How many people play their states lottery in some way?
- Thread starter Brent
- Start date
Sure, but the actual probability of winning is so mindbogglingly low that you are much more likely to catch that money running around with a butterfly net.
Let's take Mega Million. Largest win ever was 116 million dollars for one 1 dollar ticket. Actual odds of winning is 1 to 176 million. So even the largest win ever is under what would considered a be a fair win.
Let's take JW's example. 5 bucks a week for 5 years are around 1,250 dollars. For 20 years, it's 5,000 dollars. That's a decent-sized chunk on money. Not a lot, but still. And since probability resets itself for every draw, it's 5,000 dollars for a probability of winning that is still 1 to 100 million. And that is just for some fun playing. Let's not even tackle the issue of compulsive players.
That's like taking it in the ass week after week after week for the remote possibility that maybe, one day, if you are incredibly lucky, you may be given a reacharound.
Worthwhile investment? I guess it depends on your judgment.
In my defense of my weekly rectal plungings....I do accept that I'm throwing that $5 away and have zero expectation of winning.
Oh, I get it. Knowing you (well, a bit), I'm quite sure you play for the thrill much more than the money. But there are many people out there that doesn't even realize this, and I hate to see people ruined because they don't understand math. I guess it's the statistician in me!
Is playing the lottery any different from, say, getting drunk? You have nothing to show for it by the time it's over, after all, except maybe some vomit stains.
Oh, I get it. Knowing you (well, a bit), I'm quite sure you play for the thrill much more than the money. But there are many people out there that doesn't even realize this, and I hate to see people ruined because they don't understand math. I guess it's the statistician in me!
Oh, I get that, I find it upsetting too, and feel just as frustrated as you about it.
People who don't view it as "sport" are just hurting themselves.
Um, what?
I don't know about you, but when I get drunk I have plenty to show for it.
Usually waking up in a strange place next a girl who's name I don't know. That, and being drunk usually means a few hours of a really good time.
I play the National Lottery regularly, using the same numbers every time. Have been doing so ever since the lottery started (in the mid-nineties, I think). Actually, I have a direct debit subscription set up so the money is automatically deducted from my bank account on a monthly basis (and, sadly somewhat more rarely, any winnings are automatically deposited too).
As cheap thrills go, it's very cheap (adding it all up, about 1-1.5k net loss spread over the 15 or so years since launch), so I keep playing.
As cheap thrills go, it's very cheap (adding it all up, about 1-1.5k net loss spread over the 15 or so years since launch), so I keep playing.
Rarely. Usually when my dad prompts me to because it's a big jackpot. I did once win £40,000 on a scratch card, but threw it away after misreading the rules on it, by the time I realised the bins had been emptied.
For real? Damn. I would have been kicking myself for weeks. Just. Damn.
Yep, it was one of those doubler cards, I got 2 £20,000's on the card and a doubler symbol and thought the rules said you needed 3 and the doubler, so I chucked it. Someone else bought one and won £40 the same way and I went to the bin and it was empty. I think I used up all my good luck on that win.
^Yes, for many weeks after that I was getting drunk.
Which is why I play exciting games.
Roulette is waaaay more fun and the drinks are free.
Nah. Four bucks a week would evaporate anyway. And people do win. All I'd need at this point is that minimum half million jackpot and I could retire.Actually, it's not. The actual win money is always less than the price of the ticked compounded with the probability of winning. This is 100% true. That's the way lotteries make money. And they make a shitload of that.It's a worthwhile investment, since it's just a couple of bucks that would have gone to potato chips or cookies anyway.
On the other hand, most of the earning from lotteries goes to state, so I'm more than happy with people giving their money freely instead of having the state raising the taxes on everybody.
I can flush money down the toilet right here at home, thanks.
I remember a local gas station in another state I used to live in had a line of guys buying scratch off tickets. One guy lets the one behind him go ahead, since he was still scratching tickets off. The guy he let ahead, bought the tickets he was about to, and won something like $10,000 ot $20,000. You might as well shoot yourself at that point.
I remember a local gas station in another state I used to live in had a line of guys buying scratch off tickets. One guy lets the one behind him go ahead, since he was still scratching tickets off. The guy he let ahead, bought the tickets he was about to, and won something like $10,000 ot $20,000. You might as well shoot yourself at that point.
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I play on occasion. Usually spend a dollar and lose it, but sometimes (VERY rarely) I break even.
On my very first try in September 2006, I spent $5. on a ticket, and later when I checked my five lines I almost died of heart failure. On the first line, I got the first three numbers, and on the fifth line, the last two, AND the powerball. I was hoping to win the jackpot on a technicality, but only got $8. out of it.
I took my two dollars and went home.
On my very first try in September 2006, I spent $5. on a ticket, and later when I checked my five lines I almost died of heart failure. On the first line, I got the first three numbers, and on the fifth line, the last two, AND the powerball. I was hoping to win the jackpot on a technicality, but only got $8. out of it.
I took my two dollars and went home.
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