Poll - PB & MM vs a National Lottery

Reply #44

Rip Snorter — Wed, 05 Jul 2006 03:21:27 GMT

Life does provide its little amusements.

Thanks Coin Toss

J

Reply #43

Coin Toss — Wed, 05 Jul 2006 02:40:36 GMT

Received this tonight from Missouri Lottery e-mail, very ironic considerig this thread:

Q. What former Numbers Game, which is now Powerball, began on Feb. 3, 1988?

Answer: Lotto America (now Powerball) sales began on Feb. 3, 1988.

Reply #42

Rip Snorter — Wed, 05 Jul 2006 01:51:46 GMT

Thanks for the comment goldrush.

Also thanks for posting the Premium Bonds link. I saw it on the other thread .... interesting idea and interesting success story. Something of that sort, (not excluding the other, major jackpot lottery) might make for some refreshing changes in the entire US lottery scene.

Naturally the lottery officials aboard here will hate it, but the members without a vested interest have had some good and thoughtful comments.

I don't think it will ever happen. Se... [ More ]

Reply #41

goldrush — Wed, 05 Jul 2006 00:55:20 GMT

The US Government could follow the UK Government and introduce US Premium Bonds. It would raise billions in revenue for the US Treasury and be very popular with the American people. it would be a win win situation.

Backed by HM Treasury

What are Premium Bonds?

Premium Bonds are an investment where, instead of interest payments, investors have the chance to win tax-free prizes. When someone invests in Premium Bonds they are allocated a series of numbers, one for each 1 invested. The m... [ More ]

Reply #40

goldrush — Wed, 05 Jul 2006 00:45:07 GMT

A US Lottery would be very successful, not just in the US but worldwide, in raising billions of dollars. Just look at the Green Card Lottery run ever year, in which 50,000 people and their families are given permanent residency in the US. Millions of people all over the world enter the Green Card Lottery in the hope of getting the opportunity of a lifetime. A US LOTTERY would attract even more entrants.

Reply #39

Rip Snorter — Wed, 05 Jul 2006 00:12:01 GMT

Wonder what a 'discarded vote' is?

This poll is surprisingly split right down the middle, with Yes ahead by one vote.

That discarded vote might be the one that would have kept them even.

I'm almost sorry I voted 'indifferent', though I'm nearer that than on the Yes side.

Reply #38

fxsterling — Tue, 04 Jul 2006 23:18:26 GMT

becoming a member to play this lottery the government can keep tab's on us and most people will give up info to play the plot grows

Reply #37

Rip Snorter — Tue, 04 Jul 2006 23:07:48 GMT

Quote: Originally posted by Rick G on July 4, 2006 Jack,

In your book be sure to include how the new anti-gambling movement required minimum sentencing requirements for those sinners selling or buying lottery numbers, squares for Superbowl and brackets for March Madness. The gamblers and drug users would need all the prison space leaving the murderers and rapists to roam the country free....good fodder for antagonist characters and plot development.

But it could go even further...they ren... [ More ]

Reply #36

Raven62 — Tue, 04 Jul 2006 22:54:55 GMT

A National Lottery and/or Multi-State Lottery damages the Economy of the Member State(s) that has(have) less than their fair share of Jackpot Wins.

The damage occurs in 3 ways:

1. The Dollars bet on the MSL are taken out of circulation in all Member States and reduces the Economy of the Member States. Every dollar that goes to a lottery is money that cannot be spent somewhere else - or invested.

2. In the Winning Member State The Dollars Won boosts the Economy of that State in the form

Reply #35

justxploring — Tue, 04 Jul 2006 20:02:17 GMT

As long as these games are local gambling schemes agreed on by a few participating states, the Federal government shouldn't require every state to join one, they aren't that important to the national interest. Beside these games are producing winnable jackpots of $12M to $300M+ which is plenty for the average gambling addicts. RJOh

First I voted YES but I do agree with RJOh on the point he makes above. I guess I was only thinking how FL doesn't have either PB or MM and it would give r... [ More ]

Reply #34

Rick G — Tue, 04 Jul 2006 19:31:41 GMT

Jack,

In your book be sure to include how the new anti-gambling movement required minimum sentencing requirements for those sinners selling or buying lottery numbers, squares for Superbowl and brackets for March Madness. The gamblers and drug users would need all the prison space leaving the murderers and rapists to roam the country free....good fodder for antagonist characters and plot development.

But it could go even further...they renew Prohibition and let the child molesters and al... [ More ]

Reply #33

RJOh — Tue, 04 Jul 2006 19:03:27 GMT

I voted No because MegaMillions and PowerBall are really local games run by each participating State. Each state contribute ~32% of their local sales to the jackpot which is shared by all the participating states, but each state is responsible for paying all other winnings except the jackpot out of their local sales. Because each game version is a local game, winners in the game can only claim prizes in the state where they bought their ticket and in the case of MegaMillions each state prize a... [ More ]

Reply #32

Rip Snorter — Tue, 04 Jul 2006 18:46:52 GMT

Rick:

Sheeze. I can get a chapter just out of what you just posted. Got characters all creating themselves inside my head, plot summaries racing along trying to get ahead of one another, chapters jockeying for postion.

Even though I keep Raven blocked, I read his post and it started me thinking about this as a potential novel.

I'm going to have to clean some flotsam and jetsum out of my life, get hold of an old workable desktop comp before I go too far with things, but I think there i... [ More ]

Reply #31

Rick G — Tue, 04 Jul 2006 18:26:52 GMT

Jack,

Now that is a very good point and probably a major reason it hasn't been done yet. The modern day Puritans would march on Washington and double their contributions to the collection basket every Sunday to fight against the satanic lottery and the sins of gambling. Once they're done with Washington they'll carry the movement to all states to ban all forms of gambling and we'll be back to playing the illegal numbers game buying our tickets from heathens on street corners and using the D... [ More ]

Reply #30

Rip Snorter — Tue, 04 Jul 2006 18:14:25 GMT

I'm thinking there might actually be a book in this, fxsterling.

I saw a movie in a motel room a while back. The guy who starred in Top Gun was a hotshot young attorney dean's list from Harvard, etc, went to work in a biggie law firm somewhere down South.... turned into mob connections, all kinds of exciting stuff...

A book along those lines about the multi-state lotteries, an un-named G Tech, televangelists, et al might just be really appealing to light readers.

Think I'll work up a c... [ More ]

Reply #29

Rip Snorter — Tue, 04 Jul 2006 18:00:54 GMT

The other side of the coin, however, could lose the multi-state games and not gain a national lottery.

It's not too difficult to imagine that once someone started turning over rocks for a close look at the scorpion practices of MUSL, some hungry televangelist making a crusade of the whole issue of gambling and government involvement..... along with the dishonesty in government perpetrated as a result. They'd have all manner of evidence to support the case.

Christian television might well... [ More ]

Reply #28

Rip Snorter — Tue, 04 Jul 2006 17:34:23 GMT

Quote: Originally posted by Rick G on July 4, 2006 I always kind of figured that this would happen someday. I'm surprised the feds haven't done this yet. They need more money to spend.

Rick:

It's certainly an untapped potential source of Federal revenue. When the states went interstate with PB and MM (as well as the other multi-state games) they definitely entered some unexplored territory.

Heck, maybe the Feds are looking at it through their bean counting microscopes even now.

Abou... [ More ]

Reply #27

Coin Toss — Tue, 04 Jul 2006 17:30:46 GMT

cps10

Sorry, wasn't aware of that, but NC is the newest state to have any lottery at all, so prior to that, as far as I know, no state had Powerball or Mega Millions and those were the only games in town .

I wonder if some of the people voting No would explain why.

Reply #26

Raven62 — Tue, 04 Jul 2006 16:18:44 GMT

In 2006, Congress and the President enacted the Provision of Additional National

Income through Chance (PANIC) Act to reduce the national government's growing deficit.

Longshotz, No. 999. The PANIC Act established a national lottery open to qualifying

persons in all fifty States. Id. Those qualifying for purchase can buy an unlimited

number of PANIC tickets. Id.

The provisions of the PANIC Act require that all states establish adequate arrangements

for the sale and distribution of PANIC... [ More ]

Reply #25

Rick G — Tue, 04 Jul 2006 14:45:45 GMT

I always kind of figured that this would happen someday. I'm surprised the feds haven't done this yet. They need more money to spend.

Reply #24

cps10 — Tue, 04 Jul 2006 14:31:19 GMT

Coin Toss

That is not true. We only have Powerball here in NC. No state numbers game. No Pick 3, Pick 4 or Pick 5. Maybe they will come soon, and there has been mention of a Carolinas Pick 6 for NC SC. But right now, nothing.

Not to mention the states that have NO lottery whatsoever like Alabama, Utah, Nevada, and probably a few others.

But you are right...it is about getting rid of the two multi-state lotteries to form one national lottery here in the U.S.

Reply #23

Coin Toss — Tue, 04 Jul 2006 14:05:10 GMT

goldrush

That's not the idea, State vs Federal, the poll is about Powerball and Mega Millions vs a National Lottery.

I don't think anyone is saying a National Loyyery would replace all state lotteries, just the multi-state lotteries we now have.

And it would give those in non-lottery states the opportunity to play- there is no state right now that doesn't have its own lottery that is a MM or PB state.

Reply #22

cps10 — Tue, 04 Jul 2006 13:43:06 GMT

LOL Jack...I could see all of that happening..would be better than the boobs and buffoons that we have announcing numbers at the state level today.

Reply #21

Rip Snorter — Tue, 04 Jul 2006 12:59:53 GMT

Mike:

Maybe that's how it would end up.

But it's too gray.

We need guys with hats turned sidewize making fingersigns prancing with drums and half-naked girls in the background announcing those numbers, rhyming them.

We need basketball superstars dribbling 'em around slamdunking them.

We need football stars huthuthut, backup, rushed, crushed but sneaking a hail mary across the goalpost into the arms of hmmmm Hollywood Henderson who spikes them and dances afterward.

We need prett... [ More ]

Reply #20

LOTTOMIKE — Tue, 04 Jul 2006 12:19:34 GMT

we could get george bush to announce the numbers as they come sliding out of the chute.....

Reply #19

Rip Snorter — Tue, 04 Jul 2006 12:16:10 GMT

Quote: Originally posted by LOTTOMIKE on July 4, 2006 good poll jack.i voted yes.i would like to see one big lottery as opposed to the other two.be interesting to see what states hit the jackpot the most.it would also be a sign of unity.i think it would be cool.it would always be interesting to see what state might hit.also no silly cap once the jackpot hits a record level.it would be cool to see a 500 million dollar pot.imagine some poor soul winning a half a billion dollars.the feel good stori... [ More ]

Reply #18

Rip Snorter — Tue, 04 Jul 2006 12:07:18 GMT

Quote: Originally posted by goldrush on July 4, 2006 If should not be a matter of a State Vs Federal. Let's have both, and let the people decide. Some will decide to play their local state lottery, some will play the US Lotto, some will play both. And the vocal minority who are opposed to lotteries can choose not to play any! EVERYONE WILL BE HAPPY!

As the Federal Government needs more revenue, and while a US lottery would not solve all it's financial woos, it would raise billions of dollars,... [ More ]

Reply #17

LOTTOMIKE — Tue, 04 Jul 2006 11:16:19 GMT

good poll jack.i voted yes.i would like to see one big lottery as opposed to the other two.be interesting to see what states hit the jackpot the most.it would also be a sign of unity.i think it would be cool.it would always be interesting to see what state might hit.also no silly cap once the jackpot hits a record level.it would be cool to see a 500 million dollar pot.imagine some poor soul winning a half a billion dollars.the feel good stories.the red,white and blue USA LOTTO logo.the red,white... [ More ]

Reply #16

goldrush — Tue, 04 Jul 2006 05:10:12 GMT

If should not be a matter of a State Vs Federal. Let's have both, and let the people decide. Some will decide to play their local state lottery, some will play the US Lotto, some will play both. And the vocal minority who are opposed to lotteries can choose not to play any! EVERYONE WILL BE HAPPY!

As the Federal Government needs more revenue, and while a US lottery would not solve all it's financial woos, it would raise billions of dollars, the UK National Lottery has proven that. The whole c... [ More ]

Reply #15

Rip Snorter — Tue, 04 Jul 2006 04:47:15 GMT

Quote: Originally posted by Just6ntlc on July 3, 2006 My vote is yes. I think all non-gambling states should join too some day.

I'm thinking if it happens at all they ought to be blackmailed, starved, browbeaten into submission, those states. Orders from headquarters. Dissenting mayors and governors summarily executed by a firing squad in the town plaza or on the steps of the state capitols.

Anybody opposed is a potential terrorist to be handed over to the Homeland Security forces. Peopl... [ More ]

Reply #14

Rip Snorter — Tue, 04 Jul 2006 04:42:01 GMT

Thanks for the post fxsterling

J

Reply #13

Rip Snorter — Tue, 04 Jul 2006 04:41:07 GMT

That could be a real problem, thinks I. It probably could be delt with using 2nd tier prizes, but since, in the unlikely event such a thing as this ever transpires, they ain't gonna ask our opinions.

Likely they'll hire the same mistake-makers responsible for what we don't care for in MM and PB to try to surpass themselves on a national game.

I voted 'Indifferent', but I don't suppose I actually am. I don't harbor any idealistic fantasies that a national game would be a far sight better,... [ More ]

Reply #12

fxsterling — Tue, 04 Jul 2006 03:30:47 GMT

lobbyist keeps the lottery out of 2 states your plan removes that problem

Reply #11

four4me — Tue, 04 Jul 2006 03:24:08 GMT

in one respct i could see a national lottery if the pots were distributed differently than the current mega and powerball.

if they were kept the same i could see my hopes of ever winning dwindle further in the mix of players attempting to win. A game of this nature would put litterally millions of bets out per week if not more.

it's bad enough competing with california for the pot of gold since they joined mega.

Reply #10

Just6ntlc — Tue, 04 Jul 2006 03:23:02 GMT

My vote is yes. I think all non-gambling states should join too some day.

Reply #9

Rip Snorter — Tue, 04 Jul 2006 02:05:07 GMT

Heck Coin Toss,

Any votes at all comes as a surprise to the old guy who started the poll.

Thanks for the post.

At the moment my wiggling antennae tell me I'm personisimo NON gratisimo grande.

Some of my posts are quite possibly responsible for the breaking of a sensitive heart because they were seen as pure D meanness. Which has never been seen nor heard tell of before on LP.

Personisimo non-gratisimo grande.

Heck, here I was thinking I was too old, that I'd broken my last hea... [ More ]

Reply #8

Coin Toss — Mon, 03 Jul 2006 23:19:20 GMT

I'm surpirsed at the No votes....

Wouldn't 50 state participation make the jackpots bigger?

If there was a national lottery, why keep Mega Millions or Powerball

Reply #7

cps10 — Mon, 03 Jul 2006 21:45:13 GMT

Good point...just what we need is to have the Feds waste more money...LOL

Maybe I can sell them a $25,000 ball-peen (sp?) hammer...

Reply #6

Rip Snorter — Mon, 03 Jul 2006 21:33:24 GMT

cps10:

The states already get a cut in the form of grants, supplements, income taxes from Fed employee taxes, roads, police and police equipment, prisoners from mandatory sentencing laws, Homeland Security, Social Security incomes, all manner of pieces of Federal largess, aid to the arts, University grants, Federal officers.

The states can get their cut from in-state lotteries.

I'm digging in my heels on this. I ain't letting no state force its way up to the trough to swill out of no F... [ More ]

Reply #5

cps10 — Mon, 03 Jul 2006 20:42:02 GMT

I love the idea Jack...it would certainly help the government...as long as the states get a cut too.

Reply #4

Coin Toss — Mon, 03 Jul 2006 16:16:25 GMT

Those people haven't had a lottery availavle to play, New Jersey is a different story - here it is and the <POOF>, it's not available, at the whim of a governor.

Quite a difference between going to the closest lotto retailer every day for years and then having to go to another state. People in Nevada, for example, are used to going to California to play lotto.

Reply #3

ryanm — Mon, 03 Jul 2006 16:13:21 GMT

You left out Arkansas, Hawaii, Wyoming, and Puerto Rico.

Reply #2

Rip Snorter — Mon, 03 Jul 2006 14:42:18 GMT

So, also, might the people in Nevada, Utah, Alabama, Mississippi, Alaska.

J

Reply #1

Coin Toss — Mon, 03 Jul 2006 13:36:43 GMT

Something tells me people in New Jersey would really welcoime something like that right now.

LOTTO USA

Poll - PB & MM vs a National Lottery

Rip Snorter — Mon, 03 Jul 2006 13:30:55 GMT

Someone on one of the threads observed it would make more sense to dissolve the Multi-State Lotteries and create a single lottery run as a national, similar to the Irish and UK.

Tickets for the hypothetical National US lottery would be sold in all states, tickets available in Post Offices, National Park Service offices, National Forestry Services offices, Bureau of Indian Affairs offices and all state and local government offices supported by Federal funding and grants. That funding and th... [ More ]