Do you play the lottery?

[mvd]

Poll question: Do you play the lottery?

I'm asking the posters who are in the U.S. A couple times a week for me. I stopped playing the instant games. With the numbers game, I seem to have more luck picking my own numbers. You'd think random select would be good for picking up all the patterns..

[rbnyc]

1. Sometimes I buy scratch off games to put...

...in birthday or holiday cards and I'll get one for myself, but that's it.

[JaySherman]

2. I play Powerball or Pick-6 when the jackpots get huge.

I'll buy a couple $ worth of tickets on the very off chance I might get lucky. That's about it. I really don't like gambling.

[DAGDA56]

3. I don't want to fall into the trap of...

...having to play "my numbers" every time...I'm not overly superstitious, but do have a fear that the one night I don't play, would be the night all my numbers hit. And me without a ticket.

[mvd]

6. That's how I am

That's why I don't play most of the time. I'd worry about those times I forgot.

BTW, the mvd option is a joke of course. I'm pretty serious here, but I do have a great sense of humor. And I thought this might lift Robb's spirits up a little bit, too. :-)

[southerngirlwriter]

22. I always play one set of numbers (my set) and let the computer pick a set

One time, the computer-chosen set won. Unfortunately, it won the drawing AFTER my ticket expired. LOL. I was able to get over that.

If it had been MY set that won, the one time I didn't have a ticket, though....... :grr: :grr: :grr:

Suffice to say, I always have a ticket. :D

[Ladyhawk]

4. How about "I'm too poor to play the lottery"?

[bigwillq]

5. I play scratch offs like once a week

really not into the numbers unless it's a quick pick. If I picked my numbers I would feel like I would have to play them every day just in case it hits. Worse case would be if my numbers came up and I didn't play them.

[quinnox]

7. Other: Yes, I play powerball lotto twice a month

Just started recently this questionable habit.

I don't pick the numbers, I let the computer pick 'em.

Also, I think powerball is the only fun one because you always win if you hit the powerball. Better odds than the other big lottos.

[cheezus]

8. i love those scratch offs, but I limit myself severly

my state doesn't have them, so whenever I'm on a trip out of state I buy one.

won my $1 back last time

[Hemprus]

9. I only play

the lotto. Way back in 1984 I awoke having dreamed that I had the winning ticket, I wrote the numbers down and in the morning when I awoke they were there on a piece of paper. I have been playing the same number since. Only won about $1500 over that span, but I can't let it go. I even had one experience of forgetting one night and a $300 winner came up.:shrug:

[Arger68]

10. Never bought a ticket

My opinion only, I think it's a tax on the stupid.

[Mr. Brown of MD]

11. Lotto for big jackpots

Which, in practice, turns out to be only the Big Game Mega Millions game, played here in Maryland.

Once it's up over about $100 million, I figure that if I spend a buck to have a chance to win, it's worth it.

-CollegeDude
That's my theory, sticking to it

[bif]

12. Only when it's over $30 million

n/t

[Commendatori]

19. I'm the opposite

I never play the truly high jackpots. First, you have a lesser chance of splitting a smaller one (and yes, I know how astronomical the odds are that you'll win anyway), and second, your name stays out of the paper. If I were to ever win, the last thing I'd ever want is to show up on Good Morning America and let everyone I've ever met (plus the rest of the country) know I'm rich.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

13. I swore off playing the lottery when I was a child

and learned what the odds are. I also swore off casino gambling or any other type of wager where my odds are not as good as everyone else involved.

[Nailzberg]

14. Mega Millions and Powerball when the pots get big enough.

For me, that means about 75 million for the Mega Millions, and then I'll start buying a couple bucks worth of tickets.
Powerball has to get up around 150 million before I buy, because that means running over the border.

I don't play any other games, with the exception of when someone gives me a scratch off card.

[Skittles]

15. absolutely!

it's the only chance in HELL I have of ever being independently wealthy!

[Earth_First]

16. Mega Millions when the jackpot gets up there...

I'm inclined to play two or three bucks...

[southerngirlwriter]

17. I'm not sure what the terms you're using mean

Every fifth Monday, one of my mentors and I take a 6-hour round trip to Georgia (since our state has no lottery). The time in the car is our quality time to talk and catch up. When we get there, I buy one ticket for the lottery that's good for five weeks (until the next trip). I play two sets of numbers -- one set I always play that I picked myself, and then I let the computer pick a set for fun.

[Spider Jerusalem]

18. You're missing an option.

"No, I don't play the lottery because it's for suckers who are too stupid to understand the laws of probability."

[southerngirlwriter]

20. that's rather short-sighted

Do you honestly think that every single person playing expects to win?

I spend $20 every five weeks -- $4 a week -- on lottery tickets.

In exchange for that, I get to log onto my computer several times a week and hold my breath for a split second because maybe, just maybe, lightning will strike and I won. Then the wrong numbers load, and oh well, I laugh and go on.

It was a fun split second. It's entertainment.

I understand the laws of probability just fine.

[zizzer]

21. Ahhhh, Lotto

Tax for people with poor math skills.

[MAlibdem]

23. I'm 17...

but sometimes my friends get me some (i dont know why, really...they like them).

Pretty much a poor tax, but if the money is well spent not the worst thing.