Powerball Doubling The Price Of Dreams

It looks like my New Year's Resolution of winning the lottery is going to cost more this year. Or is it my retirement plan?

Either way, Powerball lotto tickets will be going to $2 beginning January 15.

According to a story from MSN, the reason for the price increase is so they can offer bigger jackpots... Just in case $100+ Million wasn't enough.  According to Terry Rich, spokesman for the Multistate Lottery Association, they hope the bigger jackpots will increase excitement about the game. "We wouldn't be doing it if we didn't think more money would be coming back to the states and help them with revenues during these tough economic times."

The good news is that jackpots will now start at $40 million... And we've got better odds of winning; From 1 in 192 million to 1 in 175 million.

Of course the chance of getting struck by lighting is 1 in 280,000!