State Lotteries: When the prize gets big

I think US state lotteries are like keno. You pick a set of numbers and hope they come up and that you’ll win big. I have stated before that I think casino games are fun, but don’t like to really spend any money on a game that is pure luck. But…

When the prize gets really big (tonight’s Powerball has a $1.7 BILLION prize!) I do get tempted to play. I mean, you have to play to win, right?

How about you? Do you play lotteries and keno? How likely do you think you are to win a big prize?

I pick up a $6 ticket maybe once a month for the past few years. A few Christmas back, I actually won $1,000 (but I didn't realize it til' a few mos. later as I hadn't bothered to check my ticket).
I never bought tickets in the past. ALways figured it was like a 'stupid tax'. BUT perhaps in my old'ish' age I've become less smart. I want to win! lol
And yes, when I hear of the prizes getting up there, I'll pretty much always buy a ticket

A couple weeks ago my partner's brother won a 3-way split on 2nd place in the 'Lotto Max'. It was a 1 Million prize split 3 ways. Pretty cool. (I think they still have some left, lol). They actually picked up one ticket every single week for years now and always pick the same number(s).

Powerball in USA have some crazy prize sometimes...Must be nice

We have 3 different games here in Belize. First is Fantasy 5, which would similar to most lotteries, pick 5 numbers and pray. It never really gets huge, like the lotteries in the States and canada, but it be nice to win none the less. Second, we have Boledo, which is pick two numbers between 0 and 99, yes you can pick 00 or 08 etc, and bet how ever much you want on those two numbers. If it is picked, depending on how much you bet determines your winnings. Third is Bingo, which is the same as anywhere. Get your cards and watch the tv while they pick numbers. I bought my roommate cards for Christmas, because what else besides a new hip, do you buy an 80 year old...lol. We did recently start getting scratch tickets. I bought one the other day for 5 bucks and won 5 bucks...lol Thats how they sucker you in. Hahahaha.

The odds are about as bad as they can get, but its fun to dream.

I used to play in the past a little , not so much . I never won anything from lotteries here on Greece . I witnessed my father and my aunt, playing a lot in such lottery games , and winning almost nothing , such a waste of money . Plus I don't trust state lotteries here in Greece . They seem scammy . I have the feeling since I was a kid that they give the first prizes to their own known people , giving smaller prizes to the rest of the players and unknown small fish . Anyway prizes were never huge . Lately they have gone up , but still I don't trust them . But we don't have huge prizes like in powerball . If I had the chance I would try lottery game in another big country like the USA .

The big winner is from Arkansas !! Too bad, it's not me ...

We did play, assuming (correctly as it turned out) that we wouldn’t win anything.

I like to say that, statistically, your chance of winning a big prize when you play (very close to zero) is basically the same as when you don’t play (actually zero).

If there’s a really big jackpot, I’ll admit I sometimes get tempted too and throw many dollars into the mix. When the prize reaches those almost absurd levels, it feels less like a serious “investment” and more like paying for a tiny slice of daydreaming. For a couple of bucks, you get to imagine the what if for a day or two, and that can actually be kind of fun.

That said, I’d never play consistently or buy tickets for every drawing. The odds are so overwhelmingly against you that treating it like a regular habit just doesn’t make sense to me. I’m fully aware that my chances of winning a big prize are basically close to zero, so I go into it with realistic expectations: I’m not “likely” to win, and I don’t pretend otherwise.

For me, the key difference is mindset. I don’t see lotteries or keno as games you can beat, because they’re 100% luck. No chasing losses, no belief that I’m “due” for a win.

So yes, when jackpots get huge, I might join in—but only occasionally, only for fun, and never on a regular basis. The entertainment is in the dream, not the expectation of actually winning.

is it possible for non residents to play lotteries from outside the state and win big.

Pure illusion! The lower the probability, the more important it seems in the human mind.

A sudden change in status disrupts personal identity. Most winners lack the cognitive or emotional skills to handle large sums of money.

Many try to alleviate this "discomfort" with excessive consumption or by helping everyone around them, creating networks of financial dependence.

I have an online Georgia Lottery account and I buy tickets a few times a month. Not many though.

I haven't bought lottery tickets in a long time. Although you're right, in order to have a chance to win, you have to play
I'm currently focused on poker, which at least brings me money, and I hope that one fine Sunday, poker will bring me the reward I've long deserved

Sadly, we don't have Keno where I am. Would only consider national lottery if you team up with others to increase your chance of winning.

nabmom said:

I think US state lotteries are like keno. You pick a set of numbers and hope they come up and that you’ll win big. I have stated before that I think casino games are fun, but don’t like to really spend any money on a game that is pure luck. But…

When the prize gets really big (tonight’s Powerball has a $1.7 BILLION prize!) I do get tempted to play. I mean, you have to play to win, right?

How about you? Do you play lotteries and keno? How likely do you think you are to win a big prize?

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I had a couple of syndicate tickets in that draw, we have a site here that sells tickets for the major lotteries around the world. I don't buy every week, I usually start buying when the pool reaches $500 Million.

No, me personally i never play lottery and I think I only played it once in my life. Together with someone else i filled out a paper years ago and had no real idea what to do.