Lottery: A non-zero probability of deception?

Reply #17

Saylorgirl — Mon, 07 Oct 2013 22:07:10 GMT

In Indiana our terminals shut down an hour before the draw. I think each state sets up their own rules as to the time of cut-off. However, I understand that they latest it can be is 15 minutes prior to the drawing. Personally I think it is a good idea and I would be more afraid of collusion if the terminals stayed open until that second I think someone could profit off that system.

Reply #16

RL-RANDOMLOGIC — Mon, 07 Oct 2013 21:07:18 GMT

Before the drawing the lottery has to make sure all ticket sales are stopped. Each

terminal has to reply to the main server that it has shut down. If you think about

how many thousands of terminals it's a wonder that they are not shut down even

longer before the drawing. It's kind of like waiting for your check once you win, the

lottery has to receive all the money from all the sales before they pay the winner. All

in all I think it's exceptional that they manage it so quickly.... [ More ]

Reply #15

GOSLOTOVA — Sun, 06 Oct 2013 18:19:09 GMT

Wilmaone, it is more likely that we are simply dealing with impossible odds rather than an organized conspiracy when it comes to Power Ball, Mega Millions, etc. Scratchers, on the other hand, are more likely to be tampered with since they have a saying on which roll the winning tickets end up in and where does it go to.

Reply #14

wilmaone — Sat, 05 Oct 2013 21:48:10 GMT

First time on this form. have issues with Lottery games here in Iowa. I'm thinking a long the lines that this system is corroupted seriously. woud you agree?

played for more then 30ty years. not one good pick or winning numbers.......

Reply #13

BobP — Sat, 05 Oct 2013 21:31:28 GMT

I'm not a tax expert, however in my opinion if you had earnings of $100,000. and won a million and took it in a lump sum and they took out taxes before you got the check, at the end of the year you would owe taxes on $1,100,000. less the difference of what was already paid.

If you took the million as 50,000. a year for 20 years, each year you would owe taxes on 50,000. plus any other income.

If your winnings produce no further income, no interest, no inverstments, then that would be... [ More ]

Reply #12

d1nnl2 — Sat, 05 Oct 2013 18:37:49 GMT

I wish I can invent a lottery drawing machine.

It would work like the expensive showers rich people have. It will have multiple air vents forcing ALL the balls to float in the air for a while. Then at a specific time, all vents would shut off and all the balls would fall. Gravity will capture the winner in a hole at the bottom of the sphere.

Reply #11

GOSLOTOVA — Sat, 05 Oct 2013 17:24:48 GMT

Hello,

All replies make interesting and valid points. I have a few questions for any of you: When one wins the lottery ( I'm in California) and the federal taxes are taken from the prize, it is my understanding based on what I've read on here that you still owe the gov. another 20% (?) on you next income tax do to some tax bracket? Is this correct? Now, if I were to stash the money in a regular account (meaning a non-investment account) and kept living in a rental apartment with no other sour... [ More ]

Reply #10

rdgrnr — Sun, 29 Sep 2013 03:20:42 GMT

You can certainly postulate about the stochastic nature of the lottery and it's deterministic potential but you didn't have to get polemic about it

Reply #9

cash4ninja — Sat, 28 Sep 2013 22:55:18 GMT

Lotterys are business with quotos. I dont play. The first week or last week of the month...

Durning these times the states are building up their monthly profits and maintaining them

Cant take da heat. Stay out da kitchen

Reply #8

MonEl — Sat, 28 Sep 2013 22:51:02 GMT

It doesn't have to be a Super computer any computer can give to them all the numbers that were already bought.

As to they manipulating the balls , I don't know if it is possible, but it seems to me that to them it might be possible, as impossible as that seems to be.

I don't trust any of the gambling places no matter what and where so what I say about that doesn't count.

Reply #7

EdG1955 — Sat, 28 Sep 2013 21:56:18 GMT

I have a sneaky suspicion about sneaky suspicions. What plausible reason would the lottery have for manipulating the results? To keep winners from hitting the jackpot every drawing and thus costing the lottery more in payouts

Reply #6

RJOh — Sat, 28 Sep 2013 18:10:09 GMT

When tickets could be brought up to five minutes before the drawing, players were watching the drawings and then buying a winning ticket and complaining the the terminal clock was five minutes off and they actual brought their tickets before the drawing. An earlier cut-off time solved that problem.

Reply #5

RJOh — Sat, 28 Sep 2013 18:02:58 GMT

Any time I've gone to any of the 24/7 gas stations I could buy lottery tickets for any games they sold. It's just that the terminals switched over to the next drawing for PB an hour before the drawing and 15 mins. before the next drawing for the rest. Winning tickets can't be verified until the next day after a drawing.

Reply #4

onlymoney — Sat, 28 Sep 2013 17:52:38 GMT

With those astronomical odds stacked against a person winning, they don't have to be sneaky. The high odds do all the dirty work.

Reply #3

Coin Toss — Sat, 28 Sep 2013 17:46:16 GMT

Shut off times are to prevent any possible collusion. In any form of gambling the houses' first rule is to protect the game.

Much attemtpoed cheating is by means of past posting, that is trying to get the bet down after the decision has been made or the results are in. This is very common in roulette, players work in teams, try and create a diverson to distract the dealer and floor person, then one of the team puts chips on the number that juist hit. It sould be a real trick to try and do som... [ More ]

Reply #2

Lucki723 — Sat, 28 Sep 2013 17:32:03 GMT

I truly Believe this is what they do. I am not trying to start a conspiracy theory. But I always thought the same.

Reply #1

helpmewin — Sat, 28 Sep 2013 17:12:52 GMT

i think lottery terminals should be open 24/7 that way we can go anytime and get some more Lottery tickets and they can make more money.

Lottery: A non-zero probability of deception?

GOSLOTOVA — Sat, 28 Sep 2013 17:06:55 GMT

Hello all,

I have a sneaky suspicion about the stochastic nature of the lottery.

I don't whish to be polemic, but why do they close it 15 minutes or so before the draw? Are they waiting for the supercomputer to spit-out all the combinations thus far played and then somehow manipulate the balls into a deterministic outcome? What say you