CBS News, currently the lowest-rated broadcast network of the "big three", today ran its second story in the past month attempting to dig dirt on lotteries in America.
In its latest diatribe, CBS News alleges one of the oldest, most widely-spread lottery myths — that lotteries prey on the poor and destitute.
The problem is, the myth has been disproved time and again by long-term studies, using scientific means.
The CBS News story relies on interviews with a few people, and offers no data to back up its allegations.
In fact, CBS News seems to be making a living off of propagating myths about the lottery. Is it to exploit social divides in America, so they can resurrect abysmal ratings?
In addition to CBS's story in September about the lottery "short-changing schools" and accusing the state lotteries of "stunningly bad" contributions to education (see Is the lottery shortchanging schools?), their centerpiece news/entertainment show 60 Minutes also tried to slam the lottery in an Andy Rooney apoplectic rant (see Lotteries and lottery players are stupid).
Why is CBS News intent on spreading negative stories about the lottery?
As with most oddball tactics and stories produced by mainstream news outlets, their strange behavior can be linked directly to the size and direction of their ratings.
And with CBS News, things are not looking so rosy.
Katie Couric's evening news show has consistently been the lowest-rated on the main three, and viewership on the "CBS Evening News" has been in a downward spiral each week since her debut the day after Labor Day, 2006.
Last month, around the time when the first lottery hit piece was published, Couric's ratings were at their lowest point ever, despite the fact that it was her anniversary on the network, and she took a special trip to Iraq.
Ignoring the positive
The CBS News stories ignore any positive aspects to lotteries in their zeal to make them appear unsavory.
CBS News also ignored the tremendous number of poor Americans who receive money and programs directly from lottery revenues (see Lottery pays off for poor kids.)
And, they ignored studies like the one mentioned above showing that the link between social status and lottery playing is a myth.
Will CBS News continue publishing negative myths about the lottery? Will they continue stating opinions in their headlines, placing a question mark after the headline to make it appear legitimate?
If the CBS News ratings continue to plummet, the odds are good that we will see more of the same.
We now present the full text of the "news" story from CBS.
Lotteries: Preying On The Poor?
When we took a close look at state-run lotteries last month, we discovered that, when it comes to education funding, they are little more than a drop in the bucket and far from a bucketful.
We also learned that a disproportionate sum of the nation's $50+ billion in lottery comes from the pockets of the poor and minority groups. One place we saw this first hand was Texas, whose lottery rakes in $65 million every week.
Walk into any convenience store in Houston's lower-income 3rd Ward, and it's a good bet you'll see some of the Texas Lottery's best customers. Lottery sales in this legislative district top $50 million a year, the highest in the state, while the average family income is less than $15,000 a year, well below the poverty line. Folks here spend six times more of their income on the lottery than the wealthiest district.
"It's a shift of the cost of government onto people who can least afford it," says State Rep. Garnett Coleman, who has represented this neighborhood for 17 years. "Is a drug dealer responsible when they sell to the person?" Coleman asks. "If somebody says, 'yeah,' then the state is responsible for hooking the people on the gaming, on the lottery."
"You're selling hope," says Rob Kohler, who worked 12 years for the Texas Lottery and is now a private consultant in Austin. It was his analysis of lottery sales data that opened Coleman's eyes, revealing who the majority of heavy players are.
"It's coming from the folks, you know, high minority, low education, and low income," Kohler says. "That can least afford to play the game."
Texas lottery spokesman Bobby Heith does not dispute the data. "The data is what it is. We don't target groups of people," Heith says.
In Texas, Blacks and Hispanics outspend Whites nearly two to one on lottery tickets. According to a 2005 Texas Tech demographic survey commissioned by the lottery, blacks in Texas spend $109 a month on lottery tickets, Hispanics spend $102, and whites spend $55.
"We put out Hispanic ads mainly because for Spanish speaking people. I mean, it's good business," Heith says. "We don't want to prey on anybody. We're here to run a business for the state."
The Texas lottery spends $30 million dollars a year on advertising, pushing 70 kinds of instant tickets, and none more popular or pricey than the new $50 scratch off, the costliest in the nation.
"Lottery products in convenience stores here in Texas have gone from competing with candy bars - a dollar - to now the lottery product is the most expensive product in the entire store," Kohler says.
Nationwide, according to the last National Gambling Impact Commission study, in 1999, 5% of lottery players are responsible for 50% of sales. Families making $50-to-100,000 a year spend, on average $200 a year on lottery tickets, while families making less than $25-thousand dollars spend $600, or three times as much.
But lottery officials, like Tennessee Lottery President Rebecca Hargrove, who has run lotteries in four states, resist the idea that their games prey on the poor.
"If you spend a dollar and you make $20,000 a year, that's a bigger percentage of your disposable income, then if you spend a dollar and you make $50,000 a year," Hargrove says.
"So, if I'm making $20,000 a year," Armen asked her, "it's a wise choice for me to spend my disposable income on a lottery ticket rather than putting it in a bank in a savings account?"
"I didn't say it was a wise choice. I said it was an individual's choice," Hargrove replied.
As one regular player in Houston's third ward told us: "A lot of us can get rich with knowledge. Some of us have to get rich with luck."
Wake up and smell the coffee CBS..! Lotteries don't target anyone one individual, where are you getting your information from? Christ, you can't even clean up your own backyard ( your stattion), and now you want to create something that is totally untrue again. Why are'nt you covering the Tenn cover-up in the lottery??? You don't become number three from reporting the truth, you become number three from reporting the trash.
Maybe Katie can become Ms.Hargroves press secretary, would'nt that clear up this situation.!
whats wrong with giving people a dream? After all thats probly the best part about hitting a lottery they should investagate how these numbers are drawn if anything
That interview is defintely slanted. Rent in that area must not be anymore than 250.00 per month. The utilities, gas and groceries must be free. It takes more than $15,000.00 per year to live even if you are a single person. Most of the people I know make at least 21+ thousand a year and most of the folks I know who play the lottery make almost $50,000.00 per year. The lottery offers it's players a dream that many can't seem to find in their job's retirement plans...a guaranteed stream of income which will provide for them in their golden years. This dream is not affected by greedy corporate types such as the owners and managers of the now defunct Enron corporation. My investment in this dream is strictly under my own control. I can choose to play or not.
Quote: Originally posted by Littleoldlady on Oct 8, 2007
That interview is defintely slanted. Rent in that area must not be anymore than 250.00 per month. The utilities, gas and groceries must be free. It takes more than $15,000.00 per year to live even if you are a single person. Most of the people I know make at least 21+ thousand a year and most of the folks I know who play the lottery make almost $50,000.00 per year. The lottery offers it's players a dream that many can't seem to find in their job's retirement plans...a guaranteed stream of income which will provide for them in their golden years. This dream is not affected by greedy corporate types such as the owners and managers of the now defunct Enron corporation. My investment in this dream is strictly under my own control. I can choose to play or not.
The interview is factual ....Black individuals are manipulated and short changed into believing the lottery is fair and and honest ,......they are not and the corprorations which back and invest and sponser state lotterys are corupted;
I like to play the lottery everyday but do the sate change the balls ...YES...does that help them or the players ...it helps them :
instant t ickets ; are found only near the Governors residence for big winners the dollar tickets which sell in the millions are never real big 1.00 -100 max ...thats what the poor get back the millions go to the big ticket prizes and the profit from their ticket sales are pocketed :
enron wwas part of the 9/11 cover-up ;the world trade building housed the evidence for calf. eroen 7billion corruption scandal ...when world trad center went down so did the evidence to put the gulity people away ;see for yourself:
Quote: Originally posted by computerhead723 on Oct 8, 2007
The interview is factual ....Black individuals are manipulated and short changed into believing the lottery is fair and and honest ,......they are not and the corprorations which back and invest and sponser state lotterys are corupted;
I like to play the lottery everyday but do the sate change the balls ...YES...does that help them or the players ...it helps them :
instant t ickets ; are found only near the Governors residence for big winners the dollar tickets which sell in the millions are never real big 1.00 -100 max ...thats what the poor get back the millions go to the big ticket prizes and the profit from their ticket sales are pocketed :
enron wwas part of the 9/11 cover-up ;the world trade building housed the evidence for calf. eroen 7billion corruption scandal ...when world trad center went down so did the evidence to put the gulity people away ;see for yourself:
Excuse me, but that is a statement that you need to clarify, because I can't for the life of me make sense of it.
You said, "Black individuals are manipulated and short changed into believing the lottery is fair and and honest".
Please explain how state lotteries are able to pick out the black folks and make them believe the lottery is "fair and honest", but somehow all the white folks and other races are informed that it is a crooked enterprise.
I thought this was a poor vs. rich thing anyway, not a black/white thing.
The odd thing is that according to the lottery, it IS a fair and honest activity. So black people ... or ANYBODY for that matter ... would be correct in believing it is fair -- not "manupulated" as you say.
I just can't stand statements like yours that make everything a conspiracy against a certain race, or social status, or gender, or religion, or whatever. Has it occured to you that MOST people don't win jackpots?
Now, if you want to be upset at computerized drawings as a means to manipulate, then I'm with you on that. But that targets ALL players, not just the black players or the poor players, or whatever. It's unfair for EVERYBODY.
If you stop thinking everything is a conspiracy, you'll live a happier life.
If CBS wanted to allege anyone they should have went after state and federal government for adopting the lottery in the first place, and the reasons why states took over the numbers racket from the bookies.
oops i know why because it's a cash cow and the state and federal government couldn't figure out how to make extra money for this country so the opted for a sideline affair gambling. Siteing many different reasons benefiting the old, schools, teachers, fire departments, police dept, library's, stadium authority and every other general service in state and federal government to help offset taxes.
Yet even with the lottery in place in many states taxes still go up almost on a yearly basis. Why states don't divide their scratch games into several groups and or sell scratch games to generate money for their specific deficits behooves me.
People play the lottery because it's their for them to play and they advertise the dream of possible independent wealth. Who in their right mind would pass up a chance for that
Excuse me, but that is a statement that you need to clarify, because I can't for the life of me make sense of it.
You said, "Black individuals are manipulated and short changed into believing the lottery is fair and and honest".
Please explain how state lotteries are able to pick out the black folks and make them believe the lottery is "fair and honest", but somehow all the white folks and other races are informed that it is a crooked enterprise.
I thought this was a poor vs. rich thing anyway, not a black/white thing.
The odd thing is that according to the lottery, it IS a fair and honest activity. So black people ... or ANYBODY for that matter ... would be correct in believing it is fair -- not "manupulated" as you say.
I just can't stand statements like yours that make everything a conspiracy against a certain race, or social status, or gender, or religion, or whatever. Has it occured to you that MOST people don't win jackpots?
Now, if you want to be upset at computerized drawings as a means to manipulate, then I'm with you on that. But that targets ALL players, not just the black players or the poor players, or whatever. It's unfair for EVERYBODY.
If you stop thinking everything is a conspiracy, you'll live a happier life.
Todd this is your sand-box ..not mine ;
.and I had the immpression I could speaak my mind since I have read articles supporting my claims;
first I like State run lotterys's because that way it can be held accountable by the people and law enforcement; I want the state to continue lottery games ..but to disconnect them selves from corporate interest and insttutions like GETEC ;
I f a lottery needs a ticket -machine BUY them * dont lease 80,000 of them ;
have all draws overseen by the state police simular to Pennsy. lottery ; not KGMB ;
this way the lottery is fair and above board ....then disasters like Tenn. lottery would never happen;
report the amount of income the lottery makes from sales of each game daily not yearly
from the reports I see the largest payout in NY history was 12 million dollars but that was no where near the proffit made that day on the pick3 and 4 sales alone;
government and lottery's need to be more transparent in their operations !!!!
I don't expect you to believe Blacks or loww income consumers are targeted more unfairly than middle class or upperclass citizens ,but its true ;
the mom and Pops stores in low-income neighborhood are selling lottery tickets and
the amount of large winners who purchace lotto/instant tickets never win or
are far below national trends VS those same games sold in higher income neighborhoods or near the Govenors residence and Board members who over see the state run lottery ;
I hope I have cleared up this confusion , but my beliefs are mine and are not the same as everyone eleses .....the lottery is as only good as the citizens who Administer the system:
It doesn't matter whose sand-box this is. We both have equal abiltiy to speak our minds. You said your opinion, and I said mine.
Don't get upset and start implying you are being "silenced" or anything just because I put up a good argument.
I never said that there is no corruption at state lotteries. That would be pretty dumb if I did, considering the number of corruption stories I've published here in the past.
I said that I think the statement that "blacks are being manipulated" is not only wrong, but insulting. Also, the new article mentions POOR PEOPLE, NOT RACE. The amount of money you have is not a race issue, and I'm not about to make it one.
I have no idea where you get your statistics from, because I don't think you're using any. The actual statistics of winning ticket distribution consistently show that there is no bias against any particular geographic or socio-economic areas. It is completely dependent upon the number of tickets bought in the area.
Look, I am just voicing my opinions and I am trying to give you the benefit of my experience.
I have been keeping abreast of the lottery industry every single day for the past 8 years, as a result of running this site. Of course I have gained a lot of knowledge over that period. It only makes sense!
You are 100% entitled to your own opinion, and you can voice it with the same enthusiasm that I voice mine.
I am posting my opinions because:
I enjoy discussion lottery topics (why else would I have created this site?)
I have experience and knowledge to share
I like to make sure that all viewpoints are represented
I like to give people such as yourself other opinions to consider
I do not post my opinions in order to censor people. If I wanted to do that I'd erase your post. I don't censor opinions, only spam ads. If you agree or disagree, post away!
Lastly, when I readily spout facts and statistics, there is always a segment of people who start saying that I work for a lottery, or that I'm in cahoots with them.
So I will say proactively that nothing could be farther from the truth. I have never worked for or with a lottery. My opinions are my own. My facts and statistics are based upon my own research.
i didnt like State Rep. Garnett Coleman comparing the lottery to drug dealers. in my opinion there is no comparison between selling illegal drugs and lottery tickets.
It doesn't matter whose sand-box this is. We both have equal abiltiy to speak our minds. You said your opinion, and I said mine.
Don't get upset and start implying you are being "silenced" or anything just because I put up a good argument.
I never said that there is no corruption at state lotteries. That would be pretty dumb if I did, considering the number of corruption stories I've published here in the past.
I said that I think the statement that "blacks are being manipulated" is not only wrong, but insulting. Also, the new article mentions POOR PEOPLE, NOT RACE. The amount of money you have is not a race issue, and I'm not about to make it one.
I have no idea where you get your statistics from, because I don't think you're using any. The actual statistics of winning ticket distribution consistently show that there is no bias against any particular geographic or socio-economic areas. It is completely dependent upon the number of tickets bought in the area.
Look, I am just voicing my opinions and I am trying to give you the benefit of my experience.
I have been keeping abreast of the lottery industry every single day for the past 8 years, as a result of running this site. Of course I have gained a lot of knowledge over that period. It only makes sense!
You are 100% entitled to your own opinion, and you can voice it with the same enthusiasm that I voice mine.
I am posting my opinions because:
I enjoy discussion lottery topics (why else would I have created this site?)
I have experience and knowledge to share
I like to make sure that all viewpoints are represented
I like to give people such as yourself other opinions to consider
I do not post my opinions in order to censor people. If I wanted to do that I'd erase your post. I don't censor opinions, only spam ads. If you agree or disagree, post away!
Lastly, when I readily spout facts and statistics, there is always a segment of people who start saying that I work for a lottery, or that I'm in cahoots with them.
So I will say proactively that nothing could be farther from the truth. I have never worked for or with a lottery. My opinions are my own. My facts and statistics are based upon my own research.
said that I think the statement that "blacks are being manipulated" is not only wrong, but insulting. Also, the new article mentions POOR PEOPLE, NOT RACE. The amount of money you have is not a race issue, and I'm not about to make it one.
I have no idea where you get your statistics from, because I don't think you're using any. The actual statistics of winning ticket distribution consistently show that there is no bias against any particular geographic or socio-economic areas. It is completely dependent upon the number of tickets bought in the area.
WeLL I was infering that large chain stores and spermarkets with multiple locations who sell lottery tickets have larger winners with bigger payoffs than in small corner stores: These chain stores are also in the malls and plazzas in middle class america quite different than your foriegn nationals who own the vast number of mom and pop conner markets; When these stores sell lottery tickets ,this includes lotto,cash5 and&&instant tickets , their winngs are no where near the huge giveback they are in the larger chain stores;
welfare recipients play lottery in hopes of buying food and moving to a better life after a small windfall this does not happen so they keep trying and trying ...( how can the lottery target blacks and hispanics and not other races /
easy use .... corporate Phsychlologcal conditioning : Heck even Freud had no idea what can be the unconditioned responce of people with the right advertisement and media we are Blitzed with today ;
Sigmund Freud (born Sigismund Freud) May 6 1856 – September 23 1939; (IPA: ['zi?km?nt 'f???t]) was an Austrian neurologist and psychiatrist who co-founded the psychoanalytic school of psychology. Freud is best known for his theories of the unconscious mind, especially involving ...
If people can be fooled by majic on national TV or in person, who is to say we cannot be fooled by the lottery , they change the balls they work behind closed doors and we only see the stage set after the manipulation of operations during the draw .....I am not saying dont play I say we can all be targeted the media artical only pointed out the poor ....I am sure we are all targets and sheep for the slaughter: Look at 9/11 and then look at the evidence they have compiled against the 9/11 even though people looked and heard explosions and all the evidence pointing t o a cover up by our own government , yet nothing is done;
People feel helpless unless their told what to do @ We often only see what we want to see or expect , yet the truth be told ,we are all manipulated :
Everybody I know that plays numbers are not poor, uneducated, or a so-called minority. Remember what CBS stands for: Conspiratorial Broadcasting System.
They maybe #3 of the big three, but the big three are not what they used to be. They are actually much smaller if you compare by viewer shares. Hint: Look at Arbitron or Nielson.
Quote: Originally posted by computerhead723 on Oct 8, 2007
said that I think the statement that "blacks are being manipulated" is not only wrong, but insulting. Also, the new article mentions POOR PEOPLE, NOT RACE. The amount of money you have is not a race issue, and I'm not about to make it one.
I have no idea where you get your statistics from, because I don't think you're using any. The actual statistics of winning ticket distribution consistently show that there is no bias against any particular geographic or socio-economic areas. It is completely dependent upon the number of tickets bought in the area.
WeLL I was infering that large chain stores and spermarkets with multiple locations who sell lottery tickets have larger winners with bigger payoffs than in small corner stores: These chain stores are also in the malls and plazzas in middle class america quite different than your foriegn nationals who own the vast number of mom and pop conner markets; When these stores sell lottery tickets ,this includes lotto,cash5 and&&instant tickets , their winngs are no where near the huge giveback they are in the larger chain stores;
welfare recipients play lottery in hopes of buying food and moving to a better life after a small windfall this does not happen so they keep trying and trying ...( how can the lottery target blacks and hispanics and not other races /
easy use .... corporate Phsychlologcal conditioning : Heck even Freud had no idea what can be the unconditioned responce of people with the right advertisement and media we are Blitzed with today ;
Sigmund Freud (born Sigismund Freud) May 6 1856 – September 23 1939; (IPA: ['zi?km?nt 'f???t]) was an Austrian neurologist and psychiatrist who co-founded the psychoanalytic school of psychology. Freud is best known for his theories of the unconscious mind, especially involving ...
If people can be fooled by majic on national TV or in person, who is to say we cannot be fooled by the lottery , they change the balls they work behind closed doors and we only see the stage set after the manipulation of operations during the draw .....I am not saying dont play I say we can all be targeted the media artical only pointed out the poor ....I am sure we are all targets and sheep for the slaughter: Look at 9/11 and then look at the evidence they have compiled against the 9/11 even though people looked and heard explosions and all the evidence pointing t o a cover up by our own government , yet nothing is done;
People feel helpless unless their told what to do @ We often only see what we want to see or expect , yet the truth be told ,we are all manipulated :
It's not necessary to play the race card. People of all walks of life play the lottery and in every city and county where lotteries are sold. Winners come from many state areas also. A ticket holder no mater whom has the same chance of winning as every other ticket holder.
I have heard people say no one in Baltimore city has ever won the lottery. This is not a true statement there have been winners they just didn't go public about their win.
Sometimes, I am not sure which fascinates me the most;The belief that a completely random event can be controlledOrThe belief that a completely random event targets a given segment of society and/or individualI do not know about other people and will not bother to post statistics I neither know nor understand. I do know I play based upon my personal interest and thoughts regarding the various games that are available. On occasions, on a gut feel that sometimes wins like the $500 scratch-off that I won last week which I used to put new tires on my vehicle.
Now I need that gut feel again because I just wrecked my car and could definitely use a decent size win again.
Quote: Originally posted by computerhead723 on Oct 8, 2007
said that I think the statement that "blacks are being manipulated" is not only wrong, but insulting. Also, the new article mentions POOR PEOPLE, NOT RACE. The amount of money you have is not a race issue, and I'm not about to make it one.
I have no idea where you get your statistics from, because I don't think you're using any. The actual statistics of winning ticket distribution consistently show that there is no bias against any particular geographic or socio-economic areas. It is completely dependent upon the number of tickets bought in the area.
WeLL I was infering that large chain stores and spermarkets with multiple locations who sell lottery tickets have larger winners with bigger payoffs than in small corner stores: These chain stores are also in the malls and plazzas in middle class america quite different than your foriegn nationals who own the vast number of mom and pop conner markets; When these stores sell lottery tickets ,this includes lotto,cash5 and&&instant tickets , their winngs are no where near the huge giveback they are in the larger chain stores;
welfare recipients play lottery in hopes of buying food and moving to a better life after a small windfall this does not happen so they keep trying and trying ...( how can the lottery target blacks and hispanics and not other races /
easy use .... corporate Phsychlologcal conditioning : Heck even Freud had no idea what can be the unconditioned responce of people with the right advertisement and media we are Blitzed with today ;
Sigmund Freud (born Sigismund Freud) May 6 1856 – September 23 1939; (IPA: ['zi?km?nt 'f???t]) was an Austrian neurologist and psychiatrist who co-founded the psychoanalytic school of psychology. Freud is best known for his theories of the unconscious mind, especially involving ...
If people can be fooled by majic on national TV or in person, who is to say we cannot be fooled by the lottery , they change the balls they work behind closed doors and we only see the stage set after the manipulation of operations during the draw .....I am not saying dont play I say we can all be targeted the media artical only pointed out the poor ....I am sure we are all targets and sheep for the slaughter: Look at 9/11 and then look at the evidence they have compiled against the 9/11 even though people looked and heard explosions and all the evidence pointing t o a cover up by our own government , yet nothing is done;
People feel helpless unless their told what to do @ We often only see what we want to see or expect , yet the truth be told ,we are all manipulated :
Oh my.... now you're saying that there is some deep-rooted psychology behind the lottery and that they "choose" the winning stores because middle-class people play there.
You're also making blanket statements that are just untrue. Can you please show me a real statistic that shows supermarkets sell more winning tickets than mom & pop stores? Not a statistic that you claim is real, but actually show the numbers and source.
The only way supermarkets would sell more winning tickets is if they SOLD more tickets than mom & pop stores.
So you tell me: if supermarkets happened to sell more lottery tickets than mom & pop stores, should they or should they not produce more winners?
It sounds to me like you are advocating that the lottery manipulate the winning tickets so that an unfair number of winning tickets are sold in mom & pop stores -- that they should do it because some people happen to "need" the money more than other people.
The lottery is entertainment, not an income source. If the lottery did what you suggest it would not be in existence anymore because people would stop playing. In fact, we already have a system in place like you're suggesting: it's called "taxes".
Quote: Originally posted by computerhead723 on Oct 8, 2007
said that I think the statement that "blacks are being manipulated" is not only wrong, but insulting. Also, the new article mentions POOR PEOPLE, NOT RACE. The amount of money you have is not a race issue, and I'm not about to make it one.
I have no idea where you get your statistics from, because I don't think you're using any. The actual statistics of winning ticket distribution consistently show that there is no bias against any particular geographic or socio-economic areas. It is completely dependent upon the number of tickets bought in the area.
WeLL I was infering that large chain stores and spermarkets with multiple locations who sell lottery tickets have larger winners with bigger payoffs than in small corner stores: These chain stores are also in the malls and plazzas in middle class america quite different than your foriegn nationals who own the vast number of mom and pop conner markets; When these stores sell lottery tickets ,this includes lotto,cash5 and&&instant tickets , their winngs are no where near the huge giveback they are in the larger chain stores;
welfare recipients play lottery in hopes of buying food and moving to a better life after a small windfall this does not happen so they keep trying and trying ...( how can the lottery target blacks and hispanics and not other races /
easy use .... corporate Phsychlologcal conditioning : Heck even Freud had no idea what can be the unconditioned responce of people with the right advertisement and media we are Blitzed with today ;
Sigmund Freud (born Sigismund Freud) May 6 1856 – September 23 1939; (IPA: ['zi?km?nt 'f???t]) was an Austrian neurologist and psychiatrist who co-founded the psychoanalytic school of psychology. Freud is best known for his theories of the unconscious mind, especially involving ...
If people can be fooled by majic on national TV or in person, who is to say we cannot be fooled by the lottery , they change the balls they work behind closed doors and we only see the stage set after the manipulation of operations during the draw .....I am not saying dont play I say we can all be targeted the media artical only pointed out the poor ....I am sure we are all targets and sheep for the slaughter: Look at 9/11 and then look at the evidence they have compiled against the 9/11 even though people looked and heard explosions and all the evidence pointing t o a cover up by our own government , yet nothing is done;
People feel helpless unless their told what to do @ We often only see what we want to see or expect , yet the truth be told ,we are all manipulated :
"WeLL I was infering that large chain stores and spermarkets with multiple locations who sell lottery tickets have larger winners with bigger payoffs than in small corner stores:"
I was in one of those large chain convenience type stores early this morning in a very small town and saw a sign above the lottery machine saying that a $232,000 Rolling Cash winner was sold at that store. There is also a competing large chain convenience type store on the other side of town and a Mega Million jackpot ticket was sold at one of the chains other stores in another city a couple of years ago. Is the state lottery commission taking turns distributing large winners among large chain convenience type stores and neglecting stores part of your conspiracy theory?
"These chain stores are also in the malls and plazzas in middle class america quite different than your foriegn nationals who own the vast number of mom and pop conner markets; When these stores sell lottery tickets ,this includes lotto,cash5 and&&instant tickets , their winngs are no where near the huge giveback they are in the larger chain stores;"
The large chains franchise their stores so it's a fact many of them become "mom and pop's" type stores. Do you have any documented proof these huge givebacks don't go to Smith's, Jones', or Brown's Food Mart or are you just guessing?
Unless you have the facts or statistic to prove "welfare recipients play lottery in hopes of buying food " or any other reason to play lottery games that is exclusive to only "welfare recipients", you ought to add "in my opinion" to blanket statements.
"how can the lottery target blacks and hispanics and not other races"
Lotteries offer games of chance though there is a degree of hypocrisy that this form of gambling is somehow different because its profits go to education and not to stock holders of large gaming groups. I can patiently wait until you offer any proof the games of chance offered by the state lotteries are the exclusive domains of "blacks and hispanics and not other races".
"I am not saying dont play I say we can all be targeted the media artical only pointed out the poor ....I am sure we are all targets and sheep for the slaughter"
Didn't know that; I thought I was playing lottery games because it's fun spending a couple of bucks and taking a chance of winning hundreds and possibly millions of dollars. Should I start buying my tickets in a large chain store where, in your opinion all the jackpots are sold, or should I continue to buy my tickets at the other place where I can flirt with that cute little clerk?
Since I usually pick my own numbers does the lottery monitor my play and make it impossible for me to win as part of your huge conspiracy?
Oh my.... now you're saying that there is some deep-rooted psychology behind the lottery and that they "choose" the winning stores because middle-class people play there.
You're also making blanket statements that are just untrue. Can you please show me a real statistic that shows supermarkets sell more winning tickets than mom & pop stores? Not a statistic that you claim is real, but actually show the numbers and source.
The only way supermarkets would sell more winning tickets is if they SOLD more tickets than mom & pop stores.
So you tell me: if supermarkets happened to sell more lottery tickets than mom & pop stores, should they or should they not produce more winners?
It sounds to me like you are advocating that the lottery manipulate the winning tickets so that an unfair number of winning tickets are sold in mom & pop stores -- that they should do it because some people happen to "need" the money more than other people.
The lottery is entertainment, not an income source. If the lottery did what you suggest it would not be in existence anymore because people would stop playing. In fact, we already have a system in place like you're suggesting: it's called "taxes".
"It sounds to me like you are advocating that the lottery manipulate the winning tickets so that an unfair number of winning tickets are sold in mom & pop stores -- that they should do it because some people happen to "need" the money more than other people."
Public assistance comes from tax dollars and if it's true that mostly welfare recipients play lottery games and the lottery commissions can determine which store sells the most winners, wouldn't it make more sense to let those welfare recipients win so they are no longer a tax burden?
It would be fun reading all the feedback if CBS ever does an exposé on church run Bingo games.
Quote: Originally posted by Stack47 on Oct 8, 2007
"WeLL I was infering that large chain stores and spermarkets with multiple locations who sell lottery tickets have larger winners with bigger payoffs than in small corner stores:"
I was in one of those large chain convenience type stores early this morning in a very small town and saw a sign above the lottery machine saying that a $232,000 Rolling Cash winner was sold at that store. There is also a competing large chain convenience type store on the other side of town and a Mega Million jackpot ticket was sold at one of the chains other stores in another city a couple of years ago. Is the state lottery commission taking turns distributing large winners among large chain convenience type stores and neglecting stores part of your conspiracy theory?
"These chain stores are also in the malls and plazzas in middle class america quite different than your foriegn nationals who own the vast number of mom and pop conner markets; When these stores sell lottery tickets ,this includes lotto,cash5 and&&instant tickets , their winngs are no where near the huge giveback they are in the larger chain stores;"
The large chains franchise their stores so it's a fact many of them become "mom and pop's" type stores. Do you have any documented proof these huge givebacks don't go to Smith's, Jones', or Brown's Food Mart or are you just guessing?
Unless you have the facts or statistic to prove "welfare recipients play lottery in hopes of buying food " or any other reason to play lottery games that is exclusive to only "welfare recipients", you ought to add "in my opinion" to blanket statements.
"how can the lottery target blacks and hispanics and not other races"
Lotteries offer games of chance though there is a degree of hypocrisy that this form of gambling is somehow different because its profits go to education and not to stock holders of large gaming groups. I can patiently wait until you offer any proof the games of chance offered by the state lotteries are the exclusive domains of "blacks and hispanics and not other races".
"I am not saying dont play I say we can all be targeted the media artical only pointed out the poor ....I am sure we are all targets and sheep for the slaughter"
Didn't know that; I thought I was playing lottery games because it's fun spending a couple of bucks and taking a chance of winning hundreds and possibly millions of dollars. Should I start buying my tickets in a large chain store where, in your opinion all the jackpots are sold, or should I continue to buy my tickets at the other place where I can flirt with that cute little clerk?
Since I usually pick my own numbers does the lottery monitor my play and make it impossible for me to win as part of your huge conspiracy?
well I would like to repeate something I said before ;PEOPLE ONLY SEE WHAT THEY WANT TO SEE ......
In reading the replys to this artical several people saw my rely was about race while others said I was advocating for the poor to win in mom and pop neighborhoods so they could buy food ....others sugguested I provide statistics to classified information while providing none of their own proff that my information was incorrect ; One person saw the large banners stating someone won a huge pile of money at this store and he saw it at several larger chain stores&&Funny people only see the forest and no trees ;
I have never walked into a small mom and pop store and saw a winning banner in my life in any black/hispanic community and I have been to many accross america;
I want people to win but the distribution of winners for instant tickets needs more over sight&&&sure all lottery jackpot games are hard but when it comes to instant tickets and quick pick games there is no comparrison middle class whites get more ;
Think , lotteys make billions per week .....how they sell games for money ...guess who wins regardless ........no I dont trust the lottery or any corporate entriprise , because MONEY does strange things to people...and then there is GREED AND ENVY who can stop it ????
I have seen lots of banners in mom & pop stores. I am even friends with a mom & pop store owner (owns 2 stores) who had a Mega Millions jackpot winner in her store, and they have an enormous banner in the window.
Rise up out of your own line of vision to comprehend that your experiences aren't necessarily indicative of reality!
There is a reason that people are trying to explain to you these things.
They want you to understand that there is a much larger, happier world out there in which the lottery is not engaging in a conspiracy against certain groups of people!
I have seen lots of banners in mom & pop stores. I am even friends with a mom & pop store owner (owns 2 stores) who had a Mega Millions jackpot winner in her store, and they have an enormous banner in the window.
Rise up out of your own line of vision to comprehend that your experiences aren't necessarily indicative of reality!
There is a reason that people are trying to explain to you these things.
They want you to understand that there is a much larger, happier world out there in which the lottery is not engaging in a conspiracy against certain groups of people!
I look very well thank you but get the picture reality starts with questioning authority.
Rise up out of your own line of vision to comprehend that your experiences aren't necessarily indicative of reality!
Wow Todd , if I didn't know better I swear you were insulting me and saying I had lost my mind , seeing that my personal experiences were not indicative of reality ???
In the larger cities real mom and pop stores are run by foriegn nationals with competition
some times less than a block away and within 3 -5 block radius there is a huge supermarkets : thats competition and yyet its suported the neighborhoods, Ii dont frankly care if people chose to ignor the facts and chose to believe the lie&
The facts speak for themselves , do you see millionairs running around in low income neighborhoods ,...No .........me either ....did they buy a winning ticket at Moms OR CHANG LEE S MARKET and become wealthy or set for life ....No ......
Quote: Originally posted by computerhead723 on Oct 8, 2007
well I would like to repeate something I said before ;PEOPLE ONLY SEE WHAT THEY WANT TO SEE ......
In reading the replys to this artical several people saw my rely was about race while others said I was advocating for the poor to win in mom and pop neighborhoods so they could buy food ....others sugguested I provide statistics to classified information while providing none of their own proff that my information was incorrect ; One person saw the large banners stating someone won a huge pile of money at this store and he saw it at several larger chain stores&&Funny people only see the forest and no trees ;
I have never walked into a small mom and pop store and saw a winning banner in my life in any black/hispanic community and I have been to many accross america;
I want people to win but the distribution of winners for instant tickets needs more over sight&&&sure all lottery jackpot games are hard but when it comes to instant tickets and quick pick games there is no comparrison middle class whites get more ;
Think , lotteys make billions per week .....how they sell games for money ...guess who wins regardless ........no I dont trust the lottery or any corporate entriprise , because MONEY does strange things to people...and then there is GREED AND ENVY who can stop it ????
"I have never walked into a small mom and pop store and saw a winning banner in my life in any black/hispanic community and I have been to many accross america; "
Every time somebody makes this type of statement, I feel compelled to look for what they didn't see but I guess I'm lucky this time because I can't find "black/hispanic community" on my map. Maybe you could elaborate on why you go into so many black/hispanic mom and pop stores across America. Where can I find one in NE Ohio?
"when it comes to instant tickets and quick pick games there is no comparrison middle class whites get more "
I suppose asking for any kind of data to back that up is out of the question?
Quote: Originally posted by Stack47 on Oct 8, 2007
"I have never walked into a small mom and pop store and saw a winning banner in my life in any black/hispanic community and I have been to many accross america; "
Every time somebody makes this type of statement, I feel compelled to look for what they didn't see but I guess I'm lucky this time because I can't find "black/hispanic community" on my map. Maybe you could elaborate on why you go into so many black/hispanic mom and pop stores across America. Where can I find one in NE Ohio?
"when it comes to instant tickets and quick pick games there is no comparrison middle class whites get more "
I suppose asking for any kind of data to back that up is out of the question?
well if you stop chasing people with a burning cross and chains in the other hand and..... loose the white robe ...then some nice black lottery player will show you his neighborhood:
Quote: Originally posted by computerhead723 on Oct 8, 2007
I look very well thank you but get the picture reality starts with questioning authority.
Rise up out of your own line of vision to comprehend that your experiences aren't necessarily indicative of reality!
Wow Todd , if I didn't know better I swear you were insulting me and saying I had lost my mind , seeing that my personal experiences were not indicative of reality ???
In the larger cities real mom and pop stores are run by foriegn nationals with competition
some times less than a block away and within 3 -5 block radius there is a huge supermarkets : thats competition and yyet its suported the neighborhoods, Ii dont frankly care if people chose to ignor the facts and chose to believe the lie&
The facts speak for themselves , do you see millionairs running around in low income neighborhoods ,...No .........me either ....did they buy a winning ticket at Moms OR CHANG LEE S MARKET and become wealthy or set for life ....No ......
case closed
You may have the case closed, but I haven't begun to understand what case is closed!
We obviously disagree about a lot of stuff, so let's agree to disagree.
I would love to understand your bottom line about what you believe the lottery is doing.
What is the lottery's role in all of this? If you could please explain it in as simple terms as possible, that would help me, because sometimes I'm a little slow.
Which part of the whole thing do they manipulate? Do they change the lottery results to make sure a particular store wins? Or is it something else?
There are other people who have similar thoughts to yours, so although you don't speak for all of them, maybe you could shed some light.
Quote: Originally posted by computerhead723 on Oct 8, 2007
I look very well thank you but get the picture reality starts with questioning authority.
Rise up out of your own line of vision to comprehend that your experiences aren't necessarily indicative of reality!
Wow Todd , if I didn't know better I swear you were insulting me and saying I had lost my mind , seeing that my personal experiences were not indicative of reality ???
In the larger cities real mom and pop stores are run by foriegn nationals with competition
some times less than a block away and within 3 -5 block radius there is a huge supermarkets : thats competition and yyet its suported the neighborhoods, Ii dont frankly care if people chose to ignor the facts and chose to believe the lie&
The facts speak for themselves , do you see millionairs running around in low income neighborhoods ,...No .........me either ....did they buy a winning ticket at Moms OR CHANG LEE S MARKET and become wealthy or set for life ....No ......
case closed
"some times less than a block away and within 3 -5 block radius there is a huge supermarkets : thats competition and yyet its suported the neighborhoods, Ii dont frankly care if people chose to ignor the facts and chose to believe the lie&"
Within about the same radius there is a supermarket, 2 gas stations with food marts, a convenient store and 2 drive-thru's in my neighborhood; and they all sell lottery tickets. Maybe people buy tickets when they buy their groceries, gas, bread and milk, or beer, but there are no facts supporting any one these stores will sell more large prize winning tickets.
"The facts speak for themselves"
Discussing the facts would be a change of pace from your opinions of mom and pop stores across America.
Well speaking as an African-American here in NC(charlotte) I don't see the lottery targeting any specific race, they even run messages encouraging people to play responsibly. And we do have minority's here that have hit it big. there was a jackpot winner from charlotte who bought his ticket in SC before Nc offered the lottery and he was an african-american(won $80 million) and just last year a correctional guard from Raleigh(African-American female) won $22 Million in the power-ball so let's get off the race kick it all comes down to just how lucky you are to win the "GREEN"
You may have the case closed, but I haven't begun to understand what case is closed!
We obviously disagree about a lot of stuff, so let's agree to disagree.
I would love to understand your bottom line about what you believe the lottery is doing.
What is the lottery's role in all of this? If you could please explain it in as simple terms as possible, that would help me, because sometimes I'm a little slow.
Which part of the whole thing do they manipulate? Do they change the lottery results to make sure a particular store wins? Or is it something else?
There are other people who have similar thoughts to yours, so although you don't speak for all of them, maybe you could shed some light.
first question:
I would love to understand your bottom line about what you believe the lottery is doing.
What is the lottery's role in all of this? If you could please explain it in as simple terms as possible, that would help me, because sometimes I'm a little slow"
First Goal of the lottery is to raise revenue ,just who gets the Bulk of that revenue is questionable and classifyed information:
How they retain a steady winning streak ( here in NY) is beyound me but suggest manipulation of the draw machines by weighted balls and player habits since tracking players bets are a by-product of computer sysyems ; this is where I have my issue with GETEC and outfits simmular to them; GETC first coustmers were cassino's and video slot machines -these are computer controled and fiber optic upgraded ; which means if they downloded 30 Gb it would take less than 3 hours but if it were a 56K line ( plain old telephone line ) it would take a month to download 30Gb. .......with high tech software and equipment throw in some Professional Advertisement and a paid consultant psychiatrist , would insure a high yeild proffit on running a lottery: Dont look at just the lottery look at those behind the scen like KGMG and GETEC here all involved , they all have an interest we think just as you suggest .... its fair...they wouldn't cheat ...ok ??/ and prying on little small mom and pops stores make up 50% of retailers in the system , they are the cash cow ;
Consider a paradox outlined by London School of Economics economist Richard Lay¿ard in Happiness (Penguin, 2005), in which he shows that we are no happier even though average incomes have more than doubled since 1950 and "we have more food, more clothes, more cars, bigger houses, more central heating, more foreign holidays, a shorter working week, nicer work and, above all, better health." Once average annual income is above $20,000 a head, higher pay brings no greater happiness. Why? One, our genes account for roughly half of our predisposition to be happy or unhappy, and two, our wants are relative to what other people have, not to some absolute measure.
Happiness is better equated with satisfaction than pleasure, says Emory University psychiatrist Gregory Berns in Satisfaction (Henry Holt, 2005), because the pursuit of pleasure lands us on a never-ending hedonic treadmill that paradoxically leads to misery. "Satisfaction is an emotion that captures the uniquely human need to impart meaning to one's activities," Berns concludes. "While you might find pleasure by happenstance--winning the lottery, possessing the genes for a sunny temperament, or having the luck not to live in poverty--satisfaction can arise only by the conscious decision to do something. And this makes all the difference in the world, because it is only your own actions for which you may take responsibility and credit."
Quote: Originally posted by SirMetro on Oct 8, 2007
I think that sometimes in our haste to defend the blindness of our assumptions we forget to see the truth that stands before us
At least that is what I think...but I have been wrong before.
That is a nice quote. I think we're all guilty of that at one time or another. Some more than others.
computerhead723, it doesn't sound like there is anything the lottery could do to make you feel they are conducting fair drawings. New York has real ball drawings, conducted on live TV, and to which they allow witnesses. I can't think of anything else they can do to be open and transparent in their drawing process, to show that nothing underhanded is taking place.
If you REALLY feel it is unfair, why not go and witness a live drawing? You can ask them questions and see the whole process for yourself.
The problem is that I am picking up a strong vibe that there is absolutely nothing on this Earth the lottery could do to convince you it's fair, other than forcing certain stores and/or people to win.
That is a nice quote. I think we're all guilty of that at one time or another. Some more than others.
computerhead723, it doesn't sound like there is anything the lottery could do to make you feel they are conducting fair drawings. New York has real ball drawings, conducted on live TV, and to which they allow witnesses. I can't think of anything else they can do to be open and transparent in their drawing process, to show that nothing underhanded is taking place.
If you REALLY feel it is unfair, why not go and witness a live drawing? You can ask them questions and see the whole process for yourself.
The problem is that I am picking up a strong vibe that there is absolutely nothing on this Earth the lottery could do to convince you it's fair, other than forcing certain stores and/or people to win.
your right , under the current lottery operatons there is no way to convince me ;
Put the state police at each of the drawings and have the state appoint an attorney general to oversee the legal contracts which go on everyday behind closed doors ;
inspect the ball machines and the balls themselves everyday put that live and on TV ;
give back money to the community/ players that put money into the process.... in other words give the players a better shot at winning&&Some players expect to loose, not me I expect the sysyem to lose sometime ,... but not the lottery their winning streek continues unchecked and unchanged because to think otherwise is downright foolish oh yaH and playing a RACE CARD......... Lets all be obedient and belive nothing is going on xxx
THE FOLLOWING IS THE PAYOUT CHART FOR THE NY LOTTERY PICK 4 GAME ONLY it will only say how much is won but I and millions like me play everyday {aprox,. 1.4 Billion is spent on lottery operations per week: pleas deduct this from a billion p and notice the dates ;
Quote: Originally posted by computerhead723 on Oct 8, 2007
your right , under the current lottery operatons there is no way to convince me ;
Put the state police at each of the drawings and have the state appoint an attorney general to oversee the legal contracts which go on everyday behind closed doors ;
inspect the ball machines and the balls themselves everyday put that live and on TV ;
give back money to the community/ players that put money into the process.... in other words give the players a better shot at winning&&Some players expect to loose, not me I expect the sysyem to lose sometime ,... but not the lottery their winning streek continues unchecked and unchanged because to think otherwise is downright foolish oh yaH and playing a RACE CARD......... Lets all be obedient and belive nothing is going on xxx
So .... the lottery should not be making money? I don't think you've thought that one through. In every form of gambling, the house always makes a profit. That keeps the gambling enterprise alive.
All those things you mentioned about verify this, verify that, are already done. In fact, in your state (NY) the lottery is tightly controlled by the legislature.
In other states it is more of an independent "quasi-government" organization, but in New York -- the state you're talking about -- all those things are done already.
But I'm sure in whatever manner they do the verification does not live up to your high standards.
As I mentioned earlier, the lottery is not a charity, and not a source of income. It is entertainment. If you are playing because you need money, then you should not play, because that is not its purpose, and the odds are that you will lose money, not gain money.
In fact, gambling in any way in order to get money for basic necessities is a form of a gambling problem, because gambling -- by its very definition -- is entertainment, and all money wagered should be money you can afford to lose. Think of it like buying a lottery ticket instead of going to the movies.
If you're playing because you can afford a few bucks to play, and you're dreaming of what a huge jackpot would mean to you, then you're right in the zone.
On the other hand, if you are waiting impatiently for the jackpot you're supposed to get (for "your turn" to come), you should not play. Because only a small fraction of players win a jackpot. You should not expect to win, because according to the odds, you probably won't.
Lastly, I hope that "race card" comment was not directed at me, because I don't do that. i keep trying to bring the discussion back to social status, and you keep forcing it into a race issue.
This post remind me of a movie about gambling that I saw called "Any Number can Play" 1949 starring Clark Gable, Alexis Smith and a few people you'll recognize like Egar Buchanan, Uncle Joe on Petticoat Junction and Frank Morgan, Prof. Marvel on The Wizard of Oz and Lewis Stone.
Clark Gable owned a casino and caught a lot of heat not only from his family (teenage son mostly) but from a few people who lost. There was a lady who dragged her husband to his house and insulted his wife saying they stole their money. He was an honest bookie and had earned respect and was loved. He even gave money back to a women who had lost her wedding ring.
But what I found interesting about the movie was when he gave the stats of gambling in America in rebuke to his son who had a problem with his father being the owner of a gambling house.
I was shocked at the number of dice that were bought, decks of cards, (he rattled off the stats) how much money was bet and made on the horses, (billions) and the fact that horse races was a part of the stock market, and that half in America gambled. He said that people even gambled on when they were going to die.&
I was like OMG it was only 1949 and gambling was that big, even though I thought I knew the history of gambling in America. I mean that was one of the reasons the river boat gambling was started because they were thrown out of town much earlier. And those that didn't leave had to shoot it out. (History Channel) So we've come a long way. It was the stats in 1949 at that time that amazed me.
I thought I'd share that - I know it's Hollywood but if you ever run across the movie on TCM - it's worth a watch.
p.s. Anybody interested in knowing about pick3 lottery in the African America community BEFORE state run lotteries when the runner came to your house and you placed a nickel bet, I reccommend the book called "Daddy was a Number Runner" by Louise Meriwerther. When I read it I got it from the Library. It's dated as well.
So .... the lottery should not be making money? I don't think you've thought that one through. In every form of gambling, the house always makes a profit. That keeps the gambling enterprise alive.
All those things you mentioned about verify this, verify that, are already done. In fact, in your state (NY) the lottery is tightly controlled by the legislature.
In other states it is more of an independent "quasi-government" organization, but in New York -- the state you're talking about -- all those things are done already.
But I'm sure in whatever manner they do the verification does not live up to your high standards.
As I mentioned earlier, the lottery is not a charity, and not a source of income. It is entertainment. If you are playing because you need money, then you should not play, because that is not its purpose, and the odds are that you will lose money, not gain money.
In fact, gambling in any way in order to get money for basic necessities is a form of a gambling problem, because gambling -- by its very definition -- is entertainment, and all money wagered should be money you can afford to lose. Think of it like buying a lottery ticket instead of going to the movies.
If you're playing because you can afford a few bucks to play, and you're dreaming of what a huge jackpot would mean to you, then you're right in the zone.
On the other hand, if you are waiting impatiently for the jackpot you're supposed to get (for "your turn" to come), you should not play. Because only a small fraction of players win a jackpot. You should not expect to win, because according to the odds, you probably won't.
Lastly, I hope that "race card" comment was not directed at me, because I don't do that. i keep trying to bring the discussion back to social status, and you keep forcing it into a race issue.
whats with everyone placeing the Race Card - on me for it was in the news - article- and God forbid I aggreed with the- news agency: lets see what did they say:????(like I said- people see what they- want- to see :)
CBS said ;
"It's a shift of the cost of government onto people who can least afford it," says State Rep. Garnett Coleman, who has represented this neighborhood for 17 years. "Is a drug dealer responsible when they sell to the person?" Coleman asks. "If somebody says, 'yeah,' then the state is responsible for hooking the people on the gaming, on the lottery."
"You're selling hope," says Rob Kohler, who worked 12 years for the Texas Lottery and is now a private consultant in Austin. It was his analysis of lottery sales data that opened Coleman's eyes, revealing who the majority of heavy players are.
"It's coming from the folks, you know, high minority, low education, and low income," Kohler says. "That can least afford to play the game."
Texas lottery spokesman Bobby Heith does not dispute the data. "The data is what it is. We don't target groups of people," Heith says.
In Texas, Blacks and Hispanics outspend Whites nearly two to one on lottery tickets. According to a 2005 Texas Tech demographic survey commissioned by the lottery, blacks in Texas spend $109 a month on lottery tickets, Hispanics spend $102, and whites spend $55.
"We put out Hispanic ads mainly because for Spanish speaking people. I mean, it's good business," Heith says. "We don't want to prey on anybody. We're here to run a business for the state."
You can't trust the lottery. Oh I suppose if you get the six winning numbers on a single line you will no doubt collect, but this is not an agency of government that's looking out for you.
When they say "Play Responsibly" they're just warding off complaints from critics like beer companies advising us to drink responsibly, don't sue us it isn't our fault you and our product combined to cause disaster we tried to warn you really we did honest.
Poor people play the lottery because that's where the money is. What other possible dollar investment can pay off in tens of thousands to millions of dollars.
There aren't a lot of investment oppertunities for poor people. They'd be better off stockpiling food before the next price increase then putting their money in the bank at today's interest rates.
The lottery targets people who have needs they can't scratch, pretty things cost a pretty penny. When you have nothing you want everything. Once you have most things and enough money your desire to win lotto shrinks so of course people who are doing just fine play less lotto.
In the same sense, high priced scratch-offs are going to sell better where customers have the extra money to take a chance on them. The poor will and should limit their play to low cost tickets until they win and can play on the state's money. Dollar scratch-off tickets usually pay in the hundreds or thousands, not millions so poor communities won't have big scratch-off prizes because the high priced big prize tickets don't sell that well.
That's what I think, who knows I could be right!!! BobP
Quote: Originally posted by computerhead723 on Oct 9, 2007
whats with everyone placeing the Race Card - on me for it was in the news - article- and God forbid I aggreed with the- news agency: lets see what did they say:????(like I said- people see what they- want- to see :)
CBS said ;
"It's a shift of the cost of government onto people who can least afford it," says State Rep. Garnett Coleman, who has represented this neighborhood for 17 years. "Is a drug dealer responsible when they sell to the person?" Coleman asks. "If somebody says, 'yeah,' then the state is responsible for hooking the people on the gaming, on the lottery."
"You're selling hope," says Rob Kohler, who worked 12 years for the Texas Lottery and is now a private consultant in Austin. It was his analysis of lottery sales data that opened Coleman's eyes, revealing who the majority of heavy players are.
"It's coming from the folks, you know, high minority, low education, and low income," Kohler says. "That can least afford to play the game."
Texas lottery spokesman Bobby Heith does not dispute the data. "The data is what it is. We don't target groups of people," Heith says.
In Texas, Blacks and Hispanics outspend Whites nearly two to one on lottery tickets. According to a 2005 Texas Tech demographic survey commissioned by the lottery, blacks in Texas spend $109 a month on lottery tickets, Hispanics spend $102, and whites spend $55.
"We put out Hispanic ads mainly because for Spanish speaking people. I mean, it's good business," Heith says. "We don't want to prey on anybody. We're here to run a business for the state."
Actually I'm kind of confused. I'm wondering why you are comparing where you live to Texas? What the article doesn't say is what the demographics are for the population in Texas. I have a very good feeling that there probably are more Hispanics and Blacks there. If you conduct a study in a state which has more of nationality then of course they should be the ones spending more money. Also if your ever in the Ft. Campbell, Ky Area you will see that most all the mom & pop stores in this area have sold big winners and before TN had lottery there was a black man from the Nashville area who had a co-worker drive up to Oak Grove , Ky and bought him some Powerball tickets. That man won somewhere around 89.3 million dollars and also gave the co-worker something for buying his tickets. Blacks, white, and people from all walks of life win. I don't beleive what you say about where the winners come from with online games but you may have a point with scratch offs. There is a store in Oak Grove, Ky that has sold a lot of Grand prize winners on scratch offs.
Quote: Originally posted by KyMystikal on Oct 9, 2007
Actually I'm kind of confused. I'm wondering why you are comparing where you live to Texas? What the article doesn't say is what the demographics are for the population in Texas. I have a very good feeling that there probably are more Hispanics and Blacks there. If you conduct a study in a state which has more of nationality then of course they should be the ones spending more money. Also if your ever in the Ft. Campbell, Ky Area you will see that most all the mom & pop stores in this area have sold big winners and before TN had lottery there was a black man from the Nashville area who had a co-worker drive up to Oak Grove , Ky and bought him some Powerball tickets. That man won somewhere around 89.3 million dollars and also gave the co-worker something for buying his tickets. Blacks, white, and people from all walks of life win. I don't beleive what you say about where the winners come from with online games but you may have a point with scratch offs. There is a store in Oak Grove, Ky that has sold a lot of Grand prize winners on scratch offs.
Most polls are slanted. And you have to consider the margin of error as well. And most of all - you have to consider the source. You especially have to be careful of special interest groups. You can pigeon hole just about anything to make a point. If you just fell off a turnip truck you will believe anything and the media and politicians know that. Whether you are within the ignorant masses is what's important.
Most polls are slanted. And you have to consider the margin of error as well. And most of all - you have to consider the source. You especially have to be careful of special interest groups. You can pigeon hole just about anything to make a point. If you just fell off a turnip truck you will believe anything and the media and politicians know that. Whether you are within the ignorant masses is what's important.
just who a re& you refering to as ( iggnorant masses)& and (just&fell of a turnip truck) ;
Quote: Originally posted by KyMystikal on Oct 9, 2007
Actually I'm kind of confused. I'm wondering why you are comparing where you live to Texas? What the article doesn't say is what the demographics are for the population in Texas. I have a very good feeling that there probably are more Hispanics and Blacks there. If you conduct a study in a state which has more of nationality then of course they should be the ones spending more money. Also if your ever in the Ft. Campbell, Ky Area you will see that most all the mom & pop stores in this area have sold big winners and before TN had lottery there was a black man from the Nashville area who had a co-worker drive up to Oak Grove , Ky and bought him some Powerball tickets. That man won somewhere around 89.3 million dollars and also gave the co-worker something for buying his tickets. Blacks, white, and people from all walks of life win. I don't beleive what you say about where the winners come from with online games but you may have a point with scratch offs. There is a store in Oak Grove, Ky that has sold a lot of Grand prize winners on scratch offs.
your right , under the current lottery operatons there is no way to convince me ;
Put the state police at each of the drawings and have the state appoint an attorney general to oversee the legal contracts which go on everyday behind closed doors ;
inspect the ball machines and the balls themselves everyday put that live and on TV ;
give back money to the community/ players that put money into the process.... in other words give the players a better shot at winning&&Some players expect to loose, not me I expect the sysyem to lose sometime ,... but not the lottery their winning streek continues unchecked and unchanged because to think otherwise is downright foolish oh yaH and playing a RACE CARD......... Lets all be obedient and belive nothing is going on xxx
do you honestly think that by placing State Police at the drawings make them anymore secure than with another firm? The State Police have been shown to be just as crooked. Also why would the state appoint another Attorney General, when they already have one.
The lottery is in business to make money, not give it away. If you want better odds get in a card game and leave the lottery to others who are going to take a chance , even at long odds.
After reading this thread it seems like to me that you're looking for an arguement on your beliefs alone instead of just voicing your opinion for what you think is happening.
I would think if your that dissatisfied with the LOTTERY, you would'nt play it..! Oh, by the way the Lottery does'nt sell hope , they let you decide if you want a piece of the pie and they let YOU make that decision, they're not pressing you to buy ,it's voluntary. Your choice and yours alone.......
I never did like that lady, even when she was hosting the Today show. I may start watching CBS news again when she leaves. Depends on who replaces her. I play the lottery because I enjoy doing it. I do not play my whole pay check. I only pay for a few tickets. I play mostly when the pots are large enough where I could retire on. I still play even when they are not so large, because I could still relax and enjoy the good thinsg of life with my family. Everyone says that is all it is a "Dream", but everyone needs a dream to go on. I know usually only one ticket wins, but if you don't play it, how will you win it? And who knows, I could be that one ticket one day. But knowing my luck, I would probably have a heart attack and die, before I could even really spend and enjoy any of it.
I agree CBS's story is completely skewed, and it leaves out some important facts about lottery sales in general. IGWB magazine, (International Gaming and Wagering Business), recently published information about lottery business worldwide, and it indicated that sales of number-based games like Pick 3,4,5,6 etc have been steadily slipping for years, and are offset by the more rapid growth in sales of instant scratch games. When I'm in convenience stores, or grocery stores, that's more of what I see being bought and cashed than any lottery games.
Most polls are slanted. And you have to consider the margin of error as well. And most of all - you have to consider the source. You especially have to be careful of special interest groups. You can pigeon hole just about anything to make a point. If you just fell off a turnip truck you will believe anything and the media and politicians know that. Whether you are within the ignorant masses is what's important.
just who are you refering to when you say "the ignorant masses "????
2. Who can fall off a turnip - truck , you will believe anything????
First most CBS documentries are validated with multiple evidence, since they heve been sued for reportin false news before;
Its When they won't report , thats when I question their integrity ;
such as 9/11and the Stock trade before 9/11 PUT Options - against American Airlines and the world trade center being insured for 8 Billion (Terrorest- insurance) all the news agencys are quiet as church mice :
Conspiracy theories and race riots aside, those COMMERCIALS for the Lottery (and the Casinos) are annoying!!! Maybe if they cut the advertising budget they'd have more to give back to players and that would increase interest in playing!
Foot traffic in larger stores provides greater exposure and precipitates more ticket sales which increases likelihood but doesn't guarantee more winners. More bodies through the door, more sales of all kinds.
Second, in order to succeed/win someone must have a winning mindset, not just a desire or need to win.& Anyone who saw the movie "The Secret" viewable on the web and checked out the many spinoff sites for "Law of Attraction" discovers a winning mindset has no conspiratorial bias ..... anyone anywhere can cultivate it through practice and belief they can succeed/win. Oprah seems to agree so much she had a show about it.
If they want a hit piece that works maybe they can cover the problems in the Tennessee Lottery is having and the problems with comuter drawings.
Wake up and smell the coffee CBS..! Lotteries don't target anyone one individual, where are you getting your information from? Christ, you can't even clean up your own backyard ( your stattion), and now you want to create something that is totally untrue again. Why are'nt you covering the Tenn cover-up in the lottery??? You don't become number three from reporting the truth, you become number three from reporting the trash.
Maybe Katie can become Ms.Hargroves press secretary, would'nt that clear up this situation.!
whats wrong with giving people a dream? After all thats probly the best part about hitting a lottery they should investagate how these numbers are drawn if anything
That interview is defintely slanted. Rent in that area must not be anymore than 250.00 per month. The utilities, gas and groceries must be free. It takes more than $15,000.00 per year to live even if you are a single person. Most of the people I know make at least 21+ thousand a year and most of the folks I know who play the lottery make almost $50,000.00 per year. The lottery offers it's players a dream that many can't seem to find in their job's retirement plans...a guaranteed stream of income which will provide for them in their golden years. This dream is not affected by greedy corporate types such as the owners and managers of the now defunct Enron corporation. My investment in this dream is strictly under my own control. I can choose to play or not.
The interview is factual ....Black individuals are manipulated and short changed into believing the lottery is fair and and honest ,......they are not and the corprorations which back and invest and sponser state lotterys are corupted;
I like to play the lottery everyday but do the sate change the balls ...YES...does that help them or the players ...it helps them :
instant t ickets ; are found only near the Governors residence for big winners the dollar tickets which sell in the millions are never real big 1.00 -100 max ...thats what the poor get back the millions go to the big ticket prizes and the profit from their ticket sales are pocketed :
enron wwas part of the 9/11 cover-up ;the world trade building housed the evidence for calf. eroen 7billion corruption scandal ...when world trad center went down so did the evidence to put the gulity people away ;see for yourself:
Excuse me, but that is a statement that you need to clarify, because I can't for the life of me make sense of it.
You said, "Black individuals are manipulated and short changed into believing the lottery is fair and and honest".
Please explain how state lotteries are able to pick out the black folks and make them believe the lottery is "fair and honest", but somehow all the white folks and other races are informed that it is a crooked enterprise.
I thought this was a poor vs. rich thing anyway, not a black/white thing.
The odd thing is that according to the lottery, it IS a fair and honest activity. So black people ... or ANYBODY for that matter ... would be correct in believing it is fair -- not "manupulated" as you say.
I just can't stand statements like yours that make everything a conspiracy against a certain race, or social status, or gender, or religion, or whatever. Has it occured to you that MOST people don't win jackpots?
Now, if you want to be upset at computerized drawings as a means to manipulate, then I'm with you on that. But that targets ALL players, not just the black players or the poor players, or whatever. It's unfair for EVERYBODY.
If you stop thinking everything is a conspiracy, you'll live a happier life.
If CBS wanted to allege anyone they should have went after state and federal government for adopting the lottery in the first place, and the reasons why states took over the numbers racket from the bookies.
oops i know why because it's a cash cow and the state and federal government couldn't figure out how to make extra money for this country so the opted for a sideline affair gambling. Siteing many different reasons benefiting the old, schools, teachers, fire departments, police dept, library's, stadium authority and every other general service in state and federal government to help offset taxes.
Yet even with the lottery in place in many states taxes still go up almost on a yearly basis. Why states don't divide their scratch games into several groups and or sell scratch games to generate money for their specific deficits behooves me.
People play the lottery because it's their for them to play and they advertise the dream of possible independent wealth. Who in their right mind would pass up a chance for that
Todd this is your sand-box ..not mine ;
.and I had the immpression I could speaak my mind since I have read articles supporting my claims;
first I like State run lotterys's because that way it can be held accountable by the people and law enforcement; I want the state to continue lottery games ..but to disconnect them selves from corporate interest and insttutions like GETEC ;
I f a lottery needs a ticket -machine BUY them * dont lease 80,000 of them ;
have all draws overseen by the state police simular to Pennsy. lottery ; not KGMB ;
this way the lottery is fair and above board ....then disasters like Tenn. lottery would never happen;
report the amount of income the lottery makes from sales of each game daily not yearly
from the reports I see the largest payout in NY history was 12 million dollars but that was no where near the proffit made that day on the pick3 and 4 sales alone;
government and lottery's need to be more transparent in their operations !!!!
I don't expect you to believe Blacks or loww income consumers are targeted more unfairly than middle class or upperclass citizens ,but its true ;
the mom and Pops stores in low-income neighborhood are selling lottery tickets and
the amount of large winners who purchace lotto/instant tickets never win or
are far below national trends VS those same games sold in higher income neighborhoods or near the Govenors residence and Board members who over see the state run lottery ;
I hope I have cleared up this confusion , but my beliefs are mine and are not the same as everyone eleses .....the lottery is as only good as the citizens who Administer the system:
It doesn't matter whose sand-box this is. We both have equal abiltiy to speak our minds. You said your opinion, and I said mine.
Don't get upset and start implying you are being "silenced" or anything just because I put up a good argument.
I never said that there is no corruption at state lotteries. That would be pretty dumb if I did, considering the number of corruption stories I've published here in the past.
I said that I think the statement that "blacks are being manipulated" is not only wrong, but insulting. Also, the new article mentions POOR PEOPLE, NOT RACE. The amount of money you have is not a race issue, and I'm not about to make it one.
I have no idea where you get your statistics from, because I don't think you're using any. The actual statistics of winning ticket distribution consistently show that there is no bias against any particular geographic or socio-economic areas. It is completely dependent upon the number of tickets bought in the area.
Look, I am just voicing my opinions and I am trying to give you the benefit of my experience.
I have been keeping abreast of the lottery industry every single day for the past 8 years, as a result of running this site. Of course I have gained a lot of knowledge over that period. It only makes sense!
You are 100% entitled to your own opinion, and you can voice it with the same enthusiasm that I voice mine.
I am posting my opinions because:
I do not post my opinions in order to censor people. If I wanted to do that I'd erase your post. I don't censor opinions, only spam ads. If you agree or disagree, post away!
Lastly, when I readily spout facts and statistics, there is always a segment of people who start saying that I work for a lottery, or that I'm in cahoots with them.
So I will say proactively that nothing could be farther from the truth. I have never worked for or with a lottery. My opinions are my own. My facts and statistics are based upon my own research.
i didnt like State Rep. Garnett Coleman comparing the lottery to drug dealers. in my opinion there is no comparison between selling illegal drugs and lottery tickets.
said that I think the statement that "blacks are being manipulated" is not only wrong, but insulting. Also, the new article mentions POOR PEOPLE, NOT RACE. The amount of money you have is not a race issue, and I'm not about to make it one.
I have no idea where you get your statistics from, because I don't think you're using any. The actual statistics of winning ticket distribution consistently show that there is no bias against any particular geographic or socio-economic areas. It is completely dependent upon the number of tickets bought in the area.
WeLL I was infering that large chain stores and spermarkets with multiple locations who sell lottery tickets have larger winners with bigger payoffs than in small corner stores: These chain stores are also in the malls and plazzas in middle class america quite different than your foriegn nationals who own the vast number of mom and pop conner markets; When these stores sell lottery tickets ,this includes lotto,cash5 and&&instant tickets , their winngs are no where near the huge giveback they are in the larger chain stores;
welfare recipients play lottery in hopes of buying food and moving to a better life after a small windfall this does not happen so they keep trying and trying ...( how can the lottery target blacks and hispanics and not other races /
easy use .... corporate Phsychlologcal conditioning : Heck even Freud had no idea what can be the unconditioned responce of people with the right advertisement and media we are Blitzed with today ;
More »
Everybody I know that plays numbers are not poor, uneducated, or a so-called minority. Remember what CBS stands for: Conspiratorial Broadcasting System.
They maybe #3 of the big three, but the big three are not what they used to be. They are actually much smaller if you compare by viewer shares. Hint: Look at Arbitron or Nielson.
U will never "C" an
uhahhhhduuah an
ah<<<"ATTACK"
on the great state of TN.........from abc, cbs, nbc or cnn for.....
improper management ..........of the LOTTERY .........."ITSELF"!!
because, they are not in the business to INFORM the PUBLIC !!
the Lottery Post is about all the INFO
on the what's going on
"NOW" new's
(U or most people gona "GET")
LOL>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> some of U need a ....>>>JACKPOT!
It's not necessary to play the race card. People of all walks of life play the lottery and in every city and county where lotteries are sold. Winners come from many state areas also. A ticket holder no mater whom has the same chance of winning as every other ticket holder.
I have heard people say no one in Baltimore city has ever won the lottery. This is not a true statement there have been winners they just didn't go public about their win.
Sometimes, I am not sure which fascinates me the most; The belief that a completely random event can be controlled Or The belief that a completely random event targets a given segment of society and/or individual I do not know about other people and will not bother to post statistics I neither know nor understand. I do know I play based upon my personal interest and thoughts regarding the various games that are available. On occasions, on a gut feel that sometimes wins like the $500 scratch-off that I won last week which I used to put new tires on my vehicle.
Now I need that gut feel again because I just wrecked my car and could definitely use a decent size win again.
Oh my.... now you're saying that there is some deep-rooted psychology behind the lottery and that they "choose" the winning stores because middle-class people play there.
You're also making blanket statements that are just untrue. Can you please show me a real statistic that shows supermarkets sell more winning tickets than mom & pop stores? Not a statistic that you claim is real, but actually show the numbers and source.
The only way supermarkets would sell more winning tickets is if they SOLD more tickets than mom & pop stores.
So you tell me: if supermarkets happened to sell more lottery tickets than mom & pop stores, should they or should they not produce more winners?
It sounds to me like you are advocating that the lottery manipulate the winning tickets so that an unfair number of winning tickets are sold in mom & pop stores -- that they should do it because some people happen to "need" the money more than other people.
The lottery is entertainment, not an income source. If the lottery did what you suggest it would not be in existence anymore because people would stop playing. In fact, we already have a system in place like you're suggesting: it's called "taxes".
"WeLL I was infering that large chain stores and spermarkets with multiple locations who sell lottery tickets have larger winners with bigger payoffs than in small corner stores:"
I was in one of those large chain convenience type stores early this morning in a very small town and saw a sign above the lottery machine saying that a $232,000 Rolling Cash winner was sold at that store. There is also a competing large chain convenience type store on the other side of town and a Mega Million jackpot ticket was sold at one of the chains other stores in another city a couple of years ago. Is the state lottery commission taking turns distributing large winners among large chain convenience type stores and neglecting stores part of your conspiracy theory?
"These chain stores are also in the malls and plazzas in middle class america quite different than your foriegn nationals who own the vast number of mom and pop conner markets; When these stores sell lottery tickets ,this includes lotto,cash5 and&&instant tickets , their winngs are no where near the huge giveback they are in the larger chain stores;"
The large chains franchise their stores so it's a fact many of them become "mom and pop's" type stores. Do you have any documented proof these huge givebacks don't go to Smith's, Jones', or Brown's Food Mart or are you just guessing?
Unless you have the facts or statistic to prove "welfare recipients play lottery in hopes of buying food " or any other reason to play lottery games that is exclusive to only "welfare recipients", you ought to add "in my opinion" to blanket statements.
"how can the lottery target blacks and hispanics and not other races"
Lotteries offer games of chance though there is a degree of hypocrisy that this form of gambling is somehow different because its profits go to education and not to stock holders of large gaming groups. I can patiently wait until you offer any proof the games of chance offered by the state lotteries are the exclusive domains of "blacks and hispanics and not other races".
"I am not saying dont play I say we can all be targeted the media artical only pointed out the poor ....I am sure we are all targets and sheep for the slaughter"
Didn't know that; I thought I was playing lottery games because it's fun spending a couple of bucks and taking a chance of winning hundreds and possibly millions of dollars. Should I start buying my tickets in a large chain store where, in your opinion all the jackpots are sold, or should I continue to buy my tickets at the other place where I can flirt with that cute little clerk?
Since I usually pick my own numbers does the lottery monitor my play and make it impossible for me to win as part of your huge conspiracy?
"It sounds to me like you are advocating that the lottery manipulate the winning tickets so that an unfair number of winning tickets are sold in mom & pop stores -- that they should do it because some people happen to "need" the money more than other people."
Public assistance comes from tax dollars and if it's true that mostly welfare recipients play lottery games and the lottery commissions can determine which store sells the most winners, wouldn't it make more sense to let those welfare recipients win so they are no longer a tax burden?
It would be fun reading all the feedback if CBS ever does an exposé on church run Bingo games.
well I would like to repeate something I said before ;PEOPLE ONLY SEE WHAT THEY WANT TO SEE ......
In reading the replys to this artical several people saw my rely was about race while others said I was advocating for the poor to win in mom and pop neighborhoods so they could buy food ....others sugguested I provide statistics to classified information while providing none of their own proff that my information was incorrect ; One person saw the large banners stating someone won a huge pile of money at this store and he saw it at several larger chain stores&&Funny people only see the forest and no trees ;
I have never walked into a small mom and pop store and saw a winning banner in my life in any black/hispanic community and I have been to many accross america;
I want people to win but the distribution of winners for instant tickets needs more over sight&&&sure all lottery jackpot games are hard but when it comes to instant tickets and quick pick games there is no comparrison middle class whites get more ;
Think , lotteys make billions per week .....how they sell games for money ...guess who wins regardless ........no I dont trust the lottery or any corporate entriprise , because MONEY does strange things to people...and then there is GREED AND ENVY who can stop it ????
I GUESS YOU DON'T LOOK VERY HARD.
I have seen lots of banners in mom & pop stores. I am even friends with a mom & pop store owner (owns 2 stores) who had a Mega Millions jackpot winner in her store, and they have an enormous banner in the window.
Rise up out of your own line of vision to comprehend that your experiences aren't necessarily indicative of reality!
There is a reason that people are trying to explain to you these things.
They want you to understand that there is a much larger, happier world out there in which the lottery is not engaging in a conspiracy against certain groups of people!
Thank "U"......Todd!
"YOU".....................yes >>>>>>>>>>>>"YOU"
should be honest with all the member's >>>>>>>on Lottery POST!
"PLEASE" tell us what school of journalism..............you gradulated?
............HAVARD, YALE, maby Dartmouth ????????????????????????
YOU appear to "know"
how to report the ^^ "news" ....better/d-network
"WE" L@@K forward to Ceen'n U on the TLC soon!!
Check out this mom and pop store:
https://blogs.lotterypost.com/jarasan/2007/06/dc-lotterys-best-tenley-market.htm
All we need is a PowerBall jackpot, they've hit everything else.
I look very well thank you but get the picture reality starts with questioning authority.
Rise up out of your own line of vision to comprehend that your experiences aren't necessarily indicative of reality!
Wow Todd , if I didn't know better I swear you were insulting me and saying I had lost my mind , seeing that my personal experiences were not indicative of reality ???
In the larger cities real mom and pop stores are run by foriegn nationals with competition
some times less than a block away and within 3 -5 block radius there is a huge supermarkets : thats competition and yyet its suported the neighborhoods, Ii dont frankly care if people chose to ignor the facts and chose to believe the lie&
The facts speak for themselves , do you see millionairs running around in low income neighborhoods ,...No .........me either ....did they buy a winning ticket at Moms OR CHANG LEE S MARKET and become wealthy or set for life ....No ......
case closed
"I have never walked into a small mom and pop store and saw a winning banner in my life in any black/hispanic community and I have been to many accross america; "
Every time somebody makes this type of statement, I feel compelled to look for what they didn't see but I guess I'm lucky this time because I can't find "black/hispanic community" on my map. Maybe you could elaborate on why you go into so many black/hispanic mom and pop stores across America. Where can I find one in NE Ohio?
"when it comes to instant tickets and quick pick games there is no comparrison middle class whites get more "
I suppose asking for any kind of data to back that up is out of the question?
well if you stop chasing people with a burning cross and chains in the other hand and..... loose the white robe ...then some nice black lottery player will show you his neighborhood:
You may have the case closed, but I haven't begun to understand what case is closed!
We obviously disagree about a lot of stuff, so let's agree to disagree.
I would love to understand your bottom line about what you believe the lottery is doing.
What is the lottery's role in all of this? If you could please explain it in as simple terms as possible, that would help me, because sometimes I'm a little slow.
Which part of the whole thing do they manipulate? Do they change the lottery results to make sure a particular store wins? Or is it something else?
There are other people who have similar thoughts to yours, so although you don't speak for all of them, maybe you could shed some light.
"some times less than a block away and within 3 -5 block radius there is a huge supermarkets : thats competition and yyet its suported the neighborhoods, Ii dont frankly care if people chose to ignor the facts and chose to believe the lie&"
Within about the same radius there is a supermarket, 2 gas stations with food marts, a convenient store and 2 drive-thru's in my neighborhood; and they all sell lottery tickets. Maybe people buy tickets when they buy their groceries, gas, bread and milk, or beer, but there are no facts supporting any one these stores will sell more large prize winning tickets.
"The facts speak for themselves"
Discussing the facts would be a change of pace from your opinions of mom and pop stores across America.
Well speaking as an African-American here in NC(charlotte) I don't see the lottery targeting any specific race, they even run messages encouraging people to play responsibly. And we do have minority's here that have hit it big. there was a jackpot winner from charlotte who bought his ticket in SC before Nc offered the lottery and he was an african-american(won $80 million) and just last year a correctional guard from Raleigh(African-American female) won $22 Million in the power-ball so let's get off the race kick it all comes down to just how lucky you are to win the "GREEN"
first question:
I would love to understand your bottom line about what you believe the lottery is doing.
What is the lottery's role in all of this? If you could please explain it in as simple terms as possible, that would help me, because sometimes I'm a little slow"
First Goal of the lottery is to raise revenue ,just who gets the Bulk of that revenue is questionable and classifyed information:
How they retain a steady winning streak ( here in NY) is beyound me but suggest manipulation of the draw machines by weighted balls and player habits since tracking players bets are a by-product of computer sysyems ; this is where I have my issue with GETEC and outfits simmular to them; GETC first coustmers were cassino's and video slot machines -these are computer controled and fiber optic upgraded ; which means if they downloded 30 Gb it would take less than 3 hours but if it were a 56K line ( plain old telephone line ) it would take a month to download 30Gb. .......with high tech software and equipment throw in some Professional Advertisement and a paid consultant psychiatrist , would insure a high yeild proffit on running a lottery: Dont look at just the lottery look at those behind the scen like KGMG and GETEC here all involved , they all have an interest we think just as you suggest .... its fair...they wouldn't cheat ...ok ??/
and prying on little small mom and pops stores make up 50% of retailers in the system , they are the cash cow ;
Consider a paradox outlined by London School of Economics economist Richard Lay¿ard in Happiness (Penguin, 2005), in which he shows that we are no happier even though average incomes have more than doubled since 1950 and "we have more food, more clothes, more cars, bigger houses, more central heating, more foreign holidays, a shorter working week, nicer work and, above all, better health." Once average annual income is above $20,000 a head, higher pay brings no greater happiness. Why? One, our genes account for roughly half of our predisposition to be happy or unhappy, and two, our wants are relative to what other people have, not to some absolute measure.
Happiness is better equated with satisfaction than pleasure, says Emory University psychiatrist Gregory Berns in Satisfaction (Henry Holt, 2005), because the pursuit of pleasure lands us on a never-ending hedonic treadmill that paradoxically leads to misery. "Satisfaction is an emotion that captures the uniquely human need to impart meaning to one's activities," Berns concludes. "While you might find pleasure by happenstance--winning the lottery, possessing the genes for a sunny temperament, or having the luck not to live in poverty--satisfaction can arise only by the conscious decision to do something. And this makes all the difference in the world, because it is only your own actions for which you may take responsibility and credit."
I think that sometimes in our haste to defend the blindness of our assumptions we forget to see the truth that stands before us
At least that is what I think...but I have been wrong before.
That is a nice quote. I think we're all guilty of that at one time or another. Some more than others.
computerhead723, it doesn't sound like there is anything the lottery could do to make you feel they are conducting fair drawings. New York has real ball drawings, conducted on live TV, and to which they allow witnesses. I can't think of anything else they can do to be open and transparent in their drawing process, to show that nothing underhanded is taking place.
If you REALLY feel it is unfair, why not go and witness a live drawing? You can ask them questions and see the whole process for yourself.
The problem is that I am picking up a strong vibe that there is absolutely nothing on this Earth the lottery could do to convince you it's fair, other than forcing certain stores and/or people to win.
your right , under the current lottery operatons there is no way to convince me ;
Put the state police at each of the drawings and have the state appoint an attorney general to oversee the legal contracts which go on everyday behind closed doors ;
inspect the ball machines and the balls themselves everyday put that live and on TV ;
give back money to the community/ players that put money into the process.... in other words give the players a better shot at winning&&Some players expect to loose, not me I expect the sysyem to lose sometime ,... but not the lottery their winning streek continues unchecked and unchanged because to think otherwise is downright foolish oh yaH and playing a RACE CARD......... Lets all be obedient and belive nothing is going on xxx
PART 2 IN RE. ASSULT ON ME AND MY INFORMATION&
THE FOLLOWING IS THE PAYOUT CHART FOR THE NY LOTTERY PICK 4 GAME ONLY it will only say how much is won but I and millions like me play everyday {aprox,. 1.4 Billion is spent on lottery operations per week: pleas deduct this from a billion p and notice the dates ;
thats a nice store ...never seen it when I lived in DC ;
but the poulation is who ?/
and look at the income DC lottery is generating from those sales?????????
the lottery machines is just plain over-kill :
So .... the lottery should not be making money? I don't think you've thought that one through. In every form of gambling, the house always makes a profit. That keeps the gambling enterprise alive.
All those things you mentioned about verify this, verify that, are already done. In fact, in your state (NY) the lottery is tightly controlled by the legislature.
In other states it is more of an independent "quasi-government" organization, but in New York -- the state you're talking about -- all those things are done already.
But I'm sure in whatever manner they do the verification does not live up to your high standards.
As I mentioned earlier, the lottery is not a charity, and not a source of income. It is entertainment. If you are playing because you need money, then you should not play, because that is not its purpose, and the odds are that you will lose money, not gain money.
In fact, gambling in any way in order to get money for basic necessities is a form of a gambling problem, because gambling -- by its very definition -- is entertainment, and all money wagered should be money you can afford to lose. Think of it like buying a lottery ticket instead of going to the movies.
If you're playing because you can afford a few bucks to play, and you're dreaming of what a huge jackpot would mean to you, then you're right in the zone.
On the other hand, if you are waiting impatiently for the jackpot you're supposed to get (for "your turn" to come), you should not play. Because only a small fraction of players win a jackpot. You should not expect to win, because according to the odds, you probably won't.
Lastly, I hope that "race card" comment was not directed at me, because I don't do that. i keep trying to bring the discussion back to social status, and you keep forcing it into a race issue.
Clark Gable owned a casino and caught a lot of heat not only from his family (teenage son mostly) but from a few people who lost. There was a lady who dragged her husband to his house and insulted his wife saying they stole their money. He was an honest bookie and had earned respect and was loved. He even gave money back to a women who had lost her wedding ring.
But what I found interesting about the movie was when he gave the stats of gambling in America in rebuke to his son who had a problem with his father being the owner of a gambling house.
I was shocked at the number of dice that were bought, decks of cards, (he rattled off the stats) how much money was bet and made on the horses, (billions) and the fact that horse races was a part of the stock market, and that half in America gambled. He said that people even gambled on when they were going to die.&
I was like OMG it was only 1949 and gambling was that big, even though I thought I knew the history of gambling in America. I mean that was one of the reasons the river boat gambling was started because they were thrown out of town much earlier. And those that didn't leave had to shoot it out. (History Channel) So we've come a long way. It was the stats in 1949 at that time that amazed me.
I thought I'd share that - I know it's Hollywood but if you ever run across the movie on TCM - it's worth a watch.
p.s. Anybody interested in knowing about pick3 lottery in the African America community BEFORE state run lotteries when the runner came to your house and you placed a nickel bet, I reccommend the book called "Daddy was a Number Runner" by Louise Meriwerther. When I read it I got it from the Library. It's dated as well.
whats with everyone placeing the Race Card - on me for it was in the news - article- and God forbid I aggreed with the- news agency: lets see what did they say:????(like I said- people see what they- want- to see :)
CBS said ;
"It's a shift of the cost of government onto people who can least afford it," says State Rep. Garnett Coleman, who has represented this neighborhood for 17 years. "Is a drug dealer responsible when they sell to the person?" Coleman asks. "If somebody says, 'yeah,' then the state is responsible for hooking the people on the gaming, on the lottery."
"You're selling hope," says Rob Kohler, who worked 12 years for the Texas Lottery and is now a private consultant in Austin. It was his analysis of lottery sales data that opened Coleman's eyes, revealing who the majority of heavy players are.
"It's coming from the folks, you know, high minority, low education, and low income," Kohler says. "That can least afford to play the game."
Texas lottery spokesman Bobby Heith does not dispute the data. "The data is what it is. We don't target groups of people," Heith says.
In Texas, Blacks and Hispanics outspend Whites nearly two to one on lottery tickets. According to a 2005 Texas Tech demographic survey commissioned by the lottery, blacks in Texas spend $109 a month on lottery tickets, Hispanics spend $102, and whites spend $55.
"We put out Hispanic ads mainly because for Spanish speaking people. I mean, it's good business," Heith says. "We don't want to prey on anybody. We're here to run a business for the state."
You can't trust the lottery. Oh I suppose if you get the six winning numbers on a single line you will no doubt collect, but this is not an agency of government that's looking out for you.
When they say "Play Responsibly" they're just warding off complaints from critics like beer companies advising us to drink responsibly, don't sue us it isn't our fault you and our product combined to cause disaster we tried to warn you really we did honest.
Poor people play the lottery because that's where the money is. What other possible dollar investment can pay off in tens of thousands to millions of dollars.
There aren't a lot of investment oppertunities for poor people. They'd be better off stockpiling food before the next price increase then putting their money in the bank at today's interest rates.
The lottery targets people who have needs they can't scratch, pretty things cost a pretty penny. When you have nothing you want everything. Once you have most things and enough money your desire to win lotto shrinks so of course people who are doing just fine play less lotto.
In the same sense, high priced scratch-offs are going to sell better where customers have the extra money to take a chance on them. The poor will and should limit their play to low cost tickets until they win and can play on the state's money. Dollar scratch-off tickets usually pay in the hundreds or thousands, not millions so poor communities won't have big scratch-off prizes because the high priced big prize tickets don't sell that well.
That's what I think, who knows I could be right!!! BobP
The population of DC is about 700,000, and this includes about 700,000 people, which is everybody.
Actually I'm kind of confused. I'm wondering why you are comparing where you live to Texas? What the article doesn't say is what the demographics are for the population in Texas. I have a very good feeling that there probably are more Hispanics and Blacks there. If you conduct a study in a state which has more of nationality then of course they should be the ones spending more money. Also if your ever in the Ft. Campbell, Ky Area you will see that most all the mom & pop stores in this area have sold big winners and before TN had lottery there was a black man from the Nashville area who had a co-worker drive up to Oak Grove , Ky and bought him some Powerball tickets. That man won somewhere around 89.3 million dollars and also gave the co-worker something for buying his tickets. Blacks, white, and people from all walks of life win. I don't beleive what you say about where the winners come from with online games but you may have a point with scratch offs. There is a store in Oak Grove, Ky that has sold a lot of Grand prize winners on scratch offs.
just who a re& you refering to as ( iggnorant masses)& and (just&fell of a turnip truck) ;
I
I live in NY- we got the&whole earth here ;
your right , under the current lottery operatons there is no way to convince me ;
Put the state police at each of the drawings and have the state appoint an attorney general to oversee the legal contracts which go on everyday behind closed doors ;
inspect the ball machines and the balls themselves everyday put that live and on TV ;
give back money to the community/ players that put money into the process.... in other words give the players a better shot at winning&&Some players expect to loose, not me I expect the sysyem to lose sometime ,... but not the lottery their winning streek continues unchecked and unchanged because to think otherwise is downright foolish oh yaH and playing a RACE CARD......... Lets all be obedient and belive nothing is going on xxx
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computerhead723,
do you honestly think that by placing State Police at the drawings make them anymore secure than with another firm? The State Police have been shown to be just as crooked. Also why would the state appoint another Attorney General, when they already have one.
The lottery is in business to make money, not give it away. If you want better odds get in a card game and leave the lottery to others who are going to take a chance , even at long odds.
After reading this thread it seems like to me that you're looking for an arguement on your beliefs alone instead of just voicing your opinion for what you think is happening.
I would think if your that dissatisfied with the LOTTERY, you would'nt play it..! Oh, by the way the Lottery does'nt sell hope , they let you decide if you want a piece of the pie and they let YOU make that decision, they're not pressing you to buy ,it's voluntary. Your choice and yours alone.......
I never did like that lady, even when she was hosting the Today show. I may start watching CBS news again when she leaves. Depends on who replaces her. I play the lottery because I enjoy doing it. I do not play my whole pay check. I only pay for a few tickets. I play mostly when the pots are large enough where I could retire on. I still play even when they are not so large, because I could still relax and enjoy the good thinsg of life with my family. Everyone says that is all it is a "Dream", but everyone needs a dream to go on. I know usually only one ticket wins, but if you don't play it, how will you win it? And who knows, I could be that one ticket one day. But knowing my luck, I would probably have a heart attack and die, before I could even really spend and enjoy any of it.
I agree CBS's story is completely skewed, and it leaves out some important facts about lottery sales in general. IGWB magazine, (International Gaming and Wagering Business), recently published information about lottery business worldwide, and it indicated that sales of number-based games like Pick 3,4,5,6 etc have been steadily slipping for years, and are offset by the more rapid growth in sales of instant scratch games. When I'm in convenience stores, or grocery stores, that's more of what I see being bought and cashed than any lottery games.
Conspiracy theories and race riots aside, those COMMERCIALS for the Lottery (and the Casinos) are annoying!!! Maybe if they cut the advertising budget they'd have more to give back to players and that would increase interest in playing!
Foot traffic in larger stores provides greater exposure and precipitates more ticket sales which increases likelihood but doesn't guarantee more winners. More bodies through the door, more sales of all kinds.
Second, in order to succeed/win someone must have a winning mindset, not just a desire or need to win.& Anyone who saw the movie "The Secret" viewable on the web and checked out the many spinoff sites for "Law of Attraction" discovers a winning mindset has no conspiratorial bias ..... anyone anywhere can cultivate it through practice and belief they can succeed/win. Oprah seems to agree so much she had a show about it.