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EricinMD

Laurel, MD
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Aug 23, 2007, 11:14 pm

I live in Maryland, work in Virginia and commute through DC, so I do play the DC lottery once in a while. I bought 7 raffle tickets to the first Maryland raffle and 14 in the second one and won zippo..so I am trying a few DC raffle tix.
As of early this evening though when I bought my most recent ticket (I have six so far), they have sold only 34,746 tickets. It is probably over 35,000 by now, but the goal was to sell 250,000 and the drawing, already delayed a week, is set for Tuesday morning.
DC only has a little over 500,000 people, but many commuters from VA and MD and also visitors. Clearly though few people are excited about this upcoming drawing. The prize pot is smaller than Maryland's was, but the tickets are only $10 vs. $20 in MD. So I figure it is worth a few bucks.
But what do you all think about the state raffles? I basically stop playing other lottery games while I purchase these, but maybe I am mistaken. What do you prefer? If you play your state's raffle games, how many tickets do you buy?
It will be interesting to see the final number of tickets sold in DC for the raffle. The big PowerBall jackpot may help sales some. Take care all!
ateeque

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Aug 23, 2007, 11:33 pm

Like you, I also live in maryland and we (3 friends) have bought 15 tickets in D. C. I don't see how they can reach the goal of 250,000 tickets in next few days. Hopefully the drawing will take place as scheduled and it would mean better odds for us. I didn't buy any tickets in maryland last year but this year I bought 8 and got lucky and hit one for $500.
Good luck to all of us.
EricinMD

Laurel, MD
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Aug 23, 2007, 11:43 pm

Thanks..and good luck to you too! I still have hope and prefer these to the huge odds on PowerBall and Mega Millions..but I do buy a few for those too!
jarasan

Harbinger

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Aug 24, 2007, 10:52 am

Now they are giving away a free P4 ticket with each raffle ticket purchased! I am definitely buying one now! What a great incentive, I don't know how they can afford to do that!

FJB
delS

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Aug 24, 2007, 11:58 am

They certainly won't sell 250,000, but I would think their sales would have picked up on this Raffle because Powerball played in D.C. is $300 million, and neighboring MD. with MegaMillions is over $200 million would drive traffic to the stores.
I won zero on Maryland Raffles and I have 15 DC Raffle tickets.
I would prefer to win Saturdays Powerball, and then if I miss that maybe I would have been successful in tonights MM; if not then the DC Raffle.
Coin Toss

Zeta Reticuli Star System
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Aug 24, 2007, 12:36 pm

EricinMD,
Since you're asking, and this is just my $.02 here, raffles as they are set up are an insult to a lottery player's intelligence.
Illinois' is set up to sell 500,000 tickets and theree will be 509 winners. That translates to .0001018 of the tickets are winners.

You buy a ticket and fall into one of two grouos, the 509 winners or the 499,491 losers. Gee, which group is your $20 more likely to put you in.
The ticket prices and amount of tickets needed to be sold may vary, but the scenario is the same.

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.
Todd

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Chief Bottle Washer

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Aug 24, 2007, 4:06 pm

Quote: Originally posted by Coin Toss on Aug 24, 2007
EricinMD,
Since you're asking, and this is just my $.02 here, raffles as they are set up are an insult to a lottery player's intelligence.
Illinois' is set up to sell 500,000 tickets and theree will be 509 winners. That translates to .0001018 of the tickets are winners.

You buy a ticket and fall into one of two grouos, the 509 winners or the 499,491 losers. Gee, which group is your $20 more likely to put you in.
The ticket prices and amount of tickets needed to be sold may vary, but the scenario is the same.

Well, that's an interesting thought, but I think if you compare it to the chances of winning a similar prize in any other game, the odds would be best by playing the raffle. How about you compare buying 20 Powerball tickets to one $20 raffle ticket, and see which one has a better chance of winning a million dollars?
Or, how about you compare a $20 scratch game with a $20 raffle ticket, and tell me which one has better odds of winning a million bucks?
To say raffle games "are an insult to a lottery player's intelligence" is ... well ... an insult to a lottery player's intelligence. Showing the chances of winning in terms of two piles -- winners and non-winners -- is an old ploy that is often used by people trying to convince others not to play the lottery at all. The only thing that really matters when comparing games is odds.
If you personally don't like large wagers, then that's your deal. But for players who don't mind a higher stake, raffle games are awesome.

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Coin Toss

Zeta Reticuli Star System
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Aug 24, 2007, 5:34 pm

Todd
EriciinMD asked in the OP what we thought of raffles. So I told him, sorry I didn't make something up that a state lottery selling raffle tickets could have used as a great marketing ploy, maybe downplay the fact that we're looking at a $20 shot to win $1 million as oppossed to a $1 shot to win tens or hundreds of millions.
Numbers games don't limit lower tier prizes.
The only way anyone can approach any form of gambling is to consider the money gone as soon as they turn it into a lotto ticket, horse or sports ticket, or casino chips. Whether a person is a $1 player or a $25 player, what they are saying, in essence, is , "Here's $1 or $25 I just can't stand having."
In the case of lottery raffles, it's more like, "Here's $20 I REALLY can't stand having."
If Nevada had a lottery ( a real one, not Nevada Numbers) the gaming commission would have never ok'd a raffle - you can't conduct a game that puts the player at that great of a disadvantage.
I guess from now on when anyone asks for what we think of something in an OP I'll check with the ruling proleriat before I submit a bourgieous answer, da?

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.
jarasan

Harbinger

Maryland
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Aug 24, 2007, 6:53 pm

Only one more piece of info, the D.C. Raffle tix are $10 apiece, so if you spend $20 you get 2 chances at a million and 2 free P4 tix! Can't get any better than that. There is no way they can sell this one out it'll be better than 1 in 100K odds!
P.S. The powerball lines are already starting!

FJB
Todd

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Chief Bottle Washer

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Aug 24, 2007, 9:16 pm

Quote: Originally posted by Coin Toss on Aug 24, 2007
Todd
EriciinMD asked in the OP what we thought of raffles. So I told him, sorry I didn't make something up that a state lottery selling raffle tickets could have used as a great marketing ploy, maybe downplay the fact that we're looking at a $20 shot to win $1 million as oppossed to a $1 shot to win tens or hundreds of millions.
Numbers games don't limit lower tier prizes.
The only way anyone can approach any form of gambling is to consider the money gone as soon as they turn it into a lotto ticket, horse or sports ticket, or casino chips. Whether a person is a $1 player or a $25 player, what they are saying, in essence, is , "Here's $1 or $25 I just can't stand having."
In the case of lottery raffles, it's more like, "Here's $20 I REALLY can't stand having."
If Nevada had a lottery ( a real one, not Nevada Numbers) the gaming commission would have never ok'd a raffle - you can't conduct a game that puts the player at that great of a disadvantage.
I guess from now on when anyone asks for what we think of something in an OP I'll check with the ruling proleriat before I submit a bourgieous answer, da?

Are you saying that you can say whatever you want, but that I should shut up and not give my opinion? Or that I should not disagree with you?
I thought this was a thread in which all opinions should be on the table. Is it actually all opinions other than mine?
Maybe without all the hyperbole you should tell me exactly what I should do when I have an opinion that differs from yours.

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Stack47

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Aug 24, 2007, 9:24 pm

Quote: Originally posted by Coin Toss on Aug 24, 2007
Todd
EriciinMD asked in the OP what we thought of raffles. So I told him, sorry I didn't make something up that a state lottery selling raffle tickets could have used as a great marketing ploy, maybe downplay the fact that we're looking at a $20 shot to win $1 million as oppossed to a $1 shot to win tens or hundreds of millions.
Numbers games don't limit lower tier prizes.
The only way anyone can approach any form of gambling is to consider the money gone as soon as they turn it into a lotto ticket, horse or sports ticket, or casino chips. Whether a person is a $1 player or a $25 player, what they are saying, in essence, is , "Here's $1 or $25 I just can't stand having."
In the case of lottery raffles, it's more like, "Here's $20 I REALLY can't stand having."
If Nevada had a lottery ( a real one, not Nevada Numbers) the gaming commission would have never ok'd a raffle - you can't conduct a game that puts the player at that great of a disadvantage.
I guess from now on when anyone asks for what we think of something in an OP I'll check with the ruling proleriat before I submit a bourgieous answer, da?

The success of these raffles seems to depend on the state because in Florida's first raffle JustEx was shut out before she could get a ticket and it took over 7 weeks for Ohio to sell all the tickets in its first raffle draw and I believe less than 75% were sold in the second. Kentucky had to extend their drawing date because of lack of sales yet Michigan sold out $50 tickets in a couple of days.
Remember the alleged $1 million winner in New Jersey's 4th of July raffle that didn't sell out and expected us to believe his winning ticket was purchased 24 hours before the drawing?
I don't think it's necessary to start another thread to compare raffle games with other lottery games so I'll hijack this one. Both PB and MM are in the "it's time to play" range and many jackpot hunters will get 20 QPs for their chance of grabbing lightning in a bottle. But they are betting $20 to win millions so the overall odds of around 1 in 40 of winning something are probably irrelevant to them.
The odds of winning something depends on what that something is and twenty 1 in 3.9 million chances to win at least $200,000 isn't much different than the raffles offer for winning a $1 million. Comparing the games for a $20 bet, I would give a slight edge to the raffles because I would have to bet another $20 or more $20s if the PB and MM jackpots roll. It's different for the $5 and $10 a bet players so maybe a new thread "What is the best play if I only have $5 to bet?" for that type of play is in order.
"If Nevada had a lottery ( a real one, not Nevada Numbers) the gaming commission would have never ok'd a raffle - you can't conduct a game that puts the player at that great of a disadvantage."
I was wondering what the Nevada Gaming Commission would rule on the Tennessee Lottery fiasco. They are offering double play back and refunds for those that didn't throw away their losing doubles, triples and quads tickets but the drawings weren't legit so all tickets played should be refunded.
EricinMD

Laurel, MD
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Aug 24, 2007, 11:09 pm

True, but the odds on Mega Millions and Power Ball are much worse. The ticket price is very high and tough for many to swallow I agree. The DC Raffle $10 price is better, but they have a lot fewer prizes.
I guess I am trying it because my scratchoff luck here in MD has fallen to near zero.
EricinMD

Laurel, MD
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Aug 24, 2007, 11:11 pm

Yeah Maryland was giving an extra ticket with every raffle ticket purchased that gave you a chance at one of four daily $500 prizes. Then they decided to give you a $2 Mega Millions ticket. That was useless. The DC $1 P4 on a $10 raffle ticket is equal to Maryland's $2 ticket on a $20 raffle. And yes it does not cost them much if anything.
Coin Toss

Zeta Reticuli Star System
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Aug 25, 2007, 12:14 am

Quote: Originally posted by Todd on Aug 24, 2007
Are you saying that you can say whatever you want, but that I should shut up and not give my opinion? Or that I should not disagree with you?
I thought this was a thread in which all opinions should be on the table. Is it actually all opinions other than mine?
Maybe without all the hyperbole you should tell me exactly what I should do when I have an opinion that differs from yours.

No, I'm saying that someone posed a question in an OP asking us what we thought of something.
So I answered (before you ever posted in the thread). You, not liking my answer jumped in like the Waffen SS and stared raging on me.
So I "put my opinion on the table" and you give me and everyone here the rah rah raffle viewpoint. That's your viewpoint, mine is very different and I have just as much right to it as you do yours. but you didn't even surface with yours til I had posted mine.
Free country, free specch, so far anyway.
Re: raffles, we all know rhe old joke aboput a lottery being a voluntary tax on people extremely bad at math. Raffles put that on steroids.
Caribbean stud is a very popular casino game- and an insult to poker players, same type of deal. The odds against being dealt a royal flush are over 600,000 to one. People play and get a progressive jackpot of $100,000 or so and are orgasmic- over getting shorted $500,000. "Oh, I love playing Caribbean stud."
Stud, shmud, raffle, shmaffle.
The lottery people monitoring this board love it when the raffles get support.

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.
Todd

50

Chief Bottle Washer

New Jersey
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Aug 25, 2007, 1:08 am

Quote: Originally posted by Coin Toss on Aug 25, 2007
No, I'm saying that someone posed a question in an OP asking us what we thought of something.
So I answered (before you ever posted in the thread). You, not liking my answer jumped in like the Waffen SS and stared raging on me.
So I "put my opinion on the table" and you give me and everyone here the rah rah raffle viewpoint. That's your viewpoint, mine is very different and I have just as much right to it as you do yours. but you didn't even surface with yours til I had posted mine.
Free country, free specch, so far anyway.
Re: raffles, we all know rhe old joke aboput a lottery being a voluntary tax on people extremely bad at math. Raffles put that on steroids.
Caribbean stud is a very popular casino game- and an insult to poker players, same type of deal. The odds against being dealt a royal flush are over 600,000 to one. People play and get a progressive jackpot of $100,000 or so and are orgasmic- over getting shorted $500,000. "Oh, I love playing Caribbean stud."
Stud, shmud, raffle, shmaffle.
The lottery people monitoring this board love it when the raffles get support.

I don't even know what to say about such utter garbage. You can't even see the hypocracy of your comments, I am certain. Thank you for showing your true colors at last. Now they are in the open.

Check the State Lottery Report Card
What grade did your lottery earn?

Sign the Petition for True Lottery Drawings
Help eliminate computerized drawings!

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