Lotteries

[Glen Millar]

A sad fact is that for some people, winning a lottery is, to them, their only way out of a bad financial situation. However, these are the very same people who spend the most money trying to win a lottery and in some cases, not paying day-to-day expenses in order to "increase their chance" of winning by spending more on lottery tickets.

Do you play any lotteries?? If you do, how much do you think you spend per year on these tickets of chance?? Have you ever thought or dreamed of winning the "big one"?? What would you do if you won a big payout??

[eightball61]

I never had the desire to gamble what little money I have to the lottery...

[Bryan Durio]

I do it for fun and fantasy. I only buy one ticket per week on the big lotto--in Georgia it's the Mega Millions game.

Do I delude myself into thinking that I really have a chance at it? I took a couple of Statistics courses in college, and my profs proved that it's a virtual impossibility to win. So why do I buy a sole ticket? Well, since it's a losing proposition, I'll blow ONE BUCK and DREAM about winning. All it takes is one matching ticket to win, and it's not going to kill me!

What would I do if I actually won? Keep it very hush-hush. Pay off my house. Help out my parents and some family members. Invest it in the stock market. Continue to live my life as I have.

[Glen Millar]

Originally Posted by Bryan Durio

What would I do if I actually won? Keep it very hush-hush. Pay off my house. Help out my parents and some family members. Invest it in the stock market. Continue to live my life as I have.

Here in Canada, if you win a big lottery, it ends up all over the news, and your image is then used in future lottery advertising. It is a condition of winning and accepting the dough.

Some people who won the $54 Million 6/49 draw near here still get press/news interviews. Their picture of the group with the Edmonton Oiler Derrick is still regularly seen in 6/49 commercials. And ALL their names were published etc...once again...a condition you must comply with to accept the winnings.

[Nikki Dees]

Actually, it's like there here to some degree with the big Powerball drawing...especially if it's a BIG one. I buy 2 tickets a week...one on Wed and one on Saturday....I figure that it only takes one to win...so I don't see the point of throwing all my money away.

Hmmm...the thought of even half of 240 million is quite nice. (Gift tax is like 45%)That's not the jackpot right now...but that's the biggest one I remember in the past.

[Jigger]

I think most people are sensible about playing the lottery, but as with any gambling there are those who just can't handle it or understand the odds.

[Nikki Dees]

I think it was wise to stop allowing people to use credit cards or debit cards to buy lottery....as it is cash only now. Using plastic could be a bad thing, for something as addictive as gambling.

[Gsmagnum]

I buy a Powerball ticket every so often if I remember to.
Normally I pick one or two $1 scratch games and buy 5 tickets.
I am ahead on the scratch tickets by roughly $100.
The most I have won is $100. Normally I win enough to pay for at least 3 of 5 tickets if not a decent winner.
Lot's of $20 winners over the years.
The secret for me is knowing when to stop. I also make it a point to walk to the car to scratch them off. If it is less than say $5 that I win, I leave. I usually do not get more tickets with my winnings.