% of Population Which Play the Lottery?Prev Topic Next Topic

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What % of the Population do you think actually plays the lottery at any level?

100%

[ 0 ]

[ 0.0% ]

95%

[ 2 ]

[ 4.6% ]

90%

[ 4 ]

[ 9.1% ]

85%

[ 4 ]

[ 9.1% ]

75%

[ 5 ]

[ 11.4% ]

60%

[ 6 ]

[ 13.6% ]

50%

[ 4 ]

[ 9.1% ]

40%

[ 5 ]

[ 11.4% ]

30%

[ 2 ]

[ 4.6% ]

Less than 30%

[ 12 ]

[ 27.3% ]

Total valid votes

[ 44 ]

Discarded votes

[ 1 ]

WSN1

Anywhere & Everywhere
United States
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January 23, 2005
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Feb 14, 2007, 4:24 pm

I would also, like to know why you made you pick your selection
dK
guesser

United States
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June 16, 2006
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Feb 14, 2007, 4:40 pm

Because unlike us, most people know the odds are astronomical.
There is a difference between 'playing the lottery', and 'playing the lottery'.
Do you mean folks that study it, or play the same numbers (birthdays, etc.) and play at least one game every drawing, or do you mean someone that sticks 10 gallons of gas in their car, runs in and buys a pack of smokes and 'oh by the way' snags a quick-pick at the same time ?
JAP69

South Carolina
United States
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November 4, 2001
8,967 Posts
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Feb 14, 2007, 5:00 pm

I went 90%
I would think that that percentage of the population have purchased at least one ticket in their life.
The other 10% are people who would not gamble at all.

Numbers are where you find them.
WSN1

Anywhere & Everywhere
United States
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Feb 14, 2007, 6:49 pm

Quote: Originally posted by guesser on Feb 14, 2007
Because unlike us, most people know the odds are astronomical.
There is a difference between 'playing the lottery', and 'playing the lottery'.
Do you mean folks that study it, or play the same numbers (birthdays, etc.) and play at least one game every drawing, or do you mean someone that sticks 10 gallons of gas in their car, runs in and buys a pack of smokes and 'oh by the way' snags a quick-pick at the same time ?

Guesser, I meant all levels, everyone, However, I would be interested to see your breakdown of both groups as subtotals
I personally think that about 80-90% of the population has played the lottery at some point in their life, for whatever reason and style of play and the other 10-20% dont play the lottery or just dont gamble at all.
dK
lottolaughs

Sunny California
United States
Member #40,294
May 31, 2006
9,088 Posts
Online

Feb 14, 2007, 7:13 pm

I picked 75%. Probably between 75 and 80%. I know quite a few people just among my family, friends and relatives who never play the lottery. When I worked in my neighborhood liquor store years ago there were quite a few players, but the SAME few players all the time. I agree that 80 to 90 have probably played at least once in their life, but on a regular basis? That's a toughie.
I'm sure there's some data somewhere that can give you an idea.
WSN1

Anywhere & Everywhere
United States
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January 23, 2005
290 Posts
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Feb 14, 2007, 7:19 pm

Quote: Originally posted by lottolaughs on Feb 14, 2007
I picked 75%. Probably between 75 and 80%. I know quite a few people just among my family, friends and relatives who never play the lottery. When I worked in my neighborhood liquor store years ago there were quite a few players, but the SAME few players all the time. I agree that 80 to 90 have probably played at least once in their life, but on a regular basis? That's a toughie.
I'm sure there's some data somewhere that can give you an idea.

I like your 75% estimate..and assessment. .I think this poll will have that as the median score. Yeah, im sure there are some studies recorded on the net, and maybe even within LP's archives that has these %s. hmmmm
vt8366a

United States
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January 8, 2007
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Feb 14, 2007, 7:36 pm

i picked less than 30% because i think that most people think that the odds are so high that it is a waste of money to play. i am just going by my own life , none of my friends play . i would guess that probably about 50-60% have played at least once. i think that most of the lottery tickets are purchased by the same core group of people in a paticular area with a scattering of tickets purchased by new players .
lottolaughs

Sunny California
United States
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May 31, 2006
9,088 Posts
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Feb 14, 2007, 8:14 pm

Couldn't seem to find an answer to the percentage question from a quick search on Google. It seems they judge more state by state then on the whole which would make sense. The more I think about this, the more curious I'm getting. Could be we come to find out we're all way off base!
WSN1

Anywhere & Everywhere
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Feb 14, 2007, 8:20 pm

Well this is what I found from the following link: http://www.library.ca.gov/CRB/97/03/Chapt3.html
Lottery Players are Widespread. Lotteries are the most popular and broadly played form of gambling despite having the lowest payout. A large proportion, about 50 to 60 percent of adult Americans play legal lotteries in lottery states. Two-thirds of these play regularly, which means that about one-third of the adults are regular players. Heavy players are about 10 percent of all lottery players.¹² The poor, minority, Catholic, undereducated, and middle-aged are all more likely to play.¹³ Two of the first 11 big winners in California were illegal immigrants.
There is substantial evidence that youths play the lottery, although they are forbidden by law. Studies have found large number of high schools kids playing lottery games. Some of these individuals have characteristics of pathological gamblers.¹⁴
The total number of all lottery players is probably greater then reflected in statistics because illegal lotteries still exist. They can exist because their payout ratio is much higher. State lotteries are a very unattractive gambling proposition as they return a relatively small amount of the money as prizes.
The Typical Individual Spends $100 Annually
mind

Michigan
United States
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June 10, 2006
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Feb 14, 2007, 8:20 pm

I agree with Jap69 i think 90% of the people at one time let it ride !!
Coin Toss

Zeta Reticuli Star System
United States
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January 17, 2006
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Feb 14, 2007, 8:35 pm

WSN1
Interesting stuff but not everyone here agrees totally, sounds like it may have come from an anti-lottery or anti-gambling source.
I voted 40% going by the people we know (granted I'm in the northern tier of the "Bible Belt". Most people we know don't play at all (or say they don't )
PS
Since living here, I can no longer ay "Bible Belt" with a straight face.
PPS
My 40% vote is meaning those who play regularly. As the consensus oin this thread states, I think most people have played at one time or another.

Those who run the lotteries love it when players look for consistency in something that's designed not to have any. So many systems, so many theories, so few jackpot winners.

There is one and only one 'proven' system, and that is to book the action. No matter the game, let the players pick their own losers.
lottolaughs

Sunny California
United States
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May 31, 2006
9,088 Posts
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Feb 14, 2007, 8:35 pm

Quote: Originally posted by WSN1 on Feb 14, 2007
Well this is what I found from the following link: http://www.library.ca.gov/CRB/97/03/Chapt3.html
Lottery Players are Widespread. Lotteries are the most popular and broadly played form of gambling despite having the lowest payout. A large proportion, about 50 to 60 percent of adult Americans play legal lotteries in lottery states. Two-thirds of these play regularly, which means that about one-third of the adults are regular players. Heavy players are about 10 percent of all lottery players.¹² The poor, minority, Catholic, undereducated, and middle-aged are all more likely to play.¹³ Two of the first 11 big winners in California were illegal immigrants.
There is substantial evidence that youths play the lottery, although they are forbidden by law. Studies have found large number of high schools kids playing lottery games. Some of these individuals have characteristics of pathological gamblers.¹⁴
The total number of all lottery players is probably greater then reflected in statistics because illegal lotteries still exist. They can exist because their payout ratio is much higher. State lotteries are a very unattractive gambling proposition as they return a relatively small amount of the money as prizes.
The Typical Individual Spends $100 Annually

Good info,WSN! Thanks! And very interesting. So even 75% is too high. But that page was dated in 1995 so can we really go by that today? Or did you find the rest of the data you stated from somewhere else?
WSN1

Anywhere & Everywhere
United States
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January 23, 2005
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Feb 14, 2007, 9:02 pm

Quote: Originally posted by lottolaughs on Feb 14, 2007
Good info,WSN! Thanks! And very interesting. So even 75% is too high. But that page was dated in 1995 so can we really go by that today? Or did you find the rest of the data you stated from somewhere else?

I think the source, I found is a little dated, considering that online gambling has grown dramatically over the last 10 years and younger people are getting involved, so I think it would still be higher than that data supports and if you read further in the link it alludes to that possiblity altering it's stats. So, I still think 75% is a good mean
LOTTOMIKE

Tennessee
United States
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October 15, 2004
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Feb 14, 2007, 9:05 pm

i say 50 percent....
WSN1

Anywhere & Everywhere
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January 23, 2005
290 Posts
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Feb 14, 2007, 9:07 pm

Quote: Originally posted by Coin Toss on Feb 14, 2007
WSN1
Interesting stuff but not everyone here agrees totally, sounds like it may have come from an anti-lottery or anti-gambling source.
I voted 40% going by the people we know (granted I'm in the northern tier of the "Bible Belt". Most people we know don't play at all (or say they don't )
PS
Since living here, I can no longer ay "Bible Belt" with a straight face.
PPS
My 40% vote is meaning those who play regularly. As the consensus oin this thread states, I think most people have played at one time or another.

Coin Toss, Although I now live in the Bible Belt, I was born and raised in the windy city of Illinois

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