Watch Out!! The Hidden Danger in PA's Millionaire Raffle

Reply #19

Tucker Black — Wed, 08 Jan 2020 22:51:54 GMT

I don't understand why are you calling this a hidden danger . That's simply not true. You either win or you lose. The end. If it's dangerous to be one off then either don't play or learn some logic so this sort of thing doesn't make you upset.

If it happened to me, it would not affect me in the slightest because I know the game works. If my ticket number is a winner, I win. If my ticket number is not a winner, I lose. There are only two outcomes, win or lose. There is no danger to it at all.... [ More ]

Reply #18

Tucker Black — Wed, 08 Jan 2020 22:46:38 GMT

That's my point, that you don't know that your losing scratch-off ticket was attached to a jackpot winner. The end result is the same, though... you lost.

The player whose ticket was one off (a ludicrous concept because you either match the number or you don't, it's black and white) and was depressed for weeks should see a therapist. That is a ridiculous thing to be upset over.

Reply #17

GiveFive — Wed, 08 Jan 2020 22:34:55 GMT

You're correct, most people who play the PA raffle aren't concerned/obsessed with getting a one off, but that's only because they don't realize what could happen. I started this thread to simply point out that there is a hidden danger with playing the raffle. But knowing about that hidden danger wasn't enough stop me from playing it. That's because I know that the odds of it actually happening to me were slim to none.

But if I was someone who did NOT win one million dollars last Saturday nig... [ More ]

Reply #16

lakerben — Wed, 08 Jan 2020 22:09:57 GMT

Reply #15

db101 — Wed, 08 Jan 2020 22:09:48 GMT

If I knew my losing $20 scratcher was attached to a winner in the roll I certainly would be miffed. Good thing I don't buy $20 scratchers.

Most people are not emotionless automatons. I know someone who won the 3+1 Powerball prize and his two wrong numbers were one away from the right numbers. A quick pick. He was down for weeks. I'd say these kinds of feelings are common and natural. I get the OP.

Reply #14

Tucker Black — Wed, 08 Jan 2020 21:23:50 GMT

What difference does it make if your ticket number is one away from the winner? They pick a ticket at random to win, and you either have that ticket number or you don't. It makes no difference whether yours is one away, two away, or 12,562 away. You either WIN or you LOSE, period, end of story.

Consider this.... suppose you buy a $20 scratch-off ticket, you go home and scratch it off, and you see that you've lost (you should still scan it next time you're at the store just to make sure). The... [ More ]

Reply #13

Raven62 — Mon, 06 Jan 2020 05:00:12 GMT

Here's the List of Winning PA Millionaire Raffle Ticket Numbers:

https://www.lotterypost.com/specialresults/pa-lottery-raffle-2020-01-04.asp

Reply #12

DELotteryPlyr — Sat, 21 Dec 2019 20:11:53 GMT

So here is what happened to me -

We, new wife I, went to an event which the X wife was also at. We are friendly with her so we ended up sitting at the same table. Well the 50/50 raffle came around and we bought tickets and the x bought the ones RIGHT AFTER us. And YUP! You guessed it, SHE won.

I did get my one PA Raffle ticket around Turkey Day. Didn't win anything on the weekly draw, so now waiting for 1/4.

Reply #11

Raven62 — Fri, 20 Dec 2019 12:24:29 GMT

For anyone interested in playing the Pennsylvania $1,000,000 Raffle and the $100,000 Weekly Raffle:

http://www.pacodeandbulletin.gov/Display/pabull?file=/secure/pabulletin/data/vol49/49-44/1650.html

https://www.palottery.state.pa.us/Winners/Draw-Game-Winners/Millionaire-Raffle-Winners/2020-Millionaire-Raffle-Winners/Raffle-29-Weekly-Drawing-Winners.aspx

Reply #10

GiveFive — Fri, 20 Dec 2019 11:22:18 GMT

Agree about the marketing hype, but to me, it's simply this: When I buy a raffle ticket I feel like I've got a very decent shot at winning the top prize. I never feel that way when I buy PowerBall or MegaMillions tickets. Before I'll play those games the jackpot has to very big, and actually I'm more interested in a second place win.

Many people must feel the same way as I do because I cant tell you how many times clerks have handed me my raffle ticket and said You can win that. G5... [ More ]

Reply #9

GiveFive — Fri, 20 Dec 2019 11:10:56 GMT

I'd like to meet someone that has bought a one-off in the raffle.

I'd ask them how long ago it happened, how they felt about it at the time, and how they feel about it now. I'm sure they'd at least say it's something they'll never forget.

I bought three more tickets yesterday, and I bought them all at the same time. The clerk took them off the terminal, but before she handed them to me she looked at them and said Uh-oh. You didn't get three numbers in a row. I looked at the tickets and saw... [ More ]

Reply #8

Coin Toss — Fri, 20 Dec 2019 01:37:16 GMT

Just my $.02 but I fail to see the thrill of raffles.

Here's why, in a state lottery game $1 is capable of winning a million or more.

In the multi-state games of Mega Millions and Powerball $2 or $3 can win anything from $40,0000 on up.

In a raffle with a $20 buy in, if the ticket wins $1,000,000 each dollar wins $50,000, pre tax.

Excellent marketing hype but that's about it.

Reply #7

GiveFive — Fri, 20 Dec 2019 01:20:05 GMT

It's all about the $$$ 'Buddy!

A couple of years ago The PA Lottery terminated the millionaire raffle they formerly held on July 4th. Those didn't sell out either and I suspect that was the reason why the plug was pulled on them.

The point I've been trying to make in this thread (but haven't done such a great job of doing it) is that depending upon a players personal financial situation, the negative psychological impact of having bought a one-off can vary widely. A person of minimal finan... [ More ]

Reply #6

Sum Buddy — Thu, 19 Dec 2019 21:30:59 GMT

Hey G5! At least you still have the opportunity to miss by one digit. Florida hasn't had a raffle since 2017, when tickets failed to sell out. Best odds of hitting a million on those tix, too, and people wouldn't bite. I guess the $20 price tag scared them away...

Reply #5

GiveFive — Thu, 19 Dec 2019 15:18:42 GMT

As I mentioned in my post immediately above yours, possibly getting a 1-off ticket doesn't stop me from buying PA Raffle tickets. I'm a big fan of the PA Millionaire Raffle.

Here's why I made my initial post...

Last week my wife and I attended a large holiday dinner party where there was a door prize of $2,500 to be given away. One thousand raffle tickets costing five dollars each were sold. At a table located at the entrance to the event was a lady selling the tickets, and I bought one.... [ More ]

Reply #4

cottoneyedjoe — Wed, 18 Dec 2019 22:28:11 GMT

I completely empathize with you. If I bought tix 111116 and 111118, and the winner was 111117, I might cry! It's not like a draw lottery where you get a small prize if you are close.

Thinking about how the lottery could mitigate sour feelings of people holding ticket numbers adjacent to the winning numbers, the best solution I came up with is for the lottery to divide a small portion of the prize pool equally among people who hold ticket numbers that are 1 off or 2 off from the winning number... [ More ]

Reply #3

GiveFive — Wed, 18 Dec 2019 17:26:50 GMT

Todd, you're correct, the PA Raffle is an awesome no-brainer.

I should have added something to my initial post, and that's that I never pass up the chance to buy Millionaire Raffle tickets. I have some now, and I'm probably going to buy a few more.

While I might find myself in the situations that I described, that wont deter me from buying tickets for this raffle. Also, it's true that odds of it happening to someone are very small, but it's definitely going to happen to some players who b... [ More ]

Reply #2

Todd — Wed, 18 Dec 2019 17:03:56 GMT

I think the PA Raffle drawings are awesome! I don't benefit in any way from saying so. I just think that playing a lottery ticket with literally the best chance of winning $1 million of any game in the state is a no-brainer.

Reply #1

Todd — Wed, 18 Dec 2019 17:01:28 GMT

Watch Out!! The Hidden Danger in PA's Millionaire Raffle

GiveFive — Wed, 18 Dec 2019 14:50:07 GMT

If you're anything like me, you look forward to the time of year when The Pennsylvania Lottery announces it's Millionaire Raffle. What's not to love about it? Where else can you take a chance on winning one million dollars with odds as low as 125,000 to 1? It's very difficult to find that deal for your lottery ticket buying dollars anywhere in the USA. Sure tickets cost twenty bucks, but that's the premium players must pay to enjoy lottery odds as low as that.

But there is a hidden danger wi... [ More ]