Gambling and the lottery

[JobDDT]

Yo, I just found out the other day that when you turn 18, you can gamble on things like lottery tickets and powerball. I previously thought you had to be 21, since that is how old you need to be to get into the boats, but it turns out thats only because they serve alcohol there.

So yeah, the first scratcher ticket I bought was a $25 winner. I also won $3 on the next one and a free ticket on the next.

I won $5 on a magic line bingo thingy, but now I think I'm starting to get an addiction to gambling. I haven't even lost money on it, but I can see myself in 5 years betting entire paychecks on things for some reason.

:(

What is the most any of you have ever won on gambling? Do you gamble, or do you go to casinos?

[JobDDT]

Yeah. I've tried it before but I think I'm one of the defective people who finds it disgusting tasting.

[-T-]

Since I turned 18 I only gambled once. This was when I went with a Friend to pick up a snowmobile and we happen to pass buy a casino so we decided what the heck. I spent $20.00 and called it good. Casino's suck and I honestly don't understand how people enjoy being in there. Fucking nasty, the smell,atmosphere and all the old people. I know somebody who worked at a casino and I guess its not abnormal for old people to relieve themselves in their seats, they do not get up in fear somebody else will get "their" spot and win "their" money.

[QueenAdrock]

My brother and I saw a losing "Maryland Crabs" scratcher in a parking lot. He said "Hey, it's a sign. We should go buy another one because it's bound to be a winner!" So I did (even though he was joking) and scratched off all 5 places to reveal I won the maximum, $25. It was a 1:16,000 chance. My brother didn't believe me when I got excited when scratching it.

Then I bought dinner and drinks. :cool:

[Nivvie]

I can't gamble, it doesn't make sense to me, and when I have tried I always lose.
The lottery seems like empty dreams and desperation, but I know so many people who base their lives in hope of winning, I wonder what they did before it came along.
How the hell did half the UK function before 1994?

[QueenAdrock]

Just because I plan on paying for grad school with my future lottery winnings does NOT mean that I have an empty dream or am being unrealistic.

[abcdefz]

When I lived in Sacramento, a band of people pooled their money and basically bought enough number combinations that they lowered their odds to fifty-fifty. And they won.

Doing something like that -- if you really do have the money to lose -- makes a certain amount of sense to me.

[Nivvie]

Just because I plan on paying for grad school with my future lottery winnings does NOT mean that I have an empty dream or am being unrealistic.


Ooookay ;)

Keep livin' the dream.

[Nivvie]

When I lived in Sacramento, a band of people pooled their money and basically bought enough number combinations that they lowered their odds to fifty-fifty. And they won.

Doing something like that -- if you really do have the money to lose -- makes a certain amount of sense to me.

The odds of winning the main UK lottery are 14 million to 1. There are other lower ones, but the payouts reflect that.

I once read there's more chance of taping a £1 coin to a piece of card with your name and address on it and dropping it in a crowded area and having it returned to you than winning the lottery, but I can't see how they measured that.

I knew someone who got a million on the lottery as her mum won, and gave all six kids a million and kept the other ten for herself. I just hope if anyone who knows me wins they give me some.

[QueenAdrock]

I remember that there was a group out there who once figured if they bought every single lottery combination they would still profit $50,000 so they decided to do it. I wish I had that kind of money. And time! Jesus Christ, imagine going through all those combinations to find the winning ticket.

Unless they have them categorized by number, which is probably a good idea.

[Yorkshire~Rose]

How the hell did half the UK function before 1994?

The football pools! What an institution! We used to have the 'coupon man' call at our house every week and my dad would do the pools and spot the ball! I think it's still around but i bet the top prize is not in the millions like it used to be.

[Nivvie]

The football pools! What an institution! We used to have the 'coupon man' call at our house every week and my dad would do the pools and spot the ball! I think it's still around but i bet the top prize is not in the millions like it used to be.


I'd forgotten all about them!
My grandad used to do them, and Premium Bonds, that ERNIE machine thing.
Still very good odds on Premium Bonds, and it's tax free winnings.