Louisiana Lottery Players Here’s Why You Should Play This Weekend

Playing lottery games like Powerball and Mega Millions are an accepted pastime in Louisiana. Our state has had a legal lottery since 1991. No, it wasn't our first lottery. We had one in Louisiana in the 1800s that was discontinued in 1893 when an "anti-lottery" Governor was elected and he abolished the practice.

The Louisiana Lottery Corporation announced that in 1995 lottery players in the state could play the multi-state lottery game Powerball. The state's lottery players were invited to play Mega Millions, another multi-state lottery game in 2012.

The Powerball game has been kinder to Louisiana players than Mega Millions. Powerball players in the state have won 17 jackpots in total. That's 4.2% of all the jackpots that have been won in the game. Only Indiana, Missouri, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Kentucky have had more jackpot winners in Powerball than Louisiana.

Mega Millions has not been as kind to Louisiana players as Powerball but the Powerball game did get a 17-year head start. So far, no Mega Millions jackpot has ever been won by a Louisiana-sold ticket. But a word to the wise would suggest that could happen sooner than later.

Why Should Louisiana Lottery Players Play Powerball or Mega Millions This Weekend?

First, let me clarify a position that is important to me and to the Louisiana Lottery. Lottery games are games of chance. Most people who play do not recoup their investment. If you can't afford to lose, then be honest with yourself, you can't afford to play. Please, if you do choose to play, play responsibly.

We have been following the Louisiana Lottery, Powerball, and Mega Millions quite closely for the past 13 years and we've noticed a "pattern". Generally, the jackpots for both games produce winners when the top estimated prize reaches more than $250 million dollars. True, both games have had single ticket payouts of more than a billion dollars in recent history but the math is the math.

The current Powerball jackpot stands at $255 million, estimated, for tonight's drawing. The Mega Millions jackpot will be an estimated $267 million on Friday. If we can believe the statistics then both of these lottery games "should" produce a winner within the next three drawings.

There is a caveat to our observations, both Mega Millions and Powerball restructured their drawings to create larger jackpots a few years back. So, the data is mixed between the old way, which produced more frequent winners, and the new way which produced fewer jackpot winners but larger jackpots.

Another reason these lottery games tend to get winners at this level is that people start to take notice of a prize that can be described as "a quarter of a billion dollars". Even the tightest tightwad in the building becomes more inclined to play when the reward gets to be that large. Naturally, more players means more chances for numbers to match.

No, we aren't guaranteeing a Powerball or Mega Millions win between now and next Wednesday, but we also will not be surprised at all if one or both games don't find a jackpot winner before you sit down for Thanksgiving Dinner.

Is it Better to Buy Lottery Tickets at a Big Store or a Small Store?

Convenience stores and gas stations sell the most jackpot winners in Louisiana. That's mainly because that's where most of us buy our lottery tickets. There is no particular delineation between "chain convenience stores" and "independently owned convenience stores". Just as there is no particular evidence that suggests purchasing a ticket in a small town is more likely to produce a winner than buying a ticket in one of the state's larger cities.

However, if you purchase your tickets within 50 miles of either side of I-10 you'll be purchasing your tickets where nearly two-thirds of all lottery winners are sold. Again, not about luck, it's simply about the volume of tickets sold in the larger cities of southern Louisiana.

If you or a loved one has an issue with gambling, please get some help. You may dial 1-877-770-STOP (7867) for a free referral to counseling. There are people standing by to help, even in the middle of the night. Good Luck.