Lottery Post Founder featured in John Oliver HBO segment

Nov 10, 2014, 9:39 am (38 comments)

Lottery Post Site News

Includes video report

By Todd Northrop

On the final episode of HBO's Last Week Tonight for the year, host John Oliver took a look at state lotteries and argued that they disproportionately take money from the poor by selling hope while failing to deliver on the promise of a better life or improved funding of state programs.

Included in the segment was an examination of how difficult the Mega Millions multi-state lottery game is to win.  The show borrowed a clip from CNN's New Day program when Todd Northrop, Founder of Lottery Post, was interviewed about the $636 million Mega Millions jackpot on Dec. 17, 2013.

(See Mega Millions jackpot soars to $636 million, Lottery Post, Dec. 17, 2013.)

Northrop compared the likelihood of winning the Mega Millions jackpot to being struck by lightning at the same time as being eaten by a shark.

Which also happens to be a great line for an HBO satirical comedy sketch.  (And which the audience seemed to enjoy.)

"That is both an evocative image and an amazing pitch for a movie," Oliver said.

"OK, so there's this guy, he's getting eaten by a shark, see, lightning hits him, he switches minds with the shark, the shark wins the lottery. It's Freaky Friday meets Jaws, I'm calling it SlumShark Gillionaire!"

Oliver went on to make several strong arguments against the lottery in satirical comedic fashion.

He pointed out that in 2013 state-run gambling operations took in over $68 billion in revenue.

"$68 billion. That's more than Americans spent last year on movie tickets, music, porn, the NFL, Major League baseball, and video games combined," Oliver explained. "Which basically mean Americans spent more on the lottery than they spent on America."

What was not mentioned was that the lottery is a completely voluntary form of entertainment, unlike the taxes that he apparently prefers, which are compulsory.

Also not mentioned were the long line of winners who did indeed win the lottery, and are certainly glad they purchased a ticket.  Oliver did mention a few headlines about winners who had tragic stories however.

Despite his clip being utilized in service of an anti-lottery comedy segment, Northrop is glad to be featured.

"Viewers can see I'm having a good time with the odds analogy, and John Oliver's audience also had a good laugh," Northrop said.

"John Oliver is a brilliant writer and satirist, and he raises some important points," Northrop continued.  "Comedy and satire have a way of cutting straight to the heart of an argument, giving citizens and state governments alike something to think about.  If government does make changes in the industry, hopefully it will weigh both sides of the issues fairly."

VIDEO: Watch Last Week Tonight with John Oliver: The Lottery (HBO)

Coming Soon: SlumShark Gillionaire

News story photo(Click to display full-size in gallery)

Lottery Post Staff

Comments

helpmewin's avatarhelpmewin

Awesome WTG!! TODDParty

RedStang's avatarRedStang

Good report and funny ending. He talked about everything we already knew but you still have to try.

hearsetrax's avatarhearsetrax

Lildarryl

Cool to be owner of the best lottery website on Earth..  If lottery making 68 billion.

todd has to be making a Hundred million himself

emilyg's avataremilyg

Cool

Lucky4Life's avatarLucky4Life

at what point does Todd come in? Not really interested in watching the whole thing. Never been a big fan of John Oliver.  Can't believe he has his own show.

Todd's avatarTodd

Quote: Originally posted by Lucky4Life on Nov 10, 2014

at what point does Todd come in? Not really interested in watching the whole thing. Never been a big fan of John Oliver.  Can't believe he has his own show.

Skip to 4:00.

ThatScaryChick's avatarThatScaryChick

Very cool!

dallascowboyfan's avatardallascowboyfan

WTG Todd.

mikeintexas's avatarmikeintexas

Thumbs Up

Marilyn222's avatarMarilyn222

Smile

destinycreation

We have seen Todd's FACE for the first time ever !!!

sully16's avatarsully16

Cheers Awesome Todd , Congrats!

wizeguy's avatarwizeguy

Congrats Todd !! Thumbs Up

Stack47

That was the perfect way to explain the odds to people who may seldom play lottery games.

If only poor people are playing lottery games and creating those multi-million jackpot, we must be living in a really rich country.

HaveABall's avatarHaveABall

Todd, congratulations ... in this case, you're not Memorex -- you're "live!" Lurking

Todd, for your better sake, I wish John Oliver's show would have printed your full name and/or one of your websites underneath this last year video coverage of your exquisite explanation of PB jackpot win probability. 

I'm not familiar with John Oliver, yet found him hilariously profound, and he has staff that apparently did good research on this gambling comparisons segment.  I did disagree with one tid bit of their information though -- I think most U.S. of A. households are probably WAY MORE than a mere $101/annually in loss due to MM and PB [plus, a couple raffles and pick-5 too-long-term sessions] gambling though.  It's probably closer to being in the red an additional $520/annually. 

Regardless, I, too, still play with the sole intention of winning net multi-millions of dollars from the Illinois Lottery Headquarters though.

Pumpkin

music*'s avatarmusic*

Party Thank You Todd !  Very hilarious and funny too.   A coolCool million would make me 

                              a Happy Camper..

HaveABall's avatarHaveABall

Quote: Originally posted by Stack47 on Nov 10, 2014

That was the perfect way to explain the odds to people who may seldom play lottery games.

If only poor people are playing lottery games and creating those multi-million jackpot, we must be living in a really rich country.

I Agree!, Stack47, the show and Todd did do a good job of explaining these probabilities!

Stack 47, the show didn't quite state your second sentence though.  They merely pointed out that of all the populace, in this country, who play the lottery (and it's immense), the poorest individuals spend the highest percentage of their income (not stated, yet implied monthly) on gambling.  [In Oregon, one young, broken/shattered woman was interviewed [by this show] indicating that more than once -- through socializing -- she has spent her household's food-category income on video gambling ... always resulting in argument with her boyfriend and, of course, long-term hunger for them both.]

HaveABall's avatarHaveABall

Quote: Originally posted by music* on Nov 10, 2014

Party Thank You Todd !  Very hilarious and funny too.   A coolCool million would make me 

                              a Happy Camper..

Hey, music*, I'm curious about your statement.  Do you mean happy enough with $1M Gross or Net lottery income?

dallascowboyfan's avatardallascowboyfan

Quote: Originally posted by destinycreation on Nov 10, 2014

We have seen Todd's FACE for the first time ever !!!

Nope he was on CNN.

Coin Toss's avatarCoin Toss

Well done Todd!

Just too bad one certain poster couldn't have ben along to contradict this:

Included in the segment was an examination of how difficult the Mega Millions multi-state lottery game is to win.  The show borrowed a clip from CNN's New Day program when Todd Northrop, Founder of Lottery Post, was interviewed about the $636 million Mega Millions jackpot on Dec. 17, 2013.

(See Mega Millions jackpot soars to $636 million, Lottery Post, Dec. 17, 2013.)

Northrop compared the likelihood of winning the Mega Millions jackpot to being struck by lightning at the same time as being eaten by a shark.

VenomV12

God, there is nothing worse than smug, sanctimonius dimwits like John Oliver. With nonsense like what he said you always inevitably get the people that think they are smart by saying the lottery is a tax on the poor and the stupid. These are the same people that then go spend $5,000/yr on cigarettes and another $10,000/yr on alcohol. The fact of the matter is there is no other investment that you can spend a buck or two on with the potential to make hundreds, thousands or even millions on. With regards to the odds, I have 3 friends that have won the Mega Millions, two in one drawing and the other guy in another. I travel across the country a lot and in the last few years I have just missed winning the top prize in 3 different 5 digit games in different states. I missed winning Florida's Fantasy 5 earlier this year by 1 number which would have been $121,000 at the time. The other two games that I missed winning by 1 number would have netted me between one million to two million dollars or so, I can't remember the exact amounts. (I have a picture of my ticket from Florida but can't seem to upload it.)

I estimate I spend about $900 or so annually on lottery, both draw games and instant tickets. On a bad year I will win back $200 to $300 of that money, although usually I make more than I spend. Even if I saved that $900, invested it, everything went perfectly and I made 7% interest annually for 30 years, it would only amount to $78,000 so it would still be better for me to take a chance with a state lottery and potentially win $100,000. 

John Oliver is the kind of guy that will make a criticism like this and then go to dinner and spend $1,000 on a bottle of wine, so it is best to not take advice from people like him. Someone in Missouri ignored people like him, spent $2 and made $200 million on Saturday. 

I would like the John Olivers of the world's take on the return rate on cigarettes, liquor, dating, driving cars that get less than 40 mpg, spending more than $120k on a house, shoes that cost over $40, food that cost more than $3, video games, clothing not bought at anywhere other than Goodwill, not cutting your own hair and hundreds of other things people do that cost more money than they need to spend. I can dissect anyone's financials and find numerous items they either don't need or are spending way too much money on. 

Quite frankly with the cost of housing, cars, health care, college and everything else, and it rising all the time, if you are poor and you are not considering playing the lottery, you are in fact pretty stupid. Your chances of being able to keep up with the bills, protect yourself from a catastrophic life event or be able to retire are virtually nill unless you win the lottery. Hell, if you are middle class all this applies to you also. 

I don't drink or smoke, so I will happily continue to play my $900 annually on lottery, maybe I should spend even more.

Romancandle's avatarRomancandle

Nice that you got some props there Todd!

I never looked at Oregon's logo that way- Hilarious

LOL

Lucky4Life's avatarLucky4Life

Quote: Originally posted by Todd on Nov 10, 2014

Skip to 4:00.

LOL that's awesome Todd! If they ever make the movie you should be the lead!

CTNY's avatarCTNY

Whoop Whoop!!Dance

I always feel like we're a secret society but I know this

site is very popular and we're being watched.Group Hug

uprrman's avataruprrman

Quote: Originally posted by CTNY on Nov 10, 2014

Whoop Whoop!!Dance

I always feel like we're a secret society but I know this

site is very popular and we're being watched.Group Hug

I Agree!Lurkinggood stuff

TnTicketlosers's avatarTnTicketlosers

Yes Todd is fine,I cant stand hearing the voice of a scammer,it creeps me out.I wish her voice was bleeped out.Tn Lottery Queen.Where is Ridge.? I miss him so much.

lothob's avatarlothob

Quote: Originally posted by CTNY on Nov 10, 2014

Whoop Whoop!!Dance

I always feel like we're a secret society but I know this

site is very popular and we're being watched.Group Hug

I love this comment CTNY.

It's ironic that Oliver hails from a nation of highly taxed and regulated gamblers! The first thing I did when visiting a cousin in London was to bet on a Manchester United versus Arsenal soccer game - an act that would be illegal in these here United States of America. My cousin was shocked that we couldn't do this legally (without being in Nevada) in the land of the free.

Cheers to you Todd!

dpoly1's avatardpoly1

WTG TODD!

Cheers

mikeintexas's avatarmikeintexas

A post by 22 Words hit my reader earlier this a.m.

Carl8080

Everyone play the lotto, poor, middle and upper class. 

 

 

 

Does HBO has a good dental plan? Because Oliver needs one.

myturn's avatarmyturn

He didn't propose an alternative!

Yes, some people will send too much on lotteries, as some people do on other products. However, legal state lotteries are far than non-state illegal lotteries.

jjtheprince

Quote: Originally posted by VenomV12 on Nov 10, 2014

God, there is nothing worse than smug, sanctimonius dimwits like John Oliver. With nonsense like what he said you always inevitably get the people that think they are smart by saying the lottery is a tax on the poor and the stupid. These are the same people that then go spend $5,000/yr on cigarettes and another $10,000/yr on alcohol. The fact of the matter is there is no other investment that you can spend a buck or two on with the potential to make hundreds, thousands or even millions on. With regards to the odds, I have 3 friends that have won the Mega Millions, two in one drawing and the other guy in another. I travel across the country a lot and in the last few years I have just missed winning the top prize in 3 different 5 digit games in different states. I missed winning Florida's Fantasy 5 earlier this year by 1 number which would have been $121,000 at the time. The other two games that I missed winning by 1 number would have netted me between one million to two million dollars or so, I can't remember the exact amounts. (I have a picture of my ticket from Florida but can't seem to upload it.)

I estimate I spend about $900 or so annually on lottery, both draw games and instant tickets. On a bad year I will win back $200 to $300 of that money, although usually I make more than I spend. Even if I saved that $900, invested it, everything went perfectly and I made 7% interest annually for 30 years, it would only amount to $78,000 so it would still be better for me to take a chance with a state lottery and potentially win $100,000. 

John Oliver is the kind of guy that will make a criticism like this and then go to dinner and spend $1,000 on a bottle of wine, so it is best to not take advice from people like him. Someone in Missouri ignored people like him, spent $2 and made $200 million on Saturday. 

I would like the John Olivers of the world's take on the return rate on cigarettes, liquor, dating, driving cars that get less than 40 mpg, spending more than $120k on a house, shoes that cost over $40, food that cost more than $3, video games, clothing not bought at anywhere other than Goodwill, not cutting your own hair and hundreds of other things people do that cost more money than they need to spend. I can dissect anyone's financials and find numerous items they either don't need or are spending way too much money on. 

Quite frankly with the cost of housing, cars, health care, college and everything else, and it rising all the time, if you are poor and you are not considering playing the lottery, you are in fact pretty stupid. Your chances of being able to keep up with the bills, protect yourself from a catastrophic life event or be able to retire are virtually nill unless you win the lottery. Hell, if you are middle class all this applies to you also. 

I don't drink or smoke, so I will happily continue to play my $900 annually on lottery, maybe I should spend even more.

That last part is especially true, the only people who are REALLY getting ahead financially in America anymore are lottery winners.

Get paid's avatarGet paid

Bottom line some people win. As for the five yr. broke thing,let me win first an then check with me in five years. A dollar or two an a dream. Good luck players.

LottoBux's avatarLottoBux

Quote: Originally posted by destinycreation on Nov 10, 2014

We have seen Todd's FACE for the first time ever !!!

Gleno's avatarGleno

11/22/14 Sat.

John Oliver is great. First time seeing him  here. HBO must pay him big bucks because he is very talented.

That is one outstanding number $68 Billion spent on lottery in the USA!

How true, the lower income folks do seem to spend more on lottery than upper scale income folks.

Wonder if people would save the same amount they spend on lottery, might they have a nice nest egg?

Unhappy

hit tonite's avatarhit tonite

Awesome Todd!

THRIFTY's avatarTHRIFTY

USA lottery is a $79B per year industry. Good Luck with fighting that money monster.LOL

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