What was the largest amount you ever won in a lottery?

Canada
August 8, 2009 9:57pm CST
I am pretty sure most of you have played or play regularly your local Lottery, where you or a computer picks random numbers for chance to win amounts in the Millions. Unfortunately, these odds are as slim as a crocodile in your closet! I'm serious, as according to a research group, the odds of actually winning the lottery is 1 in 21 000 000! Now think about these odds. So out of 21 000 000, only 1 person would win. That would be like the whole population of New York City, and only 1 would win. Now, this is what you are putting your money in, a chance to win in 21 000 000. Now, there are bright sides, as there are smaller prizes, with a much higher chance as all you have to do is match 2-3 numbers for the first prize, usually a free ticket, or a low amount, $5-$10, then it goes to $100, $1000 ,$100 000, etc. My biggest earnings might have been $20-$50, but this is a big estimate, as I am sure it could have been $10. I am never playing this game again , as basically you are dumping money into a hole, which always gets empty so you are almost guarantee to lose, and the very lucky few that actually get the million have some tragic events happen to them, such as careless spending ,etc. Now, what was your biggest amount you won? And how much a year do you usually spend on this 'gambling'?
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12 responses
@ivyoon (673)
• United States
9 Aug 09
Here's a funny lottery story: When I turned eighteen in late December of 1995, my Aunt decided it would be fun to attach one of those scratch-off lottery tickets to my birthday present since I was officially old enough to play the lottery then. Out of obligation I suppose, she also decided to attach one to my brother's present (who was only sixteen at the time) so that he didn't feel left out. When we were getting ready to scratch off our cards, my bro looked at me and said, "Hey, let's switch!" So we did. When I scratched my card, I saw that it was a $20 winner! My brother protested feircly, "That's MY card, that's MY $20!!" Of course, I didn't give it back to him, as it had been his idea to switch! My family thought the whole thing was hilarious, and I'll never forget it. I don't let my brother forget it either, lol, even all these years later, I still bring it up from time to time. I've never won anything more than that, but it made it worth it at the time! :D
• Hong Kong
9 Aug 09
my brother and i loved those scratch things. we used to ask our dad to go buy us some. i think the most i ever won was like, 50 dollars but that was after tons of tickets. I never played for the money...it was just kind of exciting and fun. I think most of you are right in saying that the lottery is a huge waste of time. I know of people who have spent thousands on tickets.
@ivyoon (673)
• United States
9 Aug 09
Yes, it can be addictive. I know a lot of people who buy scratch off tickets whenever they go to the store. Some of those scratch off tickets are pricey too... I've seen tickets that cost $15 and $20! I don't know anyone who's won big on a scratch ticket, but I've known a few people who have one in the regular lotto games. I think if you're going to play, the regular lotto games are better, but the chances are still so slim of winning that it certainly become a waste of time and money when you start to become addicted to playing!
@us2owls (1681)
• United States
9 Aug 09
The most I have ever won was $150 on Mega Millions in Illinois. We play the lottery both here and in the UK when we are there. My thoughts are if you're not in it you can't win it.
1 person likes this
• United States
10 Aug 09
My thoughts are, You're never gonna' win, throw your money in the trash bin.
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@kittenclaus (1393)
• United States
9 Aug 09
Which kind of lottery are you referring too? If it's the main state lottery the most I've ever won is 300.00. Not bad huh. Well ready for this? On the scratch offs, a few years back when we were living in Fl. we won 50,000.00. Spent 2.00. It was one of the most exciting times ever. When we scratched it we just kind of stood there looking at each other with this duh look on our faces, then of course the screaming began. Don't let anyone tell you that its a scam, I'm here to let you know you can win. It's the luck of the draw. Of course we are still playing and winning every so often but I'm waiting for that big win on the state lotto. Thousands are great but could you imagine millions!
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• United States
10 Aug 09
Wow! 300 and 50,000! Most I've ever won was like, 3 dollars. I don't think I would ever buy a ticket for a multi-million dollar lottery because by the time you win a million dollars you've already spent 2 million in tickets.
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• Belgium
9 Aug 09
I never used to put money in a lottery as I feel that most of the times it is just waste of money. The chances to earn money are way to less and it is not worth spending your hard earned money for something like this. But during childhood sometimes I used to buy those scratch card kind of lotteries. You scratch it and you win whatever is written on it. But I don't remember that I won anything more than a candy or a pencil in those scratch cards.
• United States
9 Aug 09
My high is 25$ on xmas but since then all i have won is fifty cents.
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@dbabcook (388)
• United States
10 Aug 09
Unfortunately I, as many others, have never been lucky enough to win big on the lottery. The most I have ever won is $7.00. The odds are so high that since it is "The Luck Of The Draw" anyone and everyone has that 1 in a million chance.
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@wolfie34 (26771)
• United Kingdom
16 Aug 09
As they say you've got to be in it to win it and I am always buying lottery tickets, although now you are able to buy lottery tickets on the internet so it saves me forgetting to buy them, as I tend to keep the same numbers. The most I've ever won is £125 (UKpounds) which is probably $210 (USD) I dread to think how much I have spent playing the lottery since it started way back in 1994! How much a year I don't want to work out I stay in blissful oblivion as it would add up to a small fortune, but there's always a chance isn't there that you could win big, someones got to win! I just wish it was me!
@myliezl0903 (2726)
• Philippines
10 Aug 09
i never get a chance to win the jackpot prize in lottery., the highest amount i got was 150 pesos ., and that was a long time ago. LOL!
@Wizzywig (7847)
9 Aug 09
Years ago we won £103 by getting 4 numbers on the National lottery. A few weeks ago, my son had 4 numbers AND the bonus ball but he only got £63 as there are now 3 different draws so the prize money has dwindled.
@wolfie34 (26771)
• United Kingdom
16 Aug 09
Don't you think with the UK lottery it's nearly impossible to get 4 numbers and when you do the payout is very low! They should make the smaller prizes bigger and reduce the higher prizes which would make sense. I can never win even a tenner and that's just for 3 numbers. £63 is a joke isn't it. I tend to prefer the thunderball as I am much luckier with that lotto.
@Wizzywig (7847)
17 Aug 09
Yeah, the 'jackpot' (which of course is about a third of what it used to be) could be cut down to make the lower prizes a bit more in proportion. Oddly enough, my other son got 4 and the bonus last week...and got a "stonking" £79... (except he actually owed me for about 3 months worth of tickets...) I know getting the bonus counts for nothing unless you get 5 main numbers but, maybe it should. I've had one £10 in the last 18months. I'd probably be better putting the ticket money in a savings account but... we all like to dream what we'd do with the biggie I guess.
• United States
9 Aug 09
I won $10 once on a scratch ticket, but that was the largest bit I've ever won in one ticket. At work we have a pool for the lottery each week, but only win 3 or 7 dollars if anything, usually.
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@Jennlk84 (4206)
• United States
9 Aug 09
I only ever play the scratch off tickets. I just feel like my odds are better when playing them. The most I've won on one of those is $50. Sadly that was back when I first turned the legal age to buy them. I haven't been that lucky since!
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• Malaysia
9 Aug 09
hi blue. erm my grandfather use to spend the whole day thinking of what numbers to buy. he had this book whereby it has 10 years of statistics on what number has appeared. i learnt most of lottery stuff from him. according to him the highest he won was 200 thousand. he told me he could have won more if not for the other people who bought the same number. me on the other hand only buy due to special occasions like my birthday or a very happy day. so roughly i would spend less than 20$ a year on this scam. there was this one time where i got a consolation prize of 50$. i was so happy that i actually won from the lottery. what luck
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