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Do you buy lotter tickets????

Do you buy lottery tickets?

  • Yes, why not take a chance?

    Votes: 9 28.1%
  • Yes, but I begrudge the money.

    Votes: 2 6.3%
  • Only when the jackpot gets really big

    Votes: 11 34.4%
  • No, there is no lottery in my state and it's too far to go for such a little chance.

    Votes: 2 6.3%
  • No, gambling on the lottery is stupid and/or immoral.

    Votes: 8 25.0%

  • Total voters
    32

Junkman

Extra Super Moderator
Do you buy lottery tickets? With so many states taking part in the Power Ball Lottery, I was wondering what our members do...
 

Melensdad

Jerk in a Hawaiian Shirt & SNOWCAT Moderator
Staff member
GOLD Site Supporter
Well I voted, and my vote went to "No, gambling is stupid/immoral" but I really don't believe that, it is just the closest thing to my opinion that was up there.

I'm a non-gambler. I don't think that gambling in moderation, when enjoyed as a recreational activity is either stupid or immoral. I have a salesman who saves his money and flies to Vegas 3 or 4 times a year. He plays only what he set aside for that purpose. He put his kids through college, pays his bills, etc. He doesn't want a big yard and a tractor to spend his money on, he doesn't go to movies, so in his case why not? I can drop $100 on dinner that lasts for 3 hours, and I do it once a week nobody questions if it is stupid/immoral, but if I drop $100 at a gambling boat once a week instead of going to a nice restaruant then people suggest I have a problem, that it is immoral, or stupid?

I guess I don't think its quite as black & white as many suggest.
 

OkeeDon

New member
I agree with Bob. There is one answer missing. My answer is simply "no". I don't buy lottery tiokets. I don't think it's stupid (well, maybe a little) and I certainly don't judge whether it's immoral; I just choose not to spend my money that way. I don't give a rat's patootie how anyone else makes their choice.
 

Doc

Bottoms Up
Staff member
GOLD Site Supporter
I'm the only one so far who said 'yes' I play the stupid lottery. Just this year we started a lottery group at work. We each pay in two bucks a week. I had to get in on it. I'd hate to see all of them retire rich and leave me behind. :)

Otherwise I used to buy them once in awhile. I don't understand just buying when it's really really big. I could use 4 million (the smallest Ohio super lotto) just as much as I could use 100 million. But, I also realize what the lottery is. A tax on the math challenged optimists.

Reminds me of a PA couple I heard about in the news a few years ago. They took their retirement cash savings and put in all in the PA lottery when it was a pretty big amount. They lost big time. Got a few thousand back in winnings, but it was a huge loss for them.
 

JimR

Charter Member
I buy them once in a blue moon when I feel lucky. Do I win, hell no, well maybe once in awhile. But it is only what I've spent. I use to play a lot years ago. But then I saw the light and realized that I was spending more than I was winning. The idea to stop was a no brainer. I feel you have a better chance at the Casino's than you do with any state lottery system. But now that funds are restricted in my house, 2 kids in college and me working fulltime on the farm resto, the casino is off limits also.
 

OregonAlex

New member
I have convinced myself that winning, would only cause more harm then good. Sure it would initially be cool, but I can see long term problems after the short term problems are fixed. You know what they say.. more money does not buy happiness... and studies have proved it.

if you don't buy any of that .. then .. my other excuse is that I am too cheap to buy a ticket. ;-)
 

OkeeDon

New member
I have convinced myself that winning, would only cause more harm then good.

My son has the opposite reason to regard the lottery money from a different perspective. In his words, "It's not enough money." Pressed, he'll say something like, "Heck, $4 Million doesn't buy much, today." But, his real reason is, "I will never think it's enough money until I can buy the Red Sox."
 

BadAttitude

New member
I'll second what JimR said...once in a blue moon and I voted...when the pot is big.
My feelings about any of those lotteries is...

'You can't play if you don't win!'

IMO...The lottery is nothing more than another money sucking idea that puts people further into debt.
 

California

Charter Member
Site Supporter
20 years ago when the state lottery began, many people in my office already participated in a paycheck pool. Statistically each person should break even over several years.

Then some genius manager changed the rule to buying lottery tickets with the pot. This changed the long term average payout from 100% of the pot to 40% of the pot.

Plus the pool winner was pressured to reinvest proceeds from winning tickets into more lottery tickets. Now we have a trend line from average 100% payback toward 0% payback if proceeds are continually 'reinvested' . Nobody wanted to think about this since it was more exciting than before.

So far as I know the same people are still participating in that paycheck pool. As for me, I never participated, invested elsewhere, and retired at 54.

Every employee in that 60-person shop had at least a college minor in accounting and 100% had completed upper division Statistics and Probability. Maybe 1/4 had MBA's. I can't comprehend how they could ignore the inevitable results.

The shop? It was the internal audit branch of a large government agency, tasked with evaluating the effectiveness of other branches operations.
 

ddrane2115

Charter Member
SUPER Site Supporter
I play, but nothing big, 2 dollars a draw. If I win something, I will use that for the next draw, and not the 2 dolllars.

Last week, before the big win I hit $100.00 on a 5 dollar quick pick. 5 dollar after it gets to 200 mill. I gave them back 10.00 of it, and got 7 back. Will I ever get rich, no, but hey 25000.00 would pay me out of debt except my house and truck. Tractor is not a debt, I am using their money.
 

thcri

Gone But Not Forgotten
I personally don't buy lotto tickets nor do I gamble anymore. Well, let me qualify that. When I was back in the teens and twenties we use to play black jack a lot. We would start out with a .25 cent limit. Then as the night went on it ended up being a 20.00 dollar limit. Then when we heard the birds singing we would take it up to $50.00. When the sun came up we quit. But anyway I have nothing against it if controlled. Some people can't controll it and like others said, if they put so much aside for it and stop at that, then there is nothing wrong. If I can go and spend money on tractors and other toys then another person should have the right to go out and spend X amount on the gambling table.

And I would vote up above but the two choices of no, don't fit for me.

murph
 
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DaveNay

Klaatu barada nikto
SUPER Site Supporter
thcri said:
When I was back in the teens and twenties we use to play black jack a lot. We would start out with a .25 cent limit. Then as the night went on it ended up being a 20.00 dollar limit. Then when we heard the birds singing we would take it up to $50.00.

Wow Murph....I didn't realize you were that old nor that wealthy! :tiphat:

To have been betting $50 limit on blackjack back in the teens and twenties, that was some big bucks! How much did you loose on the stock market crash in 1929?

Anyway....glad to see you made it through those times, and are back in the swing of things. BTW....your name wouldn't actually be Montgomery Burns would it? :1062:
 

bczoom

Super Moderator
Staff member
GOLD Site Supporter
I voted for the no (stupid and/or immoral) as it was the closest choice. I concur with Bob, Don et. al.
 
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BadAttitude

New member
DaveNay said:
Wow Murph....I didn't realize you were that old nor that wealthy! :tiphat:

To have been betting $50 limit on blackjack back in the teens and twenties, that was some big bucks! How much did you loose on the stock market crash in 1929?

Anyway....glad to see you made it through those times, and are back in the swing of things. BTW....your name wouldn't actually be Montgomery Burns would it? :1062:

:clap: :clap: :clap:

sorry murph:D ...gotta give Dave credit, he called it the way he saw it
 
P

Pigtails

Guest
I voted yes! Only when I'm in states that have the lotto.. So, me being the big spender I am, $2.00, will splurge for a couple tickets ... You know it only takes one ticket to win :D
 

Gatorboy

Active member
Looking for a simple NO.

The people that can least afford it seem to buy the most. Perhaps they don't quite understand the ODDS of winning.

One day I was in a 7-11 and a mother and small boy were in line. The little boy wanted a candy bar and the mom said in a very harse tone, "NO, we can't afford it", and then she proceeded to buy $20 worth of lottery tickets. I felt sickened.
 

XeVfTEUtaAqJHTqq

Master of Distraction
Staff member
SUPER Site Supporter
I voted for "Only when the jackpot gets really big"

But it really should be:

"Only when the jackpot gets really big AND I happen to actually be in a place that sells lottery tickets (pretty rare) AND I actually notice that the jackpot is really big (even more rare)."

I've probably only bought tickets twice in the last ten years.
 

BigAl

Gone But Not Forgotten
SUPER Site Supporter
Nope ! Never ! I got a better chance of getting hit by lighting Or getting ran over by my own car with the dog driving .

I know someone who is a very close friend and have seen the harm a gambling addict can do to his marriage , life and himself . They don't keep all those bright lights glowing in Reno, Vegas or Atlantic City because they are going broke .

I don't believe in Gambling or Luck .
 

working woman

New member
Site Supporter
Our state just got scratch off tickets as of Thursday. People were literally lined up at 6am to purchase these:pat:(no I was not one of them)
Think we are getting the number lottery end of next month. I've heard quite a few people say around here they are waiting for our state to join the others in power ball before they play. I personally could take it or leave it.
 

RoadKing

Silver Member
Site Supporter
I voted "When it gets big" I probably spend $20 - $30 a year on lottery tickets, with no rhyme or reason as to when or why. I've never won more than $20, and that was only once. The fun I have daydreaming about the Big Win is more than worth the money I spend.
 

mtntopper

Back On Track
SUPER Site Supporter
Gatorboy said:
The people that can least afford it seem to buy the most. Perhaps they don't quite understand the ODDS of winning.

Lottery and legalized gambling are not allowed in Wyoming. I believe it is just a matter of time before that changes as most of the surrounding states have both or at least a lottery. In my travels to other states that have gambling/lottery it appears that the people that have the least to spend seem to support the gambling/lottery system the most. Just waiting to hit the big one seems to be the attitude by many!!!! The people who can afford to gamble/lottery are smart enough to not let it consume all of there time, money and life. I don't look forward to the day that it becomes legal in Wyoming as it will ruin many lives and probably create more tax burden than it will be worth on the people in Wyoming. Somebody (taxpayers) has to support those that piss away everything on gambling/lottery and a government bureaucracy to control the gambling/lottery industry.:(
 

Doc

Bottoms Up
Staff member
GOLD Site Supporter
I agree with everyones assesment of the lottory being a very very bad investment. And, like many call it, it appears to be a tax on the poor and those not so good with math. But ....does it give them hope, realistic or not of 'hitting it big'? If so what is that hope worth? Does it enrich their lives or give them a glimmer of a chance to escape to a better lifestyle?
Maybe it gives them to much hope and they buy more and more tickets in hopes of winning. Especially if they spend grocery money on lottery tickets.

But what about for those that play a few bucks a week just for fun? It can make them feel good just like a 12 pack of beer or a couple bottles of wine.
 

Hutchman

New member
Site Supporter
I play a few bucks a week on lottery tickets and that's it. I agree though, it's a shame to see the folks who can least afford it in stores spending what little they have on lottery tickets. I saw a report a while back that stated that over 40% of lottery players are counting on the lottery as their retirement fund. GEEZ! Hutch
 

daedong

New member
I voted yes, I buy six bucks worth every week obviously this investment has increased over the years with inflation. It started as 0ne dollar 30 years ago. A few years back we won a five figure amount so I guess I’m in front.
 

ddrane2115

Charter Member
SUPER Site Supporter
Gatorboy said:
Looking for a simple NO.

The people that can least afford it seem to buy the most. Perhaps they don't quite understand the ODDS of winning.

One day I was in a 7-11 and a mother and small boy were in line. The little boy wanted a candy bar and the mom said in a very harse tone, "NO, we can't afford it", and then she proceeded to buy $20 worth of lottery tickets. I felt sickened.


Gatorboy. I would have bought the kid a candy bar..........
 

AndyM

Charter Member
Gatorboy said:
One day I was in a 7-11 and a mother and small boy were in line. The little boy wanted a candy bar and the mom said in a very harse tone, "NO, we can't afford it", and then she proceeded to buy $20 worth of lottery tickets. I felt sickened.

While we're on the subject of lottery tickets, there should be a law that any gas station selling lottery tickets should have two cash registers open... one for gas only, and one for lottery ticket purchases...

Every time I want to pay for my gas, there's some guy at the front of the line who buys twenty dollars worth of lottery tickets and then proceeds to scratch them off at the counter. Then, if there's a two dollar winner, he immediately turns in the ticket and buys two more and stands there and scratched them off too.

I just want to pay for my gas!
 

Gatorboy

Active member
AndyM said:
Every time I want to pay for my gas, there's some guy at the front of the line who buys twenty dollars worth of lottery tickets and then proceeds to scratch them off at the counter. Then, if there's a two dollar winner, he immediately turns in the ticket and buys two more and stands there and scratched them off too.

I just want to pay for my gas!

Only go to stations with PAY-AT-THE-PUMP
 

humor_me

New member
Dargo said:
I have to admit, my answer would be a simple "No".


Ditto,

but, long ago as a teenager, I did buy into a superbowl pot for $5.00. I won $600.00.
So, I think since lightning's already hit once, I can't see the odds of it hitting twice!:yum:
 

jtudor

New member
Usually when it is a big jackpot....
However, after thinking about it, regardless of how much it was, I would prolly be happy....
 
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