Comments on: Hey! I didn’t win the Mega Millions!

By: Donna Freedman

Donna Freedman — Sat, 01 Dec 2012 08:58:22 +0000

I live in Alaska as of October, but I wrote this piece back in March.

By: Practical Parsimony

Practical Parsimony — Sat, 01 Dec 2012 07:52:38 +0000

I see a lot of difference in a night at the opera or at a movie with snacks. A person can spend only so much money going to the movie and mostly has a resonable expectation of the movie experience. The lottery can drain a person for weeks with an astounding promise that will not come true except for a few, a very few tickets.

I have a friend in CA who won $30K at his first horse race. He estimates he has spent $750K over the last 40 years gambling while he has won about $250K in the same period. He said the early win made him determined to top his win and made him think he knew how to bet the horses.

I am not a gambler and refused to allow my children to gamble even for a Coke over the Iron Bowl. None of them gamble, thankfully. Gambling is an addiction with the capability of ruining lives.

That said, I don’t hold any bad opinions about the people who did gamble on the lottery. I have never been to a casino to gamble and don’t really have a desire to do so. I am not setting myself up to being superior to anyone, just not my thing, that’s all.

By the way, Indian casinos do not pay out the same percent of their gains like other casinos must pay out. The Indian casinos pay out much less.

The lottery excitement always permeates my thought with “what if” even though I have never bought a ticket. They don’t sell tickets in this state, so maybe I have just never had the chance to be tempted to indulge.

By: Practical Parsimony

Practical Parsimony — Sat, 01 Dec 2012 07:41:18 +0000

I thought you were in Alaska now. ???

By: Bill @ Quizzle.com

Bill @ Quizzle.com — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 15:31:38 +0000

I take the same view (and wrote a similar piece). The odds and raw math doesn’t make any logical sense, but it sure is worth a $1 of entertainment and daydream fodder.

Personally, my wife and I went in with a bunch of friends. It was fun. We had a blast sharing, at a breakfast gathering, what we would do when we won.

Lottery winnings = $0. Fun and fellowship = Priceless!

By: Jen M.

Jen M. — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 02:38:25 +0000

I bought 5 lottery tickets, just so that I could I say I played the record-breaking drawing.

My kids got a slushie while I waited in line at the 7-11. I heard them talking to each other about what they would buy if we won. My son would buy a cool bike helment, just like Dad’s, and a Build A Bear. My daughter said she’d get more outfits for her doll. They both agreed that we’d give most of it to charity, but they couldn’t agree which one. It was an awesome conversation to overhear, and now I know what to get them for their birthdays!

By: Lisa

Lisa — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 02:07:47 +0000

I never buy actual lottery tickets, even when the jackpot is up to some ridiculous amount. I do, however, sometimes include a scratch-off ticket in birthday/holiday cards; the odds of winning some small amount are greater, and it makes getting a card somewhat more exciting.

By: ImJuniperNow

ImJuniperNow — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 15:14:48 +0000

I’m getting a kick out of reading all the comments at the end of the Maryland “winner” articles on the Web. Funny how many people hope she uses the money to go back to school and learn English.

I really hope there’s some guy (or gal) out there who is really holding the ticket, laughing their ass off.

By: SonyaAnn

SonyaAnn — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 13:39:53 +0000

“Generally speaking I think bottled water is a stupidity tax on the thirsty.”-This one made me laugh really hard.
My dad always said that he got a few days of dreaming for that $1. You could buy or be anything on that buck. I think about it that way.

By: jestjack

jestjack — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 12:17:31 +0000

Update on the Maryland winner….now they can’t seem to locate the ticket and if the gal even had it. I was at the McDonald’s yesterday that she worked at as I am doing work on a rental across the street and there are local news crews all over the place. Just a heads up…the Lottery officials when announcing the winner stated that the winner at the Milford location bought ….one ticket….not a “gaggle” as would have been purchased when funds are pooled. It appears the gaming system has the sophistication to tell how many tickets were bought at a time and when. And as memory serves in Maryland verbal contracts are legal…..they just aren’t enforceable. Would agree this will wind up in the Courts….too much money involved not to….

By: whoisbiggles

whoisbiggles — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 01:08:39 +0000

I am a sucker for kids selling raffle tickets outside the hardware store.
I like supporting kids who are raising money for a cause they think is worthwild.
Just before Christmas last year my 12yo daughter calls me at work to tell me I had won a CAR raffle. I am thinking to myself woohoo but I don’t remember entering any such raffle, but call the number wondering what sort of car I had won..

The raffle was organised by the
Community
Autism
Respite
Service

I loved my new esky, beach towels and christmas hamper.

But most of all I loved my new anecdote.