I just dont understand!?!?!

Reply #48

THRIFTY — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 01:05:04 GMT

I do understand the smart lottery players.They would rather spend $2 on a powerball ticket with a cash value of $100 millions than spending $2 for a powerball ticket with a $40 millions jackpot and cash value of $25 millions.

Reply #47

Coin Toss — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 00:13:31 GMT

Powerball and Mega Millions both have two drawings a week, we'll call it 104 drawings a year.

Oh those 104 drawings, 12 to 15 of them a year, for each game, produce jackpot winners.

15 of 104 is 14.42%.

Since only 14.42% of drawings pay a jackpot, why would anyone want to narrow that down so much more by waiting for jackpots of $100M or more?

Sounds like people getting in their own way.

Reply #46

jrosina — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 02:23:37 GMT

Dizz, my Grandmother-- who was instrumental in teaching me to watch and listen to the digits...LOL... she used to say Common Sense isn't so common!!! I believe your logic is on it like a sniper, where this is concern!! Play On

Reply #45

rdgrnr — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 18:34:22 GMT

Thanks for your opinion.

Reply #44

Guest — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 08:50:36 GMT

I smell bias...

Reply #43

Guest — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 08:47:08 GMT

i was drinking when i wrote sensability.

i don't believe he is cheap. I believe Kfloyd is like a robot mind with the least path of resistance or in this case, the most logical pathway for the highest payoff mentality. Logic is good but if logic is eclipsed by the human aspect, then the choice is debatable. having said that, for some reason i choose logic, in general. In some cases human emotion can get in the way of an ideal choice in the long run.. Also, belief systems can get in the way too... [ More ]

Reply #42

rdgrnr — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 06:42:06 GMT

Don't aspire to be a tightwad savagegoose. Nobody likes a tightwad, they don't even like themselves.

There's a vast chasm between being reasonably and sensibly frugal and being a chiseling tightwad and miserly skinflint cheapskate scrooge.

There's one in NY who thinks the birds call his name every morning (cheep cheep cheep).

Reply #41

Kumo — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 06:13:59 GMT

Could be your friend has just established his own comfort level on playing the game and is not willing to go over that. Even though I play my two sets of numbers every drawing with the occasional extra QP, his reasons sound valid. If it came down to choosing milk for the kids vs. a lottery ticket, I'd choose the milk.

Reply #40

savagegoose — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 06:04:21 GMT

lol i used to think i was a tightwad.then i started keeping account of how much i spend on lotto. and keno.

by looks on my sig it was $170 for month of Jan. I aspire to being a tightwad. or at least a little tighter than i am right now. and I am struggling with the urge to stay in every draw / save up money to enter larger covers when the pots are higher. but then wh have nothing approaching 1 in 175 mill odds.

Reply #39

CDanaT — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 05:35:25 GMT

LOL...not sure who in NY is being reserved but theres a guy at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave whos happy for more wealth redistribution funding

Reply #38

rdgrnr — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 05:23:57 GMT

$250 Million? Holy Moly! I think I'll throw another couple hundred on it!

(There is weeping, the gnashing of teeth and the clutching of a wallet somewhere in NY

Reply #37

CDanaT — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 05:17:41 GMT

and now the jackpot rolled to 250 Million you get to spend even more on em Rdg !!!!! after you and/or I win

Reply #36

rdgrnr — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 05:12:20 GMT

Chivalry isn't completely dead yet, Uff Da.

I may tend to give the ladies a wider berth and more ample latitude than the men as is my wont and custom.

But I loves my wimmins.

Reply #35

Uff Da! — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 04:41:12 GMT

LOL, Rdgrnr, don't think 'cheap, think thrifty. Don't think tightwad, think highly discriminating.

My $300 is for all lotteries for the year, including state lotto and the state pick-5. As I understood it (and I might not have it right, as I haven't seen his direct statement) Mister Floyd said he'd only spend about $20 on Powerball this year. I might not spend any more than that on Powerball myself now that they raised the price! I considered dropping Powerball altogether, but will probably... [ More ]

Reply #34

rdgrnr — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 03:55:38 GMT

You don't think like K-Y Jelly Floyd, Uff Da.

You said you're budgeting $300 this year.

The Jelly Man is budgeting $20, read TWENTY DOLLARS.

For the WHOLE year!

And I have no problem with that until he called Elizabeth stupid for betting on starting jackpots.

I believe he's embarrassed by the fact that he's so god-awful cheap that he comes up with the whopper that it's a strategy.

It ain't no strategy, he's just cheap.

He's got fish hooks in his pockets.

A tightwad.... [ More ]

Reply #33

Uff Da! — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 03:20:11 GMT

I tend to think like KY Floyd. Let's face it, the odds of winning one of the major lotteries are ridiculous. In all probability, money I spend on lottery tickets will be throwing my money away. I budget somewhere around $300 a year for such foolishness. And as I've told others for years, if I'm going to throw my money away anyway, I may as well throw it at a larger amount than at a smaller jackpot. I'd rather wait and put $5 or $10 toward a larger jackpot than put a dollar or two in each time. A... [ More ]

Reply #32

mrsinful — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 00:19:21 GMT

I think the powerball gods that be seem to have an opinion on when people will start playing.

It seems that they came up with $40 million. It didnt work for me, but hey I guess they did their research.

WARNING: opinion ahead- Greedy B#$%^. (The lottery- not players.

Reply #31

rdgrnr — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 23:10:07 GMT

...sophisticated sensability... ? Lmao! (and not at your spelling)

Of course he's correct most of the time when it comes to not spending money.

He's just a cheapskate tightwad and that trait consumes his every waking thought.

There's no strategy there, it's just his nature. He probably gave the same amount to charity last year as most cheapskate libs gave - nothing.

He pinches pennies so tight he's got Abe Lincoln wincing in his grave.

He throws quarters around like... [ More ]

Reply #30

RJOh — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 18:00:20 GMT

Everyone think their strategy for playing the lotteries is the smartest. I've had people ask me why spent a dollar trying to win a jackpot when I could spend it playing pick3 and have a better chance of winning $50. If you play every drawing then the jackpot amount doesn't matter but if you only play once in a while, why not play when the jackpot is high? Facts are if you're losing then smart or stupid does matter either.

Reply #29

Guest — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 09:31:45 GMT

ridge, you'll never out smart KY floyd. He's been a hallmark here on the LP and regarded as the handful who has a sophisticated sensability to him. As much as i disagree with Floyd, most of the time, to my dismay.lol, he's correct...

Reply #28

KY Floyd — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 08:03:54 GMT

Harsh? If the choice was getting a glass of Jack for $1 or getting 2 or 3 or 5 identical glasses of Jack for $1 I'll bet you'd recognize that spending the $1 on only one glass is a stupid choice. Just because you're buying a chance instead of a certainty doesn't make the lottery any different.

Reply #27

savagegoose — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 23:47:11 GMT

hey its all about a free country, and freedom of choice. Buy what you can afford when you want. and to hopefully win. aint that why we are all here ? to share the dream. lady luck doesnt care what the jackpot is, and to tell the truth she tries very hard to only put up your numbers when you dont have a ticket in play. untill you can regular hit just 5 numbers , what does it matter what the jackpot is anyhow

Reply #26

rdgrnr — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 19:16:25 GMT

Calling people stupid for risking a dollar to win $10 Million when they could wait and risk that dollar on $50 Million seems a little harsh coming from someone who has said previously that he plans on risking about $20 this year on Powerball. Whoa, last of the big-time spenders.

Making an attempt to supplant one's nature (being a cheapskate) as being a strategy is utterly obvious and laughable.

Reply #25

Guru101 — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 13:33:54 GMT

When Powerball was only $1 a ticket, I would buy tickets even at $20M if Hoosier Lotto was under $5M After Hoosier Lotto reaches $5M, I usually didn't bother buying Powerball tickets until it got up to $100M. Now that Powerball is $2 a ticket, I won't play until it reaches $100M, at which time I'll only buy 1 ticket. After it reaches $200M, I might buy 2.

The problem is the new price to odds ratio compared to the old price to odds ratio. They doubled the price, in yet they only took the odds... [ More ]

Reply #24

CDanaT — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 12:45:37 GMT

Dizz.......While your point does have validity about not enough , I am going to offer a counterpoint to that fact and bare with me for a second til I get to it.

Lets say you do get the 2.25 after taxes...Now how to live off it...... Going to purchase a vehicle or house or pay off the mortgage ? How much is that ? Got any other major bills like college loans or kids going to college or need a new roof or kitchen remodel? Have a relative like mom or dad or other family member thats in dire need... [ More ]

Reply #23

BobP — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 10:27:54 GMT

There are two levels to this nonsense.

The first are the people who don't play until the prize is above a set amount. As if they would turn down mere millions to wait until their prize size requirements can be met. This would make sense if they were putting money away for the big push, more likely they will buy a ticket.

The second are the gambling experts who apply a formula of waiting until the prize approximates the odds or above to get what they consider full value return on the... [ More ]

Reply #22

KY Floyd — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 07:47:57 GMT

What's stupid is spending $1 on a chance to win $10 million when the same $1 can get you the same chance at winning $20, $30 or $50 million. Some people understand that and spend their money on the better risk that they know will come along in a week or two. Others either don't understand it of have some reason they choose to spend their money on something that's worth less. Considering that what you're buying is usually worthless, concentrating on the bigger jackpots is the closest thing there... [ More ]

Reply #21

psykomo — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 01:50:14 GMT

Great POST Dizz:

U must B one of the pur TEXAN'ssssssssssssssssss??????????????Dizz????

U must not B LOGIC......?????????????????????as most TEXAN'ssssssssssssssssss???????RU?ArealTEXAN

Reply #20

OldSchoolPa — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 00:07:01 GMT

Well I will say it does amuse me when people say they only play when the jackpot is over a certain amount. But then again, we do live in America and everyone has the right to or not to play the lottery, and the freedom to play it as they wish. Most people will never hit the jackpot. A fortunate few will and even fewer will be so lucky as to hit multiple times. I like to think that I am one of the future fortunate few that will hit and possibly even again (and again). So my strategy is to give my... [ More ]

Reply #19

savagegoose — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 14:31:47 GMT

i remeber when i won $1000 years and years ago, i was ecstatic. sooo freeking happy.

just over a year ago i wont $1600, on keno, its not even what ive spent on keno, and compared to my personal debt, it wont even put a dent into it.

so yeah enough money to clear out debt and still have a smile on my face would be great. i think $100k would get me smilling. 50k would be nice to, under 10k would be ehhhh as it would be blown on debt.

Reply #18

psykomo — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 02:27:46 GMT

put the shell UP 2UR EAR^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ !!!

LISENNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN ear ********+++++++^^^^earEAR?

thank U MCGINNIN56

Reply #17

WesternRedDoug — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 00:38:54 GMT

I suppose those folks think about their budget for the year and maybe they are spending less than $100 a year, so they pick and choose when to play. For me the $2 Powerball means I can still be in each draw, but no kickers or multipliers and less likely to buy an extra ticket on a whim.

As far as needing to wait for a large enough jackpot -- never understood that logic. If there was a jackpot where the amount was your mortage + your consumer debt + kids' college , I think folks would take... [ More ]

Reply #16

NoShame — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 00:27:48 GMT

Agreed. Alot of the decision to wait for a higher jackpot comes from the fact that most of the jackpot is taken out for taxes anyway so for some, it makes sense to wait around if you're intention is to win once and never haveta worry about playing ever again. And if you're playing in a pool, it makes even more sense to wait for a massive jackpot. It's hard for some to get by even if you were to win $1million or even $10million.

Reply #15

Guest — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 00:25:52 GMT

pfffttt, i'd be flabbergasted if I won 50 grand take home, are you kidding me?

nope, i'm not choosy, heck, i went ape s**t when i won 2 grand a few years ago...lol

Reply #14

savagegoose — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 22:59:27 GMT

heheh i m not saying i dont play for $1 mill, i play a game that starts at 70k and slowly jaclpots, upto 1m+ its just the odds are much more likely to let me win in that game a 6/38 not a 7/45.

and yeah coin toss they might cancel the game if noone played , or change the odds. so too bad there would be other games. and actually i have always been a im in every draww type, but only recently decided to withold money form poor paying games, in the hope lotto gurus;s get their act together

Reply #13

Coin Toss — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 22:38:40 GMT

Just a thought, for those saying they don't play until the jackpot reaches a certain amount (this will never happen but let's say it did), what if everyone thought like that

Reply #12

JonnyBgood07 — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 22:27:46 GMT

I wont play the Lottery unless its at least 50 Mill or Once it reaches 100 Mill, I'll play .....

I'm one of those that say that and I say that because i would never want to work anymore without any fear of being broke.The reality is even if its 50 mil,you're lump sum would be between 23-20-ish million....then start the federal and state taxes and brings it significantly lower.

Not to mention I'm certain there are always unforseen things that could drain the heck out of money(possibly... [ More ]

Reply #11

savagegoose — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 22:15:14 GMT

here we have a game that the odds are 1 in 54 mill yet they start the ball rolling at 2 million.

personally i never buy a ticket there, and try not to start buying them under 10. not that i couldnt do with 2 or 5 or 7 mill, id love it. but that the lotto org has decided a 1/25th payout is ok to start the ball rolling

if i had more fibre , id hold off till 20 mill before betting but i cant resist $10M

Reply #10

RL-RANDOMLOGIC — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 20:55:12 GMT

Dizz

The thing that bothers me the most when I see a post like this is why should it matter

what / when / how someone else plays. I have four family members that have hit JP's

and more is always better. A million dollars after taxes is not much and unless you already

have everything you need, it won't be enough to make much of a difference.

Most people are in financial trouble because of poor planning and winning the lottery won't

help them much unless they seek help. The lott... [ More ]

Reply #9

CDanaT — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 19:56:47 GMT

Had a former coworker that won a million 3 years ago......if that person can accomplish it, so can I...why not spend a few bucks ??? besides I don't smoke or drink, gotta have a smidge of sin in me, why not donate to something that benefits education AND possible financial freedom

Reply #8

RedStang — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 18:53:07 GMT

Theres a guy 15 minutes from me that won 6 mill in the NY lotto last year.. It only cost him 5$.You never know.One mill and i'd be happy.

Reply #7

mcginnin56 — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 18:35:54 GMT

Right on psykomo.....right on

Reply #6

psykomo — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 18:31:26 GMT

PLAY MORE

PLAY OFTEN !

JACKPOT

Reply #5

sully16 — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 17:10:01 GMT

I agree.

Reply #4

rdgrnr — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 16:04:34 GMT

Personally, I figure my odds are the same no matter what the jp is and I only play 2 lines anway as a rule, so I'm in for every drawing.

And an added bonus is the less people playing, the less likely I'd have to split.

Reply #3

Coin Toss — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 15:58:49 GMT

Pure unadulterated greed.

They want everyone else to pump up the jackpot for them.

Reply #2

dr65 — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 14:40:27 GMT

Viewing the past jackpot payouts is a logical enough reason for me to continue on playing only when the jackpot rises above a certain amount.

Why should I play when it's 12M and chances are it will still be there for me to play at 100M? A lot of jackpots go out at over 100M and when it

climbs to that amount of money there are a lot of people jumping in to play...and in my little mind - that means more number combinations are

being used up and someone is going to win sooner than starting... [ More ]

Reply #1

Elizabeth03 — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 13:13:44 GMT

I have heard people say the same thing, they wait till a jackpot is really high, before buying a lottery ticket, which I think is really stupid- since they could win a jackpot easily, And therefore, I bet- they miss out on winning alot of times

I just dont understand!?!?!

Dizz — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 12:49:16 GMT

Quite often, I hear or read statements being made like I wont play the Lottery unless its at least 50 Mill or Once it reaches 100 Mill, I'll play .....

I understand the odds are stupid crazy, but 1-2 dollars. Even after a roll, I mean what are you gonna do with a buck or 2? Buy a donut? You dont need a donut.

Im just trying to understand the logic. Here in TX, our Lottery starts at 4 Mill, so probably 2.25 after taxes. I got into it with a buddy who made the remark. Im like What, is that n... [ More ]