Sluggish PowerBall sales spurred changes designed to increase the number of smaller prizes awarded while making harder to hit the jackpot in order to stimulate slumping sales.
The new odds took effect on October 4 and lowered the odds of winning a cash prize to one in 25, down from one in 32, the Associated Press reported.
Odds of winning the grand prize jackpot, however, went from one in 175 million to one in 292 million, and the new odds applied to the October 7 drawing.
To change the odds, PowerBall officials increased the number of white balls used, from 59 to 69, and reduced the PowerBall numbers to 26, down from 35.
The Power Play option, which costs an extra dollar, can multiply prizes up to 10 times, other than the jackpot and Match 5 prizes.
Because it is easier to win cash prizes, more excitement among players should result in more ticket sales and lottery revenues, PowerBall officials said.
