They Lottery: Does your state or country have a lottery? If so, do you play?
By ladyluna
@ladyluna (7004)
United States
July 2, 2007 8:23pm CST
Hello all,
The lottery: Ah, the dream of instant wealth. If your country or state has a lottery, do you play? Do you dream of how you would spend, or invest your winnings? Does the longing for wealth allow you to justify a buck for a chance at millions?
Well, here's a little something to think about: News broke today that in my state a retailers association is suing the state lottery commission for pulling lottery games before all the allocated prizes have been won.
On top of the astronomical chances of winning, it now turns out that some lottery officials are willing to scam its players out of possible winnings.
Will this sour your impression of lotteries? Will you still play? Will you investigate your own state or national lottery to determine if this is a typical scam?
What do you think? Thanks, I look forward to your thoughts on this.
4 people like this
14 responses
@titaniumsoul (1191)
• Singapore
3 Jul 07
My country do have lottery and I play it on occasions such that the prize is larger than usual. As for winnings, I haven't won any yet and I haven't found any scams yet but if there is a chance, I would like to investigate.
@ladyluna (7004)
• United States
3 Jul 07
Hello Titaniumsoul,
Thanks for visiting. I always look forward to your perspective.
Like you, I play very infrequently. I'm not so much inspired to play by a large jackpot, rather it is if the events of the day have felt particularly fortuitous, for me personally.
Yet, I'm troubled because the lotteries have an implied contract with their players that the designated prizes will be awarded. To find out that this contract has been breached, is quite disturbing. And, I look forward to the result of the trial.
@arcidy (5005)
• United States
3 Jul 07
yes our state has the lottery and you can pick them up at any bowling alley or grocery store I usually dont play because im very unlucky when it comes to winning money ive tried it a feel times and scratch cards but I have no luck so I stopped playing the lottery maybe once in awhile ill buy a few tickets every now and then hopefully ill win something.
2 people like this
@ladyluna (7004)
• United States
3 Jul 07
Hello Arcidy,
I don't play, unless I feel particularly lucky. I might play a few times per year.
However, in the face of such enormous odds, I used to feel somehow justified because of my belief that 'somebody's gotta' win'. Now, it seems that isn't true.
I cannot imagine how much of a blow this will be to those people who play with regularity. This rather equates to stealing one's dream. And, I find it terribly unconsciounable.
1 person likes this
@sigma77 (5383)
• United States
3 Jul 07
We have a lottery in Michigan. I think it started in about 1971. I can remember buying tickets for the first few lotteries, thinking all the while of how much money I might win. lol. I guess the joke was on me. I have not bought tickets for decades, other than a few instant ones here and there or sometimes for a large drawing.
I have not heard of scammers in the state lotteries. But it certainly wouldn't surprise me. I have better things to do with my money. The odds of winning are so great, that you could spend 1,000 lifetimes playing the lotto and still not win.
I do have concrete designs on creating wealth, but not using the silly lottery. That is for poor people who have no faith in their own abilty to create wealth for themselves. It is a game for losers. That's what happens when you get one big winner and millions who get nothing. You can't expect to get rich by doing nothing for something.
1 person likes this
@ladyluna (7004)
• United States
4 Jul 07
Hello Sigma,
I heard an assessment once, which described the principles of compounding interest, when applied to the money that is spent by the average American lottery player. Although I do not remember the specifics, I do recall that I was astonished at how much people spend on lotteries each week. And, how much that same amount invested in very conservative interest bearing account would accumulate to, over a 20yr time frame. So, I suspect that you are wise in directing your wealth building endeavors to concrete investment strategies.
Yet, I believe the success of the lottery is much more about the dream of a 'the big win'.
1 person likes this
@sigma77 (5383)
• United States
4 Jul 07
You might be refering to the rule of 72 method. Take any interest rate and divide it into 72 and you will get the number of years it takes to double your money. For example if you start with $3,000, and invest it earning 6% interest, it will double in 12 years tp $6,000. (72 divided by 6). There are many ways to create wealth, but unfortunately to the surprise of many, the lotto isn't one of them.
1 person likes this
@ctrymuziklvr (11057)
• United States
3 Jul 07
We have the lottery in most us states but I very seldom play it. There was a time when I would buy the scratch tickets but gave up on those too. My son is very lucky and plays often winning at least $1,000 each time. As for scams, well, their everywhere and it wouldn't keep me from playing if I wanted to.
2 people like this
@ladyluna (7004)
• United States
3 Jul 07
Hello Ctrymuziklvr,
I'm so glad to hear that your son is quite lucky with scratchers. My father-in-law seems to have the Midas touch as well. He almost always leaves the casino with large winnings, and the same with scratchers. I'm thrilled for all who win in games of chance.
Yet, I'm very troubled by this news that lottery officials would so unscrupulously stack the deck against the typical lottery player. That's just sleazy!
1 person likes this
@gabrielhawk (6)
• Brazil
4 Jul 07
It does, but i disagree.
Lottery is a waste of time and money. First, hundreds, thousands and sometimes millions of people lose their money, and only a few win.
Second, if you win, you just didnt work for it, so theres no fun in it at all. You will just lose your money in a few months. So basically, i dont like it.
1 person likes this
@ladyluna (7004)
• United States
4 Jul 07
Hello Gabrielhawk,
First, welcome to MyLot. I hope you enjoy your time here.
Second, the lottery shares it's historical equavilent with the insurance industry. Both are based on industries based on gambling on wins or losses.
I agree that the odds are very much in favor of the average player losing. I'm sure that this is the reason why the price to play is set so low. To welcome those with the Midas Touch, as well as those without it.
So, the averages are astronimical. But, the question is ... should lottery officials make it that much more difficult to win the allotted prizes?
@meljessxena (2315)
• Australia
4 Jul 07
i have played i the lottery a few times, but my luck with money isnt very good so i rarely play as i need to save the money i have. i sometimes get lottery packs for my birthday off friends and thats usually only way i play but my mum plays all the time and she has won little amount many years ago thats all. i think sometimes its a bit unfair but i dont think its the system thats unfair its the people who checks the tickets i have heard some places dont scan them they scan one that lost. not sure how true it is.
@smacksman (6053)
•
3 Jul 07
We have a national lottery in the UK, in fact we have several draws, and they raise millions for 'good causes'.
Well that's what the promo gives out but in fact it is now a huge con.
I have been involved in trying to get some of that 'good cause' money for a non-profit making association I belong to related to old sailing boats and maritime heritage.
We spent months trying to get funding, we changed our club constitution to meet their requirements, we tried very hard to comply with their needs.
In the ned we were advised we should apply through a specialised firm who would take 10% of all funds given for their trouble. In other words bribary.
It sickend me so much that I have never supported it since.
@ladyluna (7004)
• United States
4 Jul 07
Hello Smacksman,
I'm sorry to hear that your non-profit did not get the funding, despite the many hoops you jumped through. Given the circumstances, I certainly understand why you would retract your support of the lottery.
Thanks for sharing your story!
@lloydanthony111 (4698)
• United States
4 Jul 07
Here in New Jersey, we have the lottery, casino gambling, and horse racing. We have it all.
When casino gambling was first proposed here in New Jersey, we were promised the world. We were promised money for senior citizens, lower taxes, money for schools, and Atlantic City was to turn into a world class city.
It was all a lie. I don't know where the money is going, but we have the highest taxes in the United States, there is no money for schools because we can't even balance the budget and Atlantic City is worst than it's ever been.
Someone is making a lot of money, but I don't know where it is going.
Lloyd
@charms88 (7538)
• Philippines
4 Jul 07
Hello luna. We have national lottery here in my country and the draws is being held everyday. I don't think I ever knew of anyone who doesn't dream of instant wealth. With millions of people joining the lottery everyday, it really takes a lucky star for you to grab the first prize.
I don't even like to think that the lottery here are purely scam only. A large portion of the money is being donated to help the less fortunate one.
@lordwarwizard (35747)
• Singapore
3 Jul 07
Sure, my country has a lottery too. I think all countries would have one (unless law doesn't allow) since it is so lucrative a business.
I do play yes and I dream everyday of striking. :P
I do want to believe it is all fair and square at the lottery here. It seems unfair otherwise since they are already making big money legitimately.
@whyaskq (7523)
• Singapore
4 Jul 07
Playing the lottery is just like gambling to me. The only difference is that the stakes are low. In Singapore, the Big Sweep cost $3 but the first prize winner gets at least a million. It has been said that a normal employee earning a meagre monthly salary will never have a savings of a million dollars. Hence, everyone dreams of striking lottery. Because of this fact, the public coffers are also laughing... that's one source where the funds come from to help the needy!
@sunkissed (4330)
• United States
3 Jul 07
Well Arkansas does not have a lottery, but I wish that they did. I would play it sometimes if we did have one. I am origonally from Pennsylvania and they do have a lottery there, I know alot of people there that have won the lottery. I do play it when I go there. The lottery there is good, it helps finance alot of good things in the state. My parents live there they are elderly, they get their medication at a very cheap price because of the lottery.Anytime you have things like this there will always be some corruption, but I would still play it, and take my chances.
1 person likes this
@jazzygdc7 (285)
• United States
4 Jul 07
My state defently has the lottery and I often play it when I feel like it and have the luck. I never won the grand prize. I dream about it but I don't have seem to have good luck winning a lot of money playing the lottery games. Playing the lottery in my opionion may seem like a big scam because the money goes to support education and you don't find many winning tickets.
