JACOBSON: Big winner in the new Mega Millions lottery is not the players

Last week, the new Mega Millions lottery was launched. The lottery is promoting several enhancements, including a “built-in multiplier,” “bigger jackpots and secondary prizes,” and “better odds to win jackpot.” But are such enhancements in the best interest of those who buy lottery tickets or the lottery itself? With these changes in rules and structure, it’s an ideal time to do a deep dive on the lottery’s claims and provide context for what the new Mega Millions is offering.

Note that I have no affiliation with this or any other lottery, and I am not a purchaser of lottery tickets. I am a data scientist who seeks to provide insights on ways that people choose to spend their money and their return on investment. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content.



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