I find it appalling that the cost of the multi-state Powerball game has been increased to $2 from $1 — or, thus, to $3, with the PowerPlay option.

Because of that increase I no longer play.

I do not feel that the adjustment in odds makes it worthwhile to pay double for the basic ticket, although Powerball officials and the Pennsylvania Lottery Commission would have us believe otherwise.

The odds of winning the jackpot increased to a whopping one-in-175 million from 195 million.

I typically spent about $40 monthly; the same tickets would now cost $80. In this economy, I feel it has become too costly at the current $2 ticket price, so I now will put that money to better use — paying bills, etc.

I wonder how many other Powerball-chasers now feel the financial pinch of paying $2 per game and have decreased or stopped playing altogether?

The only way to offset the increased cost is to reduce one's play by 50 percent. Even if everyone cut their play in half, the lottery still would realize the same revenue as before.

It's a tricky maneuver but one that will have a negative effect on the local economy.

That's because, since I no longer play, I no longer frequent my local mini-mart where I also bought spur-of-the-moment items.

If tens of thousands of people now stop playing Powerball, as I have done due to the increase, the local stores that sell those tickets will suffer from a lack of patronage and a decrease in sales of other items.

Increasing the cost to play Powerball was an insane move that hurts everyone.