The lottery is a scam

[Raistlin]

In the US, politicians make a big deal about gambling. Some states don't allow casinos, and allowing casinos or slots is a controversial subject. Some view gambling itself as immoral, or that gambling institutions prey on the poor. In recent years, the US government has made in extremely difficult for foreign online gambling sites to serve US customers, out of fear mongering about consumer safety from well-respected international organizations. On the other hand, the government continues to push its own lottery -- because it really doesn't give a smurf about if people lose all their money, as long as they lose all their money to the right group.

It is true that pure chance games like slots are arguably scams in that they are designed to make you lose more money than you win long-term (though at least in games like roulette and craps there is an entertainment factor). But they all pale in comparison to state and federal lotteries. These are as much scams as snake oil salesmen, preying on nearly impossible dreams in return for profit.

The most infamous one is the US Powerball, which frequently has a jackpot in the tens and hundreds of millions of dollars. The odds are impossibly high, but that does not stop people from pouring thousands of dollars into it over a period of years out of misguided notions of their chances. In response, someone decided to make this excellent simulator, which demonstrates just how ridiculously broken the lottery system is.

On max speed, I've found it runs through about 1 year every 1.5 seconds or so. Open it in its own browser window (it won't run in inactive tabs) and let it run for a while. See if you can win any of the top three prizes. The other day I let it run for a few thousand years without winning any of the top 3, and with a return of about 7-8 cents on the dollar (~12-13 cents with Power Play, but you end up with a greater net loss due to the increased cost of the tickets).

What do you think of the lottery? Do any of you play it (I promise to refrain from yelling at you, but it is my sincere hope you are persuaded to stop)? Any other games of chance?

[Iceglow]

The National Lottery here in the UK is often smaller though on occasion there are big prize draws normally around £120m or so. Only when these massive prizes come up do I bother to put a single lucky dip on the lottery. I figure if I haven't won anything it's like £1 - £1.50 (sometimes the prize is in the Euromillions draw which is more expensive. In regards to net losses and net wins. I've entered the lottery like 20 times in my life since turning 16 and legally being allowed to do so. I have won £10 (3 balls matching) 3 times. I have won around £80 for matching 4 balls once. Therefore my net wins are way higher than my net losses on it. I know it's unlikely on a 1 in xxxxxx many millions chance of ever winning but apart from blackjack I doubt I would ever win in a casino. I'm not bad at blackjack but there's not as much money in it.

[Faris]

Nope, I avoid the lottery because I don't really understand or care to learn how it works. What I do love are scratch cards! Since I don't work in a grocery store anymore I don't buy them anywhere near as often as I used to though Keno is the best.

[Shorty]

I've bought a few scratch cards with my friends for jokes so we could sit around and tell eachother what we're going to do with millions of dollars while laughing at the other person for still being poor. I didn't really put any stock into it, though, because it's seemingly impossible. I do indeed think it's a scam, especially considering the taxes you have to pay on your winnings.

If I really wanted to gamble, I'm sure I could go to a casino but I'm not really the gambling type.

[Quindiana Jones]

I found out that casinos can't take your winnings from you if you count cards. Blackjack ftw?

[Sephex]

Occasionally, I will give a coworker 25 cents to a dollar in a small company pool for major lotteries. If the earning is VERY big, then even more occasionally I will buy a personal ticket. That's about it.

I know the chances are very rare, but I still feel it is okay to try for something that ridiculous every once in awhile.

[Shiny]

Nope, I do not play the lottery. I'm way to pessimistic to gamble with money. My dad buys lotto tickets and scratch offs all the time. He has most likely spent more money overtime than he has won, but I believe the most he has ever won at one point was around $200 and other times $50, so I guess that's enough for him to keep playing.

[Bunny]

I had a statistics professor ask the class on the first day "So, how many of you play the lottery?" A few people raised their hands, to which he responded "you are all idiots." He then explained why using math.

I don't play the lottery. I know a few people who play it sparingly, about 1 or 2 tickets every couple of months, just for fun. It's a nice dream if you win, but the odds are so impossibly slim that nobody I know takes it seriously.

[Madame Adequate]

Well, the point of a game of chance is that you're unlikely to win but if you do it's a Big Freakin' Deal. Though as I am aware of just how bad the chance of winning is I do not play the lottery.

[Shiny]

A former college professor of mine won the lottery recently. $7 million dollars. He quit his two jobs, but might actually come back next to teach.

[Pike]

Nope, never cared to play the lottery. My dad does sometimes for MEGAMILLIONS or whatever. He also gets scratch cards sometimes. I think he got a free tank of gas off of one of them once.

[Raistlin]

I had a statistics professor ask the class on the first day "So, how many of you play the lottery?" A few people raised their hands, to which he responded "you are all idiots."

I like this guy.

[Agent Proto]

I don't play the lotto for the extremely poor odds of ever winning. I might do it like once in a blue moon, but that's very rare.

[Jinx]

Nope. I even opted out of going to the casino on my 21st. I morally don't agree with casinos and gambling. But hey, that's me, and this isn't EoEO.

[Bunny]

I had a statistics professor ask the class on the first day "So, how many of you play the lottery?" A few people raised their hands, to which he responded "you are all idiots."

I like this guy.

He was a good professor. Really understanding for people (like me) who are just bad at math. He had a few times where he made fun of people in the class, or the class in general, because of something stupid that they did.