DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – From now on, those hoping to strike it rich with a Powerball jackpot will have to dig a little deeper to pony up for a ticket.
Powerball ticket prices rose to $2 apiece on Saturday.
Lottery organizers hope the increase will entice more people to play because jackpots are getting bigger and the odds of winning are improving.
The move is a strategy to differentiate the game from Mega Millions, another big-money, multi-state lottery game that sells for $1 a ticket. Both games are sold in 42 states, plus the U.S.
Virgin Islands and Washington D.C. Both have drawings twice a week but are played on different nights.
Lottery officials say they are betting players will like the changes. But some players say the increase may keep them from playing.