Welcome Guest [Log In] [Register]
Posted ImageWelcome to the all new Geo Metro Forum. We hope you enjoy your visit.

You're currently viewing our forum as a guest. This means you are limited to certain areas of the board and there are features you can't use and images you can't see. Registration is simple, fast, and completely free. If you're already a member please log in to your account to access all of our features:

Join our community!




Username:   Password:
Add Reply
Powerball lottery?; How many here played or will play this next one?
Topic Started: Jan 10 2016, 02:09 PM (2,297 Views)
cwatkin


I have to say I can't agree more with this article. http://www.cnn.com/2016/01/15/opinions/cevallos-powerball-lottery-hypocrisy/index.html

Yes, I bought 5 tickets for that big Powerball but knew I had a 1/292million chance of winning. I won $4. I dumped that money into a few smaller games after that PB was won and one of them one won a free ticket. That one lost and then I was done playing.

Basically, I don't have a problem with the Lottery or gambling. It isn't my thing really as I know the odds are very against you but don't mind playing it if one of the games gets high in value and am not going to bet all my remaining paycheck on these games. I have an issue how the government sanctions this. A low stakes poker game with a bunch of guys in a basement is illegal but you can essentially gamble at any convenience store or supermarket. Yes, I see people with no extra money blowing $75-100 when getting gas on a regular basis. They are just throwing money away that could go to a more reliable car, food and clothing for themselves and their kids, but they are buying lottery tickets.

I saw another news story about playing the lottery because of the big Powerball and they were saying that with all the bad things in the world, putting a few dollars towards tickets to dream about winning is a pretty harmless thing. This is pretty how I see it.

Conor
Edited by cwatkin, Jan 17 2016, 06:24 PM.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
nwgeo


I try to remember that all the people buying lotto tickets mean they are paying taxes for me. I don't think I have ever bought even one.

I have heard stories of people who have spent themselves into bankruptcy and won next to nothing. Feel sorry for those folks... and really for their kids.... for that reason... I think it is a mistake for our society to be involved in it.

But for most people it is a relatively painless way to entertain and get taxes paid. The poorest pay the most from this "entertaining" tax.

Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
cwatkin


Yes, it is more of a tax on the poor like cigarettes. It is a form of entertainment to me and that is it. Winning a couple bucks now and then is fun but the odds are against you winning the "big one". My GF and I decided to get some scratch off tickets one time. I got on the state lottery website and looked at all the odds and the remaining unclaimed tickets. She was like "You are putting too much though into this. It is just lottery tickets." My response was "You might as well throw your money away in a somewhat intelligent manner" if there is such a thing.

Conor
Edited by cwatkin, Jan 17 2016, 07:24 PM.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
mt999999
Member Avatar
Self-Declared "Genious"

cwatkin
Jan 17 2016, 06:21 PM
I have to say I can't agree more with this article. http://www.cnn.com/2016/01/15/opinions/cevallos-powerball-lottery-hypocrisy/index.html

Yes, I bought 5 tickets for that big Powerball but knew I had a 1/292million chance of winning. I won $4. I dumped that money into a few smaller games after that PB was won and one of them one won a free ticket. That one lost and then I was done playing.

Basically, I don't have a problem with the Lottery or gambling. It isn't my thing really as I know the odds are very against you but don't mind playing it if one of the games gets high in value and am not going to bet all my remaining paycheck on these games. I have an issue how the government sanctions this. A low stakes poker game with a bunch of guys in a basement is illegal but you can essentially gamble at any convenience store or supermarket. Yes, I see people with no extra money blowing $75-100 when getting gas on a regular basis. They are just throwing money away that could go to a more reliable car, food and clothing for themselves and their kids, but they are buying lottery tickets.

I saw another news story about playing the lottery because of the big Powerball and they were saying that with all the bad things in the world, putting a few dollars towards tickets to dream about winning is a pretty harmless thing. This is pretty how I see it.

Conor
Well, the government isn't making anything off of folks playing poker in the basement, but they win at least 30% of the lottery jackpot for doing nothing. It's all in the taxes...

I know some people are way addicted. I'm the same as you, I buy a ticket every now and again for the fun of it, and I never win anything. My first boss used to call the lottery "the stupid people tax". :lol
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
1 user reading this topic (1 Guest and 0 Anonymous)
ZetaBoards - Free Forum Hosting
Free Forums with no limits on posts or members.
Learn More · Sign-up Now
« Previous Topic · The Geo Metro Lounge · Next Topic »
Add Reply