New Powerball changes go into effect

It's already highly unlikely to win the Powerball jackpot, and with new changes that went into effect Wednesday, your chances just got even worse. The changes were approved over the summer, and Wednesday's drawing

News 12 Staff

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Oct 8, 2015, 2:57 AM

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Updated 3,267 days ago

It's already highly unlikely to win the Powerball jackpot, and with new changes that went into effect Wednesday, your chances just got even worse.

The changes were approved over the summer, and Wednesday's drawing is the first where those changes go into effect.

For those content with taking a smaller prize, there is a bright side. It's now officially a little bit easier to win anything that's not the jackpot.

Jerome Carroll, of Edison, will take it.

"I'm not asking for the world, just a little to make it easier," says Carroll. "Take it easy. Not trying to buy mansions and yachts! Just enough to keep living a humble life."

At first glance, the old and new forms look the same. But there are now more regular numbers, and fewer Powerball choices.

"I want the jackpot. I want to win it all. If I'm going to win it, I want to win it all," says lottery hopeful Janet Loux.

Most people don't bother trying to understand how that will make it harder to win the jackpot. They'll just accept the fact it also means much bigger grand prizes.

According to New Jersey Lottery officials, chances of winning the full jackpot are now one in about 292 million, up from the previous one in 175 million.

The odds on winning all other prizes are now one in 25, compared to one in 32 before the chances.