The Lottery

[Cena's Little Helper]

No, not the famous short story, that multi-state (or country-wide) numbers game where you have an infinitesimally small chance of winning an enormous amount of cash. So, do you play it? I buy anywhere from 5 to 10 tickets a week for Mega Millions, one of the two multi-state lotteries in America (the other being Powerball).

Although there's probably more of a chance of a million dollars landing in my lap than of me winning the lottery, I can't help but play it for the sake of daydreaming. There's nothing better than going out for a hike with my iPod and dreaming about what I'd do if I won the lottery. Of course, not winning is always somewhat of a letdown, especially when the pot is big. But, the few days of possibility far outweigh the few moments of disappointment after each drawing.

 

[BladeRunner]

I might pick up a card here or there.

One of those cheap ones, not the lottery number ones, the ones that you might get 500 bucks as your prize or whatever. The odds aren't bad if you don't buy them that often.

I don't play the lottery number ones because the odds are too low imo.

 

[Mustang Sally]

I buy anywhere from 5 to 10 tickets a week for Mega Millions, one of the two multi-state lotteries in America (the other being Powerball).

So, what does that come to? About $10 a week? That's $520 over the course of a year, which isn't enough to damage your lifestyle. There's no problem here, because you haven't allowed yourself to be taken in by the "possibilities" of gambling in this fashion.

My problem with the lottery is that many folks of limited income are investing hundreds of dollars a week. Their assertion is that if they keep buying, they're bound to win someday. In fact, some of them regard their weekly investment in lottery tickets as their retirement plan; insisting that there's no way they can buy their weekly tickets for so many years and not eventually walk away with the big prize.

ERRONEOUS! ERRONEOUS!

They don't understand the outrageous odds against them. The concept of "numbers" and "percentages" baffle these people and they handle their lack of knowledge by ignoring it. I remember talking to one guy about buying tickets. He asked what his chances were of walking away with the big prize and I pointed to the ticket he had just bought, which stated that the odds against his taking the grand jackpot were 23,000 to 1.

His answer?

He said; "Then there is a chance, right?"

I simply ended the conversation, because nothing I could say to him was going to make a difference, anyway.

Simply buying the same amount of tickets each week isn't going to increase the chances of you winning the big prize, because the odds in this particular game will always be 23,000 to 1 against you. The only way to increase your odds is to buy more tickets to that game......and that's the problem that has caused financial ruin to many folks. Walk around a casino or a racetrack sometime and see what I mean.

But, as I said, buying 5 or 10 tickets a week isn't going to hurt you. If you enjoy dreaming of the big prize, it's simply a form of enjoyment for you,

That's good.

 

[HBK-aholic]

I don't see the point. I have more chance of being transported to Texas one night and switching lives with the orange slag Shawn 'loves'. I bought a ticket or 2 when I turned 16, because I was excited that I could now do it. But, instead of spending that much on tickets, I'd just put it into a money box/jar each week, and then you have some money at the end of the year to treat yourself with. Or it could help you buy Christmas presents. I see those things as more beneficial than a draw I have a less than 0.00....1% chance of winning

 

[Freddy4190]

I buy one or three occasionally. I don't actually think I'll win anything, but a few bucks doesn't bother me that bad. What pisses me off is the lady with 5 kids, who takes half her paycheck and goes out every week buying lottery tickets. That's fucking stupid. The last time I bought some, I bought like 5. The mega millions was way up in the hundred millions and it corrupted me. I feel dirty.

 

[Dagger Dias]

The Lottery huh? I have actually never tried it. The odds are far too low. My parents used to try it a lot and I remember giving them a hard time about it when I was younger. They never won, obviously. I'm one of those people who doesn't really see the point because the odds are so low of you winning that you have almost no chance. I might try it out one time just out of boredom, but I doubt I ever will because I know I won't win.

 

[Y 2 Jake]

The odds might be low, but y'know, people actually win.

I don't do it personally. But only because it doesn't cross my mind and I'd forget to check to see if I'd won anyway. But I see no problem with people spending a pound per week on it. Much more than that and it's a bit sad.

 

[Dave]

I don't play the Lottery but I am sure that if I did, then I would likely win it. Thus, I am just giving people a chance right now.

You may think that I am joking but I seriously am not. I have always been a lucky kind of guy and I sometimes think that I have been blessed with some luck, if such a thing exist. I played my first Lottery ticket when I was 16 as I got the ticket bought for me to signify my coming of age. I won £210 that night and I thought that I would continue to play it. However, I have a feeling that if I start playing it consistently, I will lose that magic. So I am going to start playing it when I get on in my life a little bit more. I sometimes dream of what it would be like to win the jackpot but right now, I don't need to think about it. My life is pretty good and I don't think that massive amounts of money would be a wise choice for me.

 

[Spurs4life22]

I play. Not normally the Wednesday draw but normally a pound or 2 on a Saturday. Also in a little group at work who play the Euro Millions on a Friday. Not much I know but stil maybe a little something to get excited about lol

I think I would buy a few more lines if I was a bit richer lol. After all somebodys gotta win it!

 

[Mr. Steve]

I play it when I got spare change around.

The odds of winning the Loterry at home (Electronic Lottery of Puerto Rico) are 1 in -42 mil. Yeah, -42 mil. It's been won a few times, but the cases, when you look at them, are just people who just happened to get the same number, or the luckiest person ever. One case was actually a group of people from a corporation that decided to pool up, and get over 100 worth of tickets, and split the grand prize (which was 17,000,000 US).

I agree with Digs. Yeah, it's cool to play it, and you'll sort of daydream about what you'll do with the money once you win. Personally, I would just split the prize amongst family only. I've seen what happens when someone in the family comes into a bit of money: the relatives start to complain. So, for me, I'll split the money between us. Then again, there's the whole mentality change when someone gets a lot of money.