I better approach is to pick numbers and then show how those numbers would have never hit a jackpot since lottery's inception.
Here’s $100. Can you win $800M at Powerball?
151–160 of 162 posts
Re: Here’s $100. Can you win $800M at Powerball?
#152A lottery ticket doesn't buy a chance, it buys a pleasant daydream. It buys a mental escape hatch. It buys the 'what would I do' game for another week. A movie costs $12 in a theater for 2 hrs of enjoyment. A lottery ticket costs $1 for a week of intermittent enjoyment. For certain segments of the population, a lottery ticket is a downright bargain. Math problems are easy. Real world problems are difficult. As an asi…
> A lottery ticket doesn't buy a chance, it buys a pleasant daydream. It buys a mental escape hatch. It buys the 'what would I do' game for another week.
Maybe for someone making six figures in the bay area.
In high school, I worked as a stock boy in a convenience/liquor store in a blue collar midwest town. It was obvious a large percentage of the buyers of lotto tickets really couldn't afford to do so.
It's not a popular opinion, but imho, the lottery is little more an government-sponsored exploration of the economically disadvantaged.
Re: Here’s $100. Can you win $800M at Powerball?
#153A lottery ticket doesn't buy a chance, it buys a pleasant daydream. It buys a mental escape hatch. It buys the 'what would I do' game for another week. A movie costs $12 in a theater for 2 hrs of enjoyment. A lottery ticket costs $1 for a week of intermittent enjoyment. For certain segments of the population, a lottery ticket is a downright bargain. Math problems are easy. Real world problems are difficult. As an asi…
What do you think of http://lesswrong.com/lw/hl/lotteries_a_waste_of_hope/ and http://lesswrong.com/lw/hm/new_improved_lottery/ ?
For the first article the "a sink of emotional energy" needs some proof that it's harmful. Without that it's just the author's opinion.
It's very easy to argue that the fantasy helps people de-stress and ends up improving their lives.
Studies have found that depressed people are better at estimating odds. There's decent evidence that too much reality is bad for your emotional well being.
The second article is even easier to dismiss. To generate excitement the buy in has to be high enough that people feel a bit invested, and the result has to be quick enough that people don't loose interest.
Re: Here’s $100. Can you win $800M at Powerball?
#154A lottery ticket doesn't buy a chance, it buys a pleasant daydream. It buys a mental escape hatch. It buys the 'what would I do' game for another week. A movie costs $12 in a theater for 2 hrs of enjoyment. A lottery ticket costs $1 for a week of intermittent enjoyment. For certain segments of the population, a lottery ticket is a downright bargain. Math problems are easy. Real world problems are difficult. As an asi…
> A lottery ticket doesn't buy a chance, it buys a pleasant daydream. It buys a mental escape hatch. It buys the 'what would I do' game for another week. Maybe for someone making six figures in the bay area. In high school, I worked as a stock boy in a convenience/liquor store in a blue collar midwest town. It was obvious a large percentage of the buyers of lotto tickets really couldn't afford to do so. It's not a po…
the lottery is little more an government-sponsored exploration of the economically disadvantaged
You probably meant "exploitation" rather than "exploration".
I've heard it phrased a little differently: The lottery is a voluntary tax on the stupid.
A slightly different phrasing: The lottery is a voluntary tax on the innumerate.
BTW I did purchase two Powerball tickets a few hours ago. Wish me luck!
Re: Here’s $100. Can you win $800M at Powerball?
#155Earlier quoted context omitted.
"Quick Pick" numbers are not generated at the store. Regardless of if you pick the numbers or let the computer do it, your request is sent in real time back to a lotto office where the real ticket is securely generated (with a TRNG if you so choose). The local terminal then receives a bitmap to print out.
Funny that they allow multiple people to pick the same numbers, then.
Funny that they allow multiple people to pick the same numbers, then.
Why shouldn't they? It's to the lottery's benefit. Two reasons:
1) People are attached to "their" numbers, and would be very upset if you didn't let them pick exactly the ones they want. Alienated players equals lower participation.
2) There are more overlaps when people pick than when the computer picks. Which means that, each drawing, there is a lower probability of someone hitting the jackpot than if all numbers are distinct. Which means the money rolls over and the next drawing has a larger prize. Eventually the prize is $800 million and people get excited and buy even more tickets. It's even being discussed on HN.
Re: Here’s $100. Can you win $800M at Powerball?
#156Earlier quoted context omitted.
This image removed any temptation for gambling once and for all, because after all, a 1:292,201,338 chance really isn't anything one can grasp easily: A car goes from San Diego to New Orleans and the driver throws a quarter out of his window at some point in time. Now you drive the same route. You get the chance to stop once on this route. If your front tire comes to a halt at the exact same spot of that quarter, you…
Very likely if 292,201,338 took the challenge. People do win lotteries at times, don't they?
Sure, someone will probably be stuck in a traffic jam right next to the quarter at some point, but does that help anyone to win this challenge on purpose? :)
Re: Here’s $100. Can you win $800M at Powerball?
#157Little more than 90% of money lost. Still beats some of my stock market investments.
Re: Here’s $100. Can you win $800M at Powerball?
#158Earlier quoted context omitted.
Join lottery pool at work. Might lose $2, but won't have to kill myself if everyone at the office wins and I have to show up everyday remembering that fact.
i wouldn't take a lottery ticket if you gave it to me for free, but i'd happily join an office pool. for me, the worst part about lotteries is the mental effort required to hang on to and track a ticket; it's sort of the opposite of the entertainment effect that people talk about. but if i could contribute some token amount of money to a social bonding endeavour, and as a bonus fund the entertainment of people who do…
> the worst part about lotteries is the mental effort required to hang on to and track a ticket
I usually forget about the ticket soon after I buy it. I had my fun dreaming and I don't really need to wait for the draw to absorb jolt of disappointment. I know I haven't won without checking.
Re: Here’s $100. Can you win $800M at Powerball?
#159I clicked "play $100" 4 times and lost. So I clicked "bet paycheck" and entered $10,000 (no I don't really make that much). And boom, I won $1,000,000. So I guess I should start playing the lottery? (I suspect there's a bug).
I am in the hole 250k
500k down the drain
91% of invested money lost
Re: Here’s $100. Can you win $800M at Powerball?
#160Earlier quoted context omitted.
What do you think of http://lesswrong.com/lw/hl/lotteries_a_waste_of_hope/ and http://lesswrong.com/lw/hm/new_improved_lottery/ ?
I don't know what he thinks of it, but everyone should give these two pieces (especially the second one) a read. I was absolutely ready to hate it given the title of the first one (I, too, am in the "buying a dream" rationality camp), but the second piece especially was just too damn good.
We have lotteries that give you this hope over period of time (albeit shorter).
It's radio lotteries. You send them text (paid). And they pick few people to call back and to inform them that they won.