait: More big payouts could be coming.
Most attention has been on Powerball jackpots since the game's rules were changed in early 2012 to boost payoffs. On Wednesday, Powerball's estimated $400 million jackpot will be the nation's fifth-largest ever.
Now organizers of the country's other big lottery, Mega Millions, are planning changes of their own. Although Mega Millions still holds the record for the largest jackpot in U.S. history — a $656 million prize in March 2012 — organizers are hoping to more regularly see huge jackpots by lessening the odds of winning big but upping a player's shot at smaller but still hefty prizes.
"Certainly, we were looking at the fact that changes that Powerball made, primarily by increasing the price point, it definitely favorably impacted the jackpot," said Paula Otto, executive director for the Virginia Lottery and lead director for Mega Millions.
"It's doing what it's supposed to do, which is helping Powerball have bigger jackpots on a pretty consistent basis."
