Does your state have a lottery?

[elfwitch]

Do you play?

If you do what do you play? (Lottery only, scratch offs, etc.)

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

1. State lotteries are the ONLY instance in which I'm tolerant to gambling

It's a nice way to get funds, it's completely voluntary, and it doesn't drain people's money fast -- as long as it isn't a "scratch" one. These are evil.

[mobuto]

3. No they're not, they're a tax on the poor

and on people who have trouble with elementary mathematics.

Before the states took it over, the numbers racket was run by the mob. And you know what? The mob gave much better odds.

If you want to raise money, do it openly - tax property or income. But the lottery is just a regressive way of scamming the public.

[Nihil]

11. Bollocks

They are no more a tax on the poor than the sale of cigarettes or
alcohol. All of these are unnecessary to a healthy life but are
voluntary methods of spending your hard-earned cash. FWIW, they are
all taxed so, again, it's a "fair" tax in that it only penalises
those who indulge in that particular luxury.

The odds of winning the jackpot are crap but it takes no more effort
than lifting a pen. The odds of winning on the Stock Exchange (or
any other gambling den) are only better if you put effort into your
research. If you just pick six stocks with a pin and hold them for
one week then you will piss away your money at a much higher rate than
one lottery ticket a week. (Clue: you don't get many shares for £1
and the odds of a return matching a lottery win over that time are
even more remote than winning a jackpot).

The fact that some of the money goes to charity is a bonus.
The government (or state) still gets some of it and the rest (except
for the prizes) goes to the bunch who run the lottery as a business.

The lottery is a way to use a small amount of cash (£1 in the UK) and
prove that you haven't given up on all your wild dreams yet.

Nihil

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

14. DINGDINGDINGDING we have a winnah!

I had a response but couldn't quite put it in writing, and now I know the reason -- you sucked it off my mind. :evilgrin:

But, state-run or not, charity or not, I STILL consider scratch-offs unspeakably evil.

[Nihil]

15. *SLURP*

(The mind-vampire slinks off into the night, his lust for unsuspecting
thoughts sated ... but not, alas, for long ...)

[mobuto]

16. You're absolutely right

They are no more a tax on the poor than the sale of cigarettes or
alcohol.

Agreed. They are just as much a tax on the poor as are taxes on cigs and alcohol. They're all regressive.

All of these are unnecessary to a healthy life but are
voluntary methods of spending your hard-earned cash. FWIW, they are
all taxed so, again, it's a "fair" tax in that it only penalises
those who indulge in that particular luxury.


Except the burden is disproportinately shouldered by the poor.

The odds of winning on the Stock Exchange (or
any other gambling den) are only better if you put effort into your
research.

Investing is not gambling. In all forms of gambling, lottery-included, the longer you play, the more likely you are to lose. Investing is the reverse - those who invest over the longest period are the most likely to make money.

The fact that some of the money goes to charity is a bonus.


So? The State can raise and spend money in many ways. Why not start state-owned brothels to fund orphanages? I think it makes more sense to rely on straight-forward taxes.

The lottery is a way to use a small amount of cash (£1 in the UK) and prove that you haven't given up on all your wild dreams yet.

In this country, many poor people buy a great many lottery tickets, precisely because their wild dreams are not in touch with reality.

[GOPisEvil]

2. Lotteries are evil!

Because I never win! :evilgrin:

Although...I rarely play, so there's that.

Last lottery game I played was when I visited Philadelphia last June. There was a 7-11 across from the bar we were at. Maine Mary wanted some cigarettes so I walked across the street with her. While there I bought two scratch-off tickets for $5 each. I won $20. :bounce:

[DinahMoeHum]

4. I've got more fun and better odds in the stock market.

n/t

:evilfrown:

[YellowRubberDuckie]

5. The Baptists run Oklahoma...

If we ever have a lottery, I will rip my shirt off and dance on the table. LOL
Duckie

[GOPisEvil]

6. Texas is run by Baptists, too. We have a lottery and parimutuel racing.

Go figger...I guess money trumps religion in some cases. :shrug:

[YellowRubberDuckie]

7. Hmmmm...Maybe Texas Baptists are just more money hungry.

I didn't think it would be possible.
Duckie

[GOPisEvil]

We even got into the MegaMillions thing...

...an interstate lottery! I was shocked! This from a state that STILL won't let you buy wine through the mail...I guess because you can't tax that. :eyes:

[democratreformed]

9. Same here in Arkansas n/t

[pagerbear]

18. Once, when I visited Oklahoma....

...a cab driver told me about Baptists: "They won't say "fuck" but you'd better not bend over around 'em!"

[demsrule4life]

8. Alabama doesn't have a lottery

so all the money is going to Tennessee and Georgia.

[elfwitch]

10. I had a friend that lived in Anniston...

She would drive to the Georgia border at least once a month to buy tickets.

[demsrule4life]

12. Hasn't changed

North Alabama goes to Tennessee, east to Georgia and the west goes to the Casinos in Mississippi.

[DEM FAN]

13. I Play The Florida Lottery. Pick 3 And Sometimes Others. BUT It Does Not

Control Me Though.

[gyopsy]

17. The Florida Lotto claims to be good

THey say they donate a certain percentage of each lottery prize to education. If that's true, then why does FL rank like 48th in the country in that category?

I still play it though.