Is playing national lottery smart or waste of time?

[pawel7777]

Topic and poll inspired by another thread - question:

Do you play national lottery games (Powerball, EuroMillions, Lotto etc)?

My view on big, often state-owned lotteries is they're designed mainly for 2 reasons: to make a profit and as a social tool that sells dreams of instant life change and massive wealth to the masses to keep them in line.

Most people are not satisfied with their lives and they need some sort of hope for the future to keep going and to prevent themselves from turning into crime, falling into depression etc. However messed-up your life might be, there's still hope that buying a cheap lottery ticket could potentially turn you into a millionaire (or even a billionaire) overnight. That's a powerful tool.

But the reality is, such lotteries usually have way worse odds than any casinos or gambling sites. So, mathematically speaking, you're better off gambling your money there.

Thoughts?

[1714308772]

1714308772

[goaldigger]

The target of the national lottery is not the real gamblers though, it is those small bettors who are hoping to win the jackpot and changed their lives. The odds are pretty low especially if there's a lot of numbers to play with, this is pretty cheap as well and that's why many can afford to bet and its pretty convenient. In my country, the government owned lotter serve another purpose by giving help to the poorest of the poor especially on giving medical and financial assistance. This is not a waste of time to others, but personally I see this as a waste of money even if its cheap because of multiple bets in just a month.

[pawel7777]

The target of the national lottery is not the real gamblers though, it is those small bettors who are hoping to win the jackpot and changed their lives.

Oh, for sure. It's actually funny how many regular lottery players would have a strong disdain for gambling, somehow thinking the lottery does not fall into that category.
That's just how the perception is formed: if everyone is doing it and it's state-endorsed then it's all good. But any other form of gambling is for crooks and degenerates

In my country, the government owned lotter serve another purpose by giving help to the poorest of the poor especially on giving medical and financial assistance. This is not a waste of time to others, but personally I see this as a waste of money even if its cheap because of multiple bets in just a month.

Fair enough, but they could still just finance any good causes from taxes, but there's a reason they prefer the lottery.

[Wexnident]

But the reality is, such lotteries usually have way worse odds than any casinos or gambling sites. So, mathematically speaking, you're better off gambling your money there.

If we were to compare it based on something like that, then the lottery would be for someone who has no time, at all, to learn and spend the time playing in a casino. It's also better in terms of money spent in each session since you wouldn't exactly spend a single ticket worth of money for one session in casinos. Even if you consider multiple tickets worth it, it still isn't enough afaik.

And that's the allure of the lottery, compared to regular gambling with slots, dice, etc. I honestly wouldn't even use "possible profit" as a metric, I reckon regular people who play the lottery don't even play gambling in the first place (other than the lottery that is) after all.

[fortunecrypto]

But the reality is, such lotteries usually have way worse odds than any casinos or gambling sites. So, mathematically speaking, you're better off gambling your money there.

Thoughts?

But millions of people choose to ignore or do not know this, all they know is this is their ticket to escape poverty and change their life, even if it's almost impossible to hit the jackpot, we also have a lottery here and we have 9 games held daily because we supported our lottery because it is government-run and the proceeds of the profit are being used by our government in the health sector and for social welfare.
I play the lotto often, and I know that it's almost impossible to hit the jackpot but I support our government-run lottery because of the benefits our poor people are getting.

[pawel7777]

If we were to compare it based on something like that, then the lottery would be for someone who has no time, at all, to learn and spend the time playing in a casino. It's also better in terms of money spent in each session since you wouldn't exactly spend a single ticket worth of money for one session in casinos. Even if you consider multiple tickets worth it, it still isn't enough afaik.

Good point, convenience and sometimes zero time needed to play the lottery is definitely some factor, i.e. in the UK you could just set up regular ticket purchases and you'd get notified if you win - so after the initial setup, you literally don't have to do anything. But that's definitely not a major factor here, I think it's got more to do with the mental perception of lottery Vs. other gambling.
For example, placing a small, combination bet on a large number of completely random sports events could give you the same potential winnings but at much better odds, and yet most people just prefer the lottery, probably because it doesn't have the stigma that other gambling has.

[klidex]

The target of the national lottery is not the real gamblers though, it is those small bettors who are hoping to win the jackpot and changed their lives. The odds are pretty low especially if there's a lot of numbers to play with, this is pretty cheap as well and that's why many can afford to bet and its pretty convenient. In my country, the government owned lotter serve another purpose by giving help to the poorest of the poor especially on giving medical and financial assistance. This is not a waste of time to others, but personally I see this as a waste of money even if its cheap because of multiple bets in just a month.

It is true that lottery gambling is indeed the majority of the most interested in small bettors because with a large multiple of the profit if the numbers at stake are correct with the numbers that come out.
In lottery betting, you don't need a large betting capital, that's why small gamblers are very interested and can afford to bet at any time, even though the chances of winning are very small.
But there are also those who can win the lottery with a very large total number of wins. However, such luck may be a once-in-a-lifetime percentage and not everyone gets that kind of luck.

[robelneo]

My view on big, often state-owned lotteries is they're designed mainly for 2 reasons: to make a profit and as a social tool that sells dreams of instant life change and massive wealth to the masses to keep them in line.

First, yes I voted that I often play the lottery, and we all know that these lotteries are selling dreams and instant life chances, but there are actual people winning and people changing their lives because of the lottery, there's no logic or explanation needed because people will bet on something that will make them financially free, and it only worth $0.50 to bet in a lottery here so why not go for something that is cheap and could possibly change your life

But the reality is, such lotteries usually have way worse odds than any casinos or gambling sites. So, mathematically speaking, you're better off gambling your money there.

I once asked this, to 10 bettors and they have the same answer, and that's "It's none of my business, and it's their money"

[piebeyb]

over time this game was very popular in the past but now times have changed so this lottery game is not much in demand now, most everyone switches to casino games such as slot gambling, usually most parents still play the lottery because they only make small bets hoping to win and being a millionaire, the average risk is not too big in my opinion because maybe they only make small bets, it's different from playing casinos, for parents it won't waste time buying lottery tickets 

[babygun]

I always try to play on it with 1 ticket and my dad already plays on it for more than 40 years and he will continue to do it as he still hopes to one day win the big lot. Years ago he was so close but instead of winning millions he won a couple of grand which is also not so bad.

[Ben Barubal]

Topic and poll inspired by another thread - question:

Do you play national lottery games (Powerball, EuroMillions, Lotto etc)?

My view on big, often state-owned lotteries is they're designed mainly for 2 reasons: to make a profit and as a social tool that sells dreams of instant life change and massive wealth to the masses to keep them in line.

Most people are not satisfied with their lives and they need some sort of hope for the future to keep going and to prevent themselves from turning into crime, falling into depression etc. However messed-up your life might be, there's still hope that buying a cheap lottery ticket could potentially turn you into a millionaire (or even a billionaire) overnight. That's a powerful tool.

But the reality is, such lotteries usually have way worse odds than any casinos or gambling sites. So, mathematically speaking, you're better off gambling your money there.

Thoughts?

    You know here in our country the people who mostly have no hope because of the poverty they are facing, the only thing that gives them hope to get out of the poverty of their lives is to bet on the lottery and win millions of money.

    Even the majority of those who bet here take care of their numbers through the birthday of their loved ones, the others have taken several years to take care of the number they always use, and it has taken decades or more.

Betting on the lottery has become like maintenance or part of their lives.

[Eureka_07]

<snip>

People say that the chance for you to win from jackpot lotteries is smaller than the chance of you getting struck twice by lightning on the same spot. Odds are really stacked against you however, reward is high (that's why a lot of people are still trying even though they are aware of that).
I was also planning to do that, but probably will try it once the jackpot prize becomes higher.

[coin-investor]

Most people are not satisfied with their lives and they need some sort of hope for the future to keep going and to prevent themselves from turning into crime, falling into depression etc. However messed-up your life might be, there's still hope that buying a cheap lottery ticket could potentially turn you into a millionaire (or even a billionaire) overnight. That's a powerful tool.

But the reality is, such lotteries usually have way worse odds than any casinos or gambling sites. So, mathematically speaking, you're better off gambling your money there.

Thoughts?

People especially those desperate ones or living on poverty lines, many of us here are like that, need something like a Genie in a lamp to keep their hopes alive, that one day they will escape poverty, and they see it in a lottery they will not accept the mathematical calculations or sound logic that its almost impossible to win as long as they see people like them hitting the jackpot.
Even if it's impossible they just want something to hope for.

[PX-Z]

I wont call it a waste of time, either waste of money its very cheap to participate actually, well, in my country, yes. Although i wont call it a smart move either.

It's true that doing gambling will give you higher odds for getting a win, but nothing compare to a winning of a jackpot prize from the lottery.

[ethereumhunter]

Playing the lottery gives hope to many people to change their lives for the better. And that's why many of them still buy lotteries cheaply and spend a certain amount of money and wait for the results to come out. Indeed, this can be depressing if they bought the lottery a long time ago but couldn't win any prizes. But that doesn't stop them because they still believe that they will surely win it one day. The lottery is not a waste of time because buying lots of tickets at cheap prices can give us a big chance to win even though it will depend on how big our level of luck is.

[Cling18]

I wont call it a waste of time, either waste of money its very cheap to participate actually, well, in my country, yes. Although i wont call it a smart move either.

It's true that doing gambling will give you higher odds for getting a win, but nothing compare to a winning a jackpot prize from the lottery.

I also consider it a waste of money and time. I know someone who has been betting all her life on the same number combination believing that it will be the only thing that could change her life. If we'll total her total betting amount, it would be huge enough for her to out up a business. I don't think it's a wise or even smart move because I could feel that most bettors are putting too much hope in it.

[Mr. Magkaisa]

   - Maybe, people who don't like to bet on the lottery can think or say that it's a waste of time. But for people who believe in this, even if they have been betting on the lottery for several years, their beliefs are still strong that the time will come when they will also get their luck by hitting the lottery.

Also, for me, the lottery is its purpose, I just think that the millions of people who bet on it even with the minimum amount are a big deal for the lotto company. This means that it is clear that their target is not only gamblers but also all those who like to bet on the lottery. Because many people like to bet on the lottery who are not gamblers in reality.

[aioc]

What would I lose if I only bet a few cents in exchange for life-changing money if I ever hit a jackpot, we've seen people hitting a jackpot in a lottery this person could be you if you're betting even if the odds are very high we just never know, as long as the lottery I'm betting is fair every bettor on that lottery have a chance to win and change their life and become financially free, we sometimes have to take a chance, I believe in extreme lucky and sometimes it hit you when you least expect it.

[PX-Z]

I  also consider it a waste of money and time...

If we'll total her total betting amount, it would be huge enough for her to out up a business. I don't think it's a wise or even smart move because I could feel that most bettors are putting too much hope in it.

That's what almost everyone talks or lines talking to a lottery bettor or to a gambler.
 
While it will only be a waste of money when you prioritize your betting than your needs, or particularly speaking when you are not enjoying or getting excited betting, assuming people do this for entertainment, for gambling addiction better to take from professional advice.

Now, if you are indeed serious of talking of such line on every lottery bettor or simply to any gambler, then this board might not good for you, because most here will oppose of that statement considering most people here do gambling for how many years.

[pawel7777]

...
First, yes I voted that I often play the lottery, and we all know that these lotteries are selling dreams and instant life chasnce, but there are actual people winning and people changing their lives because of the lottery, there's no logic or explanation needed because people will bet on something that will make them financially free, and it only worth $0.50 to bet in a lottery here so why not go for something that is cheap and could possibly change your life

Strange thing is that, allegedly, a lot of lottery winners, would go broke after winning big, some media articles quote even 70% of them, and they wished they had never won. I take that with a grain of salt though, as there doesn't seem to be any credible source for that number (some other sources claim that 'only' a third of winners would go broke).

But the reality is, such lotteries usually have way worse odds than any casinos or gambling sites. So, mathematically speaking, you're better off gambling your money there.

I once asked this, to 10 bettors and they have the same answer, and that's "It's none of my business, and it's their money"

People tend to get very defensive when you challenge their actions and they cannot come up with any reasoning.