This week
Should I play this week?
JackpotDesk prices this Powerball or Mega Millions drawing before you buy. Hit odds do not change: Powerball is 1 in 292,201,338; Mega Millions is 1 in 290,472,336. The question is whether the cash jackpot, after tax and split risk, is worth the $2 or $5 stake.
Open the live board Advertised jackpot and cash value load from a public feed. Edit any field.Use cash, not the TV number
The advertised jackpot is an annuity. The desk uses the cash (lump-sum) value, then applies federal and state tax. That after-tax cash is what a sole jackpot winner actually takes home, before you account for other tickets matching the same numbers.
Split risk is part of the price
Tickets sold is an estimate you can edit. Crowded public tickets (birthdays, 1-2-3-4-5) share a jackpot more often. A unique random ticket has the same hit chance and a slightly better expected payout if you hit, because fewer people hold that combination.
Most weeks, sit it out
After the ticket cost, expected value is usually negative. The board says when you are paying for a story, when it is only entertainment, and when the sketch turns non-negative. It is still a terrible way to invest. Past results do not predict the next drawing. This is not financial, tax, or gambling advice.
What this is not
Not a lottery courier. Not affiliated with Powerball, Mega Millions, or any state lottery. JackpotDesk does not sell tickets. If you play, buy at a licensed retailer and be of legal lottery age in your jurisdiction.
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