I will jump in here and talk about gambling in general as well. I totally agree with a lot of things being said on here. The house edge in casino gambling is there, regardless. Same with lotteries, be it either online or at the state lottery terminals. That is the reason they are in business. As a whole, the "house" will win in the end, but that doesn't necessarily mean that EVERYBODY will lose in the long run. You have to use successful money management methods, very sound basic strategy in all games (especially blackjack), and super strong discipline. Without all three of these factors, you will lose in the long run. Most gamblers are a victim of their own stupidity and lack of discipline, therefore they all get clobbered. Just one slight stray from what made them successful at the outset will wipe them out. I know. I've been there. I have been a victim of my own greed before and have been wiped out. But since then, I have applied a good strategy, good money management and discpline and have, over the course of the past 7-8 years, won much more money gambling than I have lost. Call it luck if need be, but I don't feel that way.
But as Fast Eddie and CD have mentioned, there is no way to overcome the odds. The house edge is the house edge. As our Carolina Panthers coach John Fox says around here, "It is what it is." You can't reverse the edge at all. That's why the casinos have their multi-billion dollar resorts. They don't build those because the edge is overturned.
However, there are many people who are successful in the long run gambling, and I doubt that it is luck that got them that way. These gamblers, me included, have played hundreds and thousands of sessions and have won consistently. Maybe I am lucky or blessed, but I feel like my success has been attributed to my skill in those three key components that I mentioned earlier.
Doubling up or Martingales DO NOT WORK. Either you get wiped out or you find yourself at the house limit. Other strategies can and will. I find I win about 80% of my blackjack sessions, and when I do lose, it doesn't take all of what I have won. So if you factor in what I win, as opposed to what I lose, I would say that I net 65-70% overall.
That's really all I had to say about this...hope everybody is doing well this fine weekend, and good luck in the lottery this weekend as well!! :)