Powerball, Mega Millions team up; national lottery next

Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware - as well as 40 other states - now have the right to choose to sell tickets for both major multistate lotteries, Powerball and Mega Millions.

The cross-selling could begin in early 2010, according to yesterday's announcement of a deal between the Mega Millions consortium and Multi-State Lottery Association, which oversees Powerball.

At first, both could in effect become national lotteries, if all or nearly all of the existing jurisdictions - including the District of Columbia and the Virgin Islands - elect to participate. More than 285 million people live in areas with these lotteries.

But an even bigger game is in the works as well.

"If we develop a national game, it will probably be at a different price point," said Tom Shaheen, president of the Powerball group. "It might be $2. It might be $5. It will be a single game, but we haven't worked out all the details of that yet. The other two games, I believe, would remain intact."

Such a super lottery could happen by next fall, said Chuck Strutt, the Powerball group's executive director.

The hope is to raise more money for state treasuries.

In March, Gov. Corzine's proposed budget suggested adding Powerball as a way to raise $10 million more a year for coffers of New Jersey, one of the 12 Mega Millions states.

Pennsylvania and Delaware are among the 31 states that offer Powerball.

One reason revenues should rise is that as jackpots soar, so do ticket sales.

When Mega Millions rolled over last night, its jackpot grew by $30 million, because it was already huge. As a result Friday's jackpot will be $200 million.

(Last night's numbers: 17, 31, 34, 45 and 51, with a Mega Ball of 24. Two New Jersey tickets won $250,000.)

Powerball, on the other hand, grew by "only" $5 million on Saturday night, because its jackpot was relatively low. Tonight's annuity jackpot is $30 million.

Increased sales should also mean giant jackpots would rise much faster - and get hit much sooner - perhaps heightening the frenzy.

Small jackpots, on the other hand, might grow more slowly as they wait for the higher payout to reboot.

Such consequences might spur modifications to either or both games, as well as lead to new games.

Although states do not have to opt in, they'll probably be under great pressure to do so, for fearing of losing revenue.

One impetus for the merger came from observations that many people crossed state lines to chase giant jackpots.

If New Jersey, New York and Maryland offered both games and Pennsylvania didn't, Pennsylvania's lottery revenues might fall, as people from neighboring states buy Powerball tickets at home.

Pennsylvania hasn't decided yet, and New Jersey expects to release an official statement later today.

"There are a lot of details that still need to be worked out," said Stephanie Weyant, spokeswoman for the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue, which oversees the state's lotteries.

For more lottery information, go to www.philly.com/philly/news/lottery, www.powerball.com or www.megamillions.com.

[Note: As responses come in from area states, this article will be updated.]