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Show HN: Website that plays the lottery every second

lotteryeverysecond.lffl.me

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Re: Show HN: Website that plays the lottery every second

#2

Post by lunaru »

I think people understand the odds are small. However, perhaps they perceive their chances of meaningfully turn around their life in other ways have even smaller odds. i.e. improbable vs actually impossible. At least the lottery doesn't care about your current circumstance and everyone has an equal (equally small) chance.

Secondly, because everyone realizes the chances are small, the real product being sold is Hope. Even the advertisements for the lotteries address this. The thing you're buying is 30 seconds of daydreaming so you can comfortably tackle the rest of the day.

Re: Show HN: Website that plays the lottery every second

#5

Post by dangus »

lunaru wrote: post #2

I think people understand the odds are small. However, perhaps they perceive their chances of meaningfully turn around their life in other ways have even smaller odds. i.e. improbable vs actually impossible. At least the lottery doesn't care about your current circumstance and everyone has an equal (equally small) chance. Secondly, because everyone realizes the chances are small, the real product being sold is Hope.…

Another aspect is that in many states, a large portion of the lottery goes directly into public good programs like education: https://www.powerball.net/distribution-of-revenue

All the players know that the odds are horrible, but in the end someone does win.

Re: Show HN: Website that plays the lottery every second

#6

Post by Retric »

dangus wrote: post #5
lunaru wrote: post #2

I think people understand the odds are small. However, perhaps they perceive their chances of meaningfully turn around their life in other ways have even smaller odds. i.e. improbable vs actually impossible. At least the lottery doesn't care about your current circumstance and everyone has an equal (equally small) chance. Secondly, because everyone realizes the chances are small, the real product being sold is Hope.…

Another aspect is that in many states, a large portion of the lottery goes directly into public good programs like education: https://www.powerball.net/distribution-of-revenue All the players know that the odds are horrible, but in the end someone does win.

Money is fungible, every penny going from the lottery to X is a penny not taken from the general fund.

Thus specific funds for X is only meaningful as a minimum funding amount.

Re: Show HN: Website that plays the lottery every second

#7

Post by Waterluvian »

What I love about this is how it demonstrates that the waiting is the most powerful part. That week is where a lotto user’s brain does all the work for the lotto corp. The anticipation! The excitement. What if? Oh let’s daydream! Oh the dopamine!

You don’t even have to sell them hope. Just sell them the sensation of hope.

Re: Show HN: Website that plays the lottery every second

#8

Post by Waterluvian »

Retric wrote: post #6
dangus wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Another aspect is that in many states, a large portion of the lottery goes directly into public good programs like education: https://www.powerball.net/distribution-of-revenue All the players know that the odds are horrible, but in the end someone does win.

Money is fungible, every penny going from the lottery to X is a penny not taken from the general fund. Thus specific funds for X is only meaningful as a minimum funding amount.

And they would also have to believe that their education system in its current form would have been even worse without the lottery.
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