Lottery

[Parts]

Do they have tis most places or is it a real American thing.  I am always amazed at the amount of tickets I see people buy.  In Connecticut we have daily pick 3 and 4,about 30 scratch offs,classic lotto and power ball lotto. I regularly get stuck behind these people getting tons of tickets taking forever usually they look like they can't afford it too but spend 20 to 30 dollars on it.  Don't get me wrong when powerball of lotto get up there I sometimes get a ticket but for these people it's daily.  So do I just live in an addictive place or is this common elsewhere also?

[duncvis]

Britain started with a weekly National Lottery draw on Saturdays in 1994, since then its spread to shitloads of scratchcards, lucky dip tickets,  a wednesday draw, thunderball, and the Euromillions lottery draw. And yeah, it always seems to be those who can least afford it who blow the most on this crap. I guess its cos if you do win its a quick way to get out of the shit. I tell myself every week that by not getting a ticket for the main draw, wednesday or Euromillions I win £3.50. woohoo 

[ozymandias]

I saw the same thing when I would play the lotto in NY state.  I allowed myself one dollar for fun at a time.  Or maybe buy 1 scratch ticket just for the helluva it.  BUT, I saw people come in with a wad of tickets and cash that would choke a whale, to play every conceivable number combo that they could think of.  A wad of cash that would have bought me groceries for a week or two in my nursing school days.  I haven't played the lottery in years as I can't see spending a dollar that I could use to buy something like an iced tea or cold beer or a snack, something that would give immediate enjoyment.  AND not make me feel like I just wasted a dollar if I didn't win.

[ASpHole]

I've only played Scratch Tickets a few times, and Tri State Megabucks once, possibly twice. --It's been so long that I really can't recall. I haven't played since I left Maine, as I think it's essentially a waste of time.

[ozymandias]

I've only played Scratch Tickets a few times, and Tri State Megabucks once, possibly twice. --It's been so long that I really can't recall. I haven't played since I left Maine, as I think it's essentially a waste of time.

I heard some pundit say that the lottery was a "Tax on the stupid."   Makes sense to me!

[ASpHole]

I've only played Scratch Tickets a few times, and Tri State Megabucks once, possibly twice. --It's been so long that I really can't recall. I haven't played since I left Maine, as I think it's essentially a waste of time.

I heard some pundit say that the lottery was a "Tax on the stupid."   Makes sense to me!

In South Carolina, they're calling it the 'Education Lottery', partly to impress the Bible thumpers that the Lottery is doing good work for the public.  Also, alledgedly the profits for the SC Lottery go to the Dept. of Education, and local school districts. Hard to believe considering that SC is still only slightly above Mississippi as far as the quality of public education is concerned. --And Mississippi is still last as far as that goes.

[maldoror]

I had a client at my last job who was a multimillionaire and spent a couple hundred a week on powerball. I think if you were to look into it, most of the jackpot winners would turn out to be people who already have too much money.

[Rabbit From Hell]

Gambling doesn't make sense to me.  Working does, I don't get a lot of money from it, but I have enough to buy anything I really want (if it can be bought). 

[purposefulinsanity]

I've only played Scratch Tickets a few times, and Tri State Megabucks once, possibly twice. --It's been so long that I really can't recall. I haven't played since I left Maine, as I think it's essentially a waste of time.

I heard some pundit say that the lottery was a "Tax on the stupid."   Makes sense to me!

Unfortunately it also seems to be a tax on the desperate too.

[Peter]

I've only played Scratch Tickets a few times, and Tri State Megabucks once, possibly twice. --It's been so long that I really can't recall. I haven't played since I left Maine, as I think it's essentially a waste of time.

I heard some pundit say that the lottery was a "Tax on the stupid."   Makes sense to me!

In South Carolina, they're calling it the 'Education Lottery', partly to impress the Bible thumpers that the Lottery is doing good work for the public.  Also, alledgedly the profits for the SC Lottery go to the Dept. of Education, and local school districts. Hard to believe considering that SC is still only slightly above Mississippi as far as the quality of public education is concerned. --And Mississippi is still last as far as that goes.

I thought the Bible thumpers didn't approve of education.

[Calandale]

Never bought a ticket, but
win every now and then.

[Parts]

The money in Connecticut is supposed to go to education also but somehow always end up in the general fund 

[Calandale]

Or my pocket.

[Parts]

One of the things that annoy me about it is I always get stuck behind old people buying all kinds of tickets taking their sweet time while all I want is a drink.

[ozymandias]

One of the things that annoy me about it is I always get stuck behind old people buying all kinds of tickets taking their sweet time while all I want is a drink.

QFT   It's amazing how many times I go to a convenience store just to buy a drink (non-alcoholic) and there's some old geezer buying a bunch of lottery tickets.  I see very few young people playing!