# Today I will win the Lottery..... **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 6, 2007, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-i-will-win-the-lottery/394826 "2007-03-06T18:11:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![kittenblue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ba8739/32.png) [@kittenblue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kittenblue)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2007, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-i-will-win-the-lottery/394826/1 "2007-03-06T18:11:45Z")
I have to, right? It’s my birthday, and even more importantly, it’s my 50th birthday, and it’s my day off, and the jackpot of the Ohio Lottery is the highest ever, and I’m nearly broke except for the few dollars I found in my jacket pocket. So karma decrees that I must win tonight, right? Because it just wouldn’t be right for someone else to win it on my birthday, now would it? And I really didn’t even know it was such a big jackpot until I saw the paper today, so prepare to help me spend it! I might just pay the SDMB subscription fee for all the charter members if I win! I bought one ticket already, and I’ll buy one more someplace else, and then maybe a third at a third location, just to improve my chances. That’ll work, right? ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2007, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-i-will-win-the-lottery/394826/2 "2007-03-06T18:14:59Z")
Happy Birthday! I’m going to win the lottery today too, because it’s up to $334 million. That’s my lucky number! ---
**Author:** ![UncleBeer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/977dab/32.png) [@UncleBeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBeer)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2007, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-i-will-win-the-lottery/394826/3 "2007-03-06T18:17:09Z")
[QUOTE=kittenblue] I bought one ticket already, and I’ll buy one more someplace else, and then maybe a third at a third location, just to improve my chances. That’ll work, right? [/QUOTE] Only if you have numbers identical to mine. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2007, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-i-will-win-the-lottery/394826/4 "2007-03-06T18:19:19Z")
I’ve nver bought a lottery ticket. :eek: Instead I put the money into a savings account. 100% chance of keeping the capital. And the interest is like winning a small lottery prize. Every month. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Atrael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Atrael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atrael)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2007, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-i-will-win-the-lottery/394826/5 "2007-03-06T19:18:15Z")
Eh…sure if you play the lottery twice a week every week and buy $5 worth of ticketts putting the money in a savings account would be a better option. However I susupect that most people only buy sporadically, so that amount wouldn’t add up nearly as fast, or provide as much fantasy-enjoyment. And good luck **kittenblue** …look at it this way, your odds are 50/50. Either you’ll win…or you won’t. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2007, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-i-will-win-the-lottery/394826/6 "2007-03-06T19:21:02Z")
[QUOTE=kittenblue] I bought one ticket already, and I’ll buy one more someplace else, and then maybe a third at a third location, just to improve my chances. That’ll work, right? [/QUOTE] Oh, yes. You’re odds just improved from 1:175,711,536 to 3:175,711,536. Definitely better odds. But still a really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, long shot. Really. That includes factoring in the “birthday magic”. ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2007, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-i-will-win-the-lottery/394826/7 "2007-03-06T19:25:55Z")
[QUOTE=silenus] Happy Birthday! I’m going to win the lottery today too, because it’s up to $334 million. That’s my lucky number! [/QUOTE] Megamillions is 370 now. And I’m going to win it. ---
**Author:** ![cherry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cherry)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2007, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-i-will-win-the-lottery/394826/8 "2007-03-06T19:27:43Z")
I just read on CNN that there was a big lottery drawing today so I JUST came back from the gas station and bought a ticket for it. Goodluck! ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2007, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-i-will-win-the-lottery/394826/9 "2007-03-06T19:29:02Z")
[QUOTE=Antinor01] Megamillions is 370 now. And I’m going to win it. [/QUOTE] Got a pool going on at work. Not a big one, just 6 people at $5 per person. Hey, it’s cheaper than trip to Vegas, right? I’m making my reservations in Bora-Bora right now. ---
**Author:** ![Tristan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tristan/32/18058_2.png) [@Tristan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tristan)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2007, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-i-will-win-the-lottery/394826/10 "2007-03-06T20:14:46Z")
For some odd reason, I felt compelled to by a Powerball ticket today. While my winnings will be a paltry $120 million, compared to your mighty prize, I am content with my (roughly) $70 million after taxes. Somehow, I’ll make it work. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2007, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-i-will-win-the-lottery/394826/11 "2007-03-06T20:19:25Z")
I came onto the boards today to start this very thread on how _I’m going to win the Mega Million_ tonight. I’ve got $4 invested into it. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2007, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-i-will-win-the-lottery/394826/12 "2007-03-06T20:21:11Z")
Oh yeah, happy birthday ! ---
**Author:** ![Man\_With\_a\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cab0a1/32.png) [@Man\_With\_a\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Man_With_a_Cat)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2007, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-i-will-win-the-lottery/394826/13 "2007-03-06T20:22:41Z")
Tell you what **kittenblue** - when I win, I’ll buy you a nice cake. **With** candles. ---
**Author:** ![Duke\_of\_Rat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Duke\_of\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke_of_Rat)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2007, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-i-will-win-the-lottery/394826/14 "2007-03-06T20:23:06Z")
I just saw on Google News that MegaMillions is at a record amount, and it turns out that I’m in a MegaMillions state so I’m throwing caution to the wind and buying a $5 ticket. Wheee! ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2007, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-i-will-win-the-lottery/394826/15 "2007-03-06T20:24:39Z")
Karma does seem to be on your side, kittenblue! I just signed up for a $5/mo donation to the Humane Society. Now I am wishing I had $5 to play the lotto 🙂 Oh well…my dad and my boyfriend and my cousin have like 50 tickets between them so I hopes one of them win and share the loot. ---
**Author:** ![BurnMeUp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@BurnMeUp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BurnMeUp)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2007, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-i-will-win-the-lottery/394826/16 "2007-03-06T20:45:19Z")
you know that if you talk about winning you won;t win right? ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2007, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-i-will-win-the-lottery/394826/17 "2007-03-06T22:25:37Z")
I think that I’m gonna win because - well, I would \*never \*trade health for wealth, but since I haven’t had health in a long time, well the universe owes me some wealth dammit! ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2007, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-i-will-win-the-lottery/394826/18 "2007-03-06T22:39:45Z")
I don’t think that I’ve ever bought a lottery ticket on my own before (my ex-wife would occasionally buy them and I’ve entered work pools) but I did this time. I was out with a friend and she convinced me to buy a $5 Quick Pick. Until she told me about it, I didn’t even know that California was part of a multi-state lottery deal. My friend will get $1 million if I win and the rest is to be determined. ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2007, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-i-will-win-the-lottery/394826/19 "2007-03-06T22:43:05Z")
[QUOTE=ShibbOleth] Oh, yes. You’re odds just improved from 1:175,711,536 to 3:175,711,536. Definitely better odds. But still a really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, long shot. Really. That includes factoring in the “birthday magic”. [/QUOTE] I don’t know about that. I’d like to see your methodology for factoring in birthday magic. Birthday magic is a powerful thing. ---
**Author:** ![kittenblue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ba8739/32.png) [@kittenblue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kittenblue)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2007, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-i-will-win-the-lottery/394826/20 "2007-03-06T23:07:38Z")
Okay, I now have two tickets! I’ll buy one more when my daughter arrives to take me to Macaroni Grill for dinner, and this time I will pick my own numbers. Since dinner is my only gift this year (so far…my boss says she has something for me tomorrow) and she’s not paying for dinner, but using a gift card someone else gave her, that increases my odds, right? Oh. wait, **Lillith Fair** gave me a ball of yarn…ah, but that cancels out my mom not even giving me a card from her stash of generic cards, so I’m back on the winning karma curve! The last time I played a regular lottery was the huge Powerball one last year. I was in Nebraska visiting my sister, and bought three tickets…but then we went to the casino with $20 apiece, and I walked out with $25, so that wiped out the lottery luck then. I can’t see pending more than $5 max on any lottery try. To spend more is just foolish. Now, to pick some auspicious numbers… [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-i-will-win-the-lottery/394826.md?page=2)