Are people who buy lottery tickets idiots?

In My Humble Opinion
81

[QUOTE=dangermom]
I think this is part of what I don’t get about gambling in general. To me, it’s just throwing money into a hole. What’s fun about that? I know people do win every once in a while, but it’s just not gonna happen to me. The idea of purposely budgeting $100 to blow in Vegas because it’s entertaining to throw it away is just totally strange to me.
[/QUOTE]

I don’t gamble much, and nickel machines are as good as dollar ones to me, but is it all that different from blowing $60 on a video game? Certain machines are fun to play, and there is at least the possibility of winning. It’s been a better return on my investment in terms of pleasure than some plays I’ve gone to, where I spend about as much.

Disneyland if fun also, but a totally different experience. You can enjoy both types of recreation.

82

[QUOTE=InvisibleWombat]
I don’t understand. My point is that dreaming doesn’t have to cost any money. Daydream that someone gives you a pile of money, or that you find your winning lottery ticket on the street. The odds are close enough so as not to matter.

The probability of winning if you don’t buy a ticket is only 0.00001% or so lower than if you do buy one.
[/QUOTE]

Yes, but your chance **is ** zero if you don’t buy one. I can always dream better with one in my hand. After all, someone has to win :wink:

I do buy them occasionaly (only when its over $150M), but almost never check them after the fact. I figure if I won big, it would be on the news that a local store sold the jackpot ticket - this may be even stupider then buying them in the first place…