# Okay, so when do you play the lottery? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 14, 2010, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/okay-so-when-do-you-play-the-lottery/553752 "2010-09-14T18:58:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Al\_Bundy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@Al\_Bundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al_Bundy)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2010, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/okay-so-when-do-you-play-the-lottery/553752/21 "2010-09-14T21:31:02Z")
When the old Lotto was 6:44 or something the odds were 2-3 million to one. Still, I would play almost every week. It only takes one to win! Then they got greedy and upped the play to 6:48 with power balls and other odd things. The odds were up from 14 million to one. I figured there was no chance to win and I lost interest. Willingness to buy a Lotto ticket has to due with the perception of odds. I had no real chance when it was 2 million to one, but I perceived I had some chance. Resentment of the Lotto Commission behavior came into play too. Same thing happened with the casino slot machines when they programmed the newer electrical ones to lower the odds. Those slots will eventually get your money anyway so why not let the people spend more time losing it? Now I place my future in the hands of divine providence and buy no tickets. My chances of finding a winning ticket on the ground may be better. ---
**Author:** ![Aswan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c68b51/32.png) [@Aswan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aswan)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2010, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/okay-so-when-do-you-play-the-lottery/553752/22 "2010-09-14T21:46:22Z")
> [@Al\_Bundy](#): > > Now I place my future in the hands of divine providence and buy no tickets. My chances of finding a winning ticket on the ground may be better. Interesting. You think “divine providence” has no place in winning a lottery? If you don’t buy a ticket, how will “divine providence” deliver? Indeed, you should start searching the streets as you walk home from work. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2010, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/okay-so-when-do-you-play-the-lottery/553752/23 "2010-09-14T21:46:40Z")
Whenever I think to. I can afford a few dollars a week. I rarely win, but I don’t mind. It goes to older PA residents, which is good. I give to charity much more than I spend on tickets, and only get a good feeling from it. With a lottery ticket, proceeds still help those less fortunately and I get a chance to win. ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2010, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/okay-so-when-do-you-play-the-lottery/553752/24 "2010-09-14T22:09:26Z")
You buy it when there is the greatest amount of time left between purchase and the actual drawing. Then carry it around with you everywhere in your back pocket. That way you can hang on to the faint glimmer of hope that the worthless piece of paper in your pocket may just change your life for the maximal amount of time before you get confirmation that it is indeed worthless. ---
**Author:** ![NinetyWt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/cc9497/32.png) [@NinetyWt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinetyWt)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2010, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/okay-so-when-do-you-play-the-lottery/553752/25 "2010-09-14T22:42:10Z")
I know exactly what you’re talking about, **Aswan**. My younger son has totalled a vehicle twice. He was also carjacked and assaulted once. Each time he survived, and I did think to myself “Dammit. I have used up my good luck for the WHOLE year”. Especially in the carjacking case, when I was able to find his car in the ghetto and have it towed home. ---
**Author:** ![Aswan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c68b51/32.png) [@Aswan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aswan)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2010, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/okay-so-when-do-you-play-the-lottery/553752/26 "2010-09-14T23:09:59Z")
**NinetyWt** , that doesn’t sound like luck to me, it sounds like courage and determination. I’ve got boys that age, Cowboy, and I can’t imagine going through that kinda nightmare. Twice. Soldier on. You will. ---
**Author:** ![Nametag](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nametag/32/406_2.png) [@Nametag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nametag)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2010, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/okay-so-when-do-you-play-the-lottery/553752/27 "2010-09-15T00:48:07Z")
There is no such thing as luck, and an unusual occurrence neither adds to nor subtracts from my estimation of the likelihood of an unrelated unusual event, nor does it change my evaluation of the desirability of relying on that event. This does not prevent me from using the word “luck” to describe an unusual occurrence that works out in my favor, but I know it wasn’t really luck. ---
**Author:** ![Randy\_Seltzer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ee7513/32.png) [@Randy\_Seltzer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Randy_Seltzer)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2010, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/okay-so-when-do-you-play-the-lottery/553752/28 "2010-09-15T03:53:37Z")
Not pitting any response in particular, but this thread has prompted a pit thread in response: [Failure to read the OP before responding - The BBQ Pit - Straight Dope Message Board](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=578304) ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2010, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/okay-so-when-do-you-play-the-lottery/553752/29 "2010-09-15T05:35:59Z")
A buck wont change your life. If you hit a lotto with it, it can. Piling a bunch of money on it is stupid.I do it occasionally because I like to gamble a little but. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2010, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/okay-so-when-do-you-play-the-lottery/553752/30 "2010-09-15T14:41:09Z")
> [@Nametag](#): > > There is no such thing as luck Sure there is. It just depends on how you define the word _luck_. 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/okay-so-when-do-you-play-the-lottery/553752.md?page=1)