I used to play the draw games but like someone said earlier, your chances with that are MUCH worse than buying scratch offs. Lady in front of me at Publix the other day said she won Fantasy 5 all to herself one time-good for her! All I can manage to get are 2 numbers, at the most, ever. I have started playing Pick 3 and about 5 days came close but was off by one number numerous times. One thing's for sure can't compare to that $500 Gold Rush I found 2 days ago!
I feel like this: some people gamble, some don't. Some do better at the draw games, some better at the horse/dog track. Some play card games and win big that way, dominoes, etc. Bingo used to be another of my favorites and when I move back to AL (where unfortunantely there is no lottery), I will most likely take up playing that. But for now I love the scratch offs. Even if you win only $40 or $50, how long would you have to work at a minimum wage job just to make that?
My problem is when I win big, I haven't learned to walk away. I have to see what's on the next ticket. I'm an impulse buyer and that's bad, as I found out when I spend back about $330 of the $500 "ticket chasing". Still depressed to this day about it but hopefully it'll come back to me and give me another chance.
I really wish someone would tell me the story again about Big Jim and his strategy of walking into a store, doing a "one and done" and leaving. How often per week did he do this? I have got to work extremely hard on my impulsiveness. It's very likely I'll never win another $500 (moving back home in a few months) but maybe Lady Luck will give me another chance to learn not to ever do that again. Here's to hoping :)