Why so much greed?

Reply #19

BaristaExpress — Sun, 23 Oct 2005 21:38:49 GMT

On your point about greed, I do not debate that greed exists, but I believe your use of the term greed does not apply to people who want to see a record Powerball or Mega Millions jackpot. That's mixing apples and oranges.

Reply #18

Todd — Sun, 23 Oct 2005 20:31:20 GMT

Yes, I'm the guy who set up the computerized drawings petition, and we all need to rally around two things:Hold the line: No more states fall victim to computerized drawings. In addition, for all new lotteries, like Oklahoma and North Caolina, we must ensure that they go with real lottery drawings from day 1. I am happy to say that since day 1 of the petition, not one state has converted to computerized drawings. We must all be vigilant, and not let this ever happen!Roll them back: Get states... [ More ]

Reply #17

delS — Sun, 23 Oct 2005 20:21:40 GMT

I agree with Bellyache, IK didn't have to go negative. Ask your question, state your opinion, but the tone of the post reflects to me a person who has made a judgement about a segment of people. If people can travel and stand the excitement of the worlds fastest roller coasters, more power to them. If others are in the amusement park for other reasons, more power to them. But there is something for everyone with in the park to gain a measure of amusement. I myself like large jackpots, I like... [ More ]

Reply #16

hypersoniq — Sun, 23 Oct 2005 20:20:41 GMT

Whittaker bought 100 tickets when he won...the only thing a big jackpot brings out is casual players, first time players and a ton of newbs unfamiliar with the whole concept... and don't they usually win

Reply #15

Chewie — Sun, 23 Oct 2005 20:20:29 GMT

It's hype and it spreads like wild-fire ... Churches hype every day of the week - death and damnation; not a single thread of proof, but hey, what if they are right? Maybe I should give 10%, I have a chance at heaven! Sounds just like a lottery to me.Every single movie ever made had some shill out there telling you it was the greatest movie - since the last weeks greatest movie. Ever heard a movie start say, don't go to this movie, it isn't worth the money? Sounds just like a lottery to me.Hype... [ More ]

Reply #14

BaristaExpress — Sun, 23 Oct 2005 20:09:05 GMT

I'll say this again and again, if need be! A gambler is just that A Gambler! And I'm a gambler, the size of the jackpot makes no difference to me or any other true gambler! The larger the jackpot the more Exciting it makes it! I also never gamble outside of my means! I gamble what I can afford to lose and nothing more than that! EVER

Reply #13

lottoshlep — Sun, 23 Oct 2005 19:46:19 GMT

If you look at the Canadian Lotto 649 Jackpot of $30M ($25US no-tax in-your-pocket cash) and then see how many ppl plop down their money ... about $55M worth of tickets sold here. That's no chump change for a country a 10th of the population of USA. When the JPs are less than $10M you'll typically see about a quarter of that in ticket sales.It's hype and it spreads like wild-fire ... ppl who don't normally play are purchasing tickets simply because of the extra exposure, the whole circus just s... [ More ]

Reply #12

konane — Sun, 23 Oct 2005 19:28:18 GMT

It may be a chance for the average person to dream what if ........ and IMHO that's a good thing to expand our possibilities. However, have always maintained that both Powerball, Mega Millions are in their own league and that state lotteries make a huge mistake in attempts to ratchet up matrices of their regular lotto games in order to compete with them.

Reply #11

Chewie — Sun, 23 Oct 2005 19:24:04 GMT

Nothing wrong with greed. Keeps the stock market functioning. Keeps movies being made. Keeps television series running. Keeps amusement parks open. Keeps cruise ships in operation. Keeps people running for re-election. The key players involved in those areas are already rich, some beyond imagination. Unless, of course, you believe they put all that effort into it, because it is fun. As long as it doesn't harm you, personally, what is the problem? Too much pressure, on you, seeing people want mor... [ More ]

Reply #10

Bradly_60 — Sun, 23 Oct 2005 19:16:28 GMT

I don't get anything. Thats the thing...its not greed. Just the excitement that is created from such a super jackpot is worth it enough to me. Seeing all the news stations covering it and people of all walks of life putting that dollar down is all I really care about.Brad

Reply #9

Bradly_60 — Sun, 23 Oct 2005 19:15:13 GMT

Spreading it out lessens the chances -- I think -- of temporary irresponsible gambling. I believe you are very wrong on this point. Compulsive gambles are going to be compuslive gamblers. Just like people that drink to much are alcoholics. There is always going to be people that take it to far. But spreading the wealth isn't going to cause compulsive gamblers to buy fewer tickets. And really what is wrong with temporary irresponsible gambling if it is temporary there is nothing to worry... [ More ]

Reply #8

Iesha Kelly — Sun, 23 Oct 2005 19:10:47 GMT

Bradley, what exactly do YOU get from it reaching $400 million, however

Reply #7

Iesha Kelly — Sun, 23 Oct 2005 19:09:41 GMT

Hi, Todd. Are you the man who is fighting against computerized drawings? I loved that debate. I, too, hope that it never comes to pass. There's too much riding on allowing players to be a witness to their own luck, good or bad. It's a matter of trust and being on the up and up. Those balls mean something that a computer print-out never will. As for people being fans of the lottery... nah, it's just straight greed. A lottery can only go up and up and up so high. Yes, it's fun to watch the... [ More ]

Reply #6

Bradly_60 — Sun, 23 Oct 2005 19:09:18 GMT

I agree with Todd. It definetly isn't greed. Greed is when you have something and want more and more and more and keep it all to yourself. Now if the winner of this last PowerBall jackpot starting complaining that he should of gotten the other amount then that is greed. When people on forums are complaining about how they don't like the new rules, people who have not won anything, they are just discussing. Its not greed. Its just a desire to see records smashed. I mean I am glad that more... [ More ]

Reply #5

Todd — Sun, 23 Oct 2005 18:46:38 GMT

Iesha Kelly,I don't disagree with what you're saying, but I'm not sure it's greed that causes people to have those feelings.I also find the concept of needing to set Powerball records as strangely amusing. I always find the runup to a big jackpot to be very exciting -- some of the most exciting times in fact -- but if it doesn't set the big record there is no letdown on my part. That's just the way the cookie crumbled.I also don't take the opinion that big jackpots are a bad thing, like some... [ More ]

Reply #4

Iesha Kelly — Sun, 23 Oct 2005 18:43:17 GMT

Yes, I agree that the terms of the payout could be clearer. I know of some people who weren't even aware that the 2nd prize is now 200,000 instead of 100,000. With the match 5, now you have a pool of money where even if only 1 person won the 2nd prize, you now have 2 multi-millionaires, with a possibility of multiple multi-millionaires, or at least millionaires (if anyone who won the 2nd prize from the last drawing also did power play).As more people become aware of the rules for the match 5,... [ More ]

Reply #3

Iesha Kelly — Sun, 23 Oct 2005 18:32:23 GMT

I only decided to register because of a negative attitude I saw here. I wished to add my 2 cents about it. The lottery sells dreams. It really is a tax upon the poor. For every retired librarian playing the slots to alleve (sp) her depression from losing everything she had saved up a lifetime for to Hurricane Katrina, there are going to be thousands of others who also put their last couple dollars into trying to win that pot -- and lost so that she would win.Now we have a man who claims to h... [ More ]

Reply #2

konane — Sun, 23 Oct 2005 18:23:51 GMT

Seems that Powerball is trying to give the best to both groups. I believe lotteries are learning a hard lesson that leading people around with pie in the sky astronomical jackpots but not allowing a single bite in lower tier payouts gets lotteries fewer players in the long haul. Some have expressed that terms of payout could be a bit clearer, or perhaps the rub was because they assumed the new game would be conducted under the old rules. Old rules, new rules .... money is money to me so long as... [ More ]

Reply #1

bellyache — Sun, 23 Oct 2005 18:19:14 GMT

but that is what you greedy folks want, right?I have a question. Why do people have to start off their first few posts so negatively? You could have just asked your question without adding the insult at the end.

Why so much greed?

Iesha Kelly — Sun, 23 Oct 2005 18:13:25 GMT

I've passed through this site on and off since Jack Whittaker. I finally decided to register today because of a disturbing attitude from some members here. I don't understand how adding the Match 5 pool to the ultimate jackpot winner does the lottery any good. One or two people here are positively foaming off at the mouth at the supposed 'rip off' of not allowing a new record to be hit ('it could roll to half a billion dollars!'), versus making more people winners of bigger cash amounts. I r... [ More ]