Do some people just play the lottery occasionally but still feel they are in the game?Prev Topic Next Topic

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shyguitar

United States
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February 1, 2012
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Nov 6, 2013, 8:40 am

Hello,

Just wondered about people's thoughts about those who play the lottery only occasionally? I've mentioned many times that I have cut way back on my lottery playing and have continued to do so. It's been about 6 weeks since I last bought a scratch off ticket and I still have that ticket at home unscratched (will eventually scratch it). I'm trying to get away from buying scratch tickets since it's nearly impossible to be at the right place at the right time to win anything decent. I do still buy the PB with the powerplay and since the new matrix change on MM still play it but will play it less. It's been a great feeling being able to go into any store now and not even look at the scratch offs. Normally whenever new scratch off tickets for my state would be announced I would immediately go and buy them. A few weeks ago we had the new Holiday tickets come out in my state and I had no desire to buy any. I also looked at the prizes on the website and there are not many good prizes to begin with. When I do play now it's a draw ticket every now and then. I still think about the lottery but I've just become more realistic about spending money on the lottery when more than likely my jackpot win is not going to happen. Often I will read stories of people who have won on the PB or MM with just buying one ticket and that's what I'm doing, just not playing each draw. Since I figure the lottery is going to be around for awhile then even if you go months without playing it will not make a difference. Since the lottery is so random I really don't think that it matters if someone has played faithfully for 30 years or just occasionally play. Now that I have worked on my lottery habit my next thing to tackle is my love of junk food (I need to lose some pounds). Would like to hear thoughts on occasionally playing.
JoshUK

London
United Kingdom
Member #140,678
March 24, 2013
589 Posts
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Nov 6, 2013, 8:45 am

Quote: Originally posted by shyguitar on Nov 6, 2013
Hello,

Just wondered about people's thoughts about those who play the lottery only occasionally? I've mentioned many times that I have cut way back on my lottery playing and have continued to do so. It's been about 6 weeks since I last bought a scratch off ticket and I still have that ticket at home unscratched (will eventually scratch it). I'm trying to get away from buying scratch tickets since it's nearly impossible to be at the right place at the right time to win anything decent. I do still buy the PB with the powerplay and since the new matrix change on MM still play it but will play it less. It's been a great feeling being able to go into any store now and not even look at the scratch offs. Normally whenever new scratch off tickets for my state would be announced I would immediately go and buy them. A few weeks ago we had the new Holiday tickets come out in my state and I had no desire to buy any. I also looked at the prizes on the website and there are not many good prizes to begin with. When I do play now it's a draw ticket every now and then. I still think about the lottery but I've just become more realistic about spending money on the lottery when more than likely my jackpot win is not going to happen. Often I will read stories of people who have won on the PB or MM with just buying one ticket and that's what I'm doing, just not playing each draw. Since I figure the lottery is going to be around for awhile then even if you go months without playing it will not make a difference. Since the lottery is so random I really don't think that it matters if someone has played faithfully for 30 years or just occasionally play. Now that I have worked on my lottery habit my next thing to tackle is my love of junk food (I need to lose some pounds). Would like to hear thoughts on occasionally playing.

This pretty much explains how I play, I only really play now when the JP is big and only buy one or two lines now for the draw and if my time comes when I hit it then great if it don't well I had a chance to hit it and lost fair and square.

I normally play like once every 2-3 weeks unless the JP is big and it rolls then I just play it till it's won

£2.50 and a dream!
shyguitar

United States
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February 1, 2012
530 Posts
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Nov 6, 2013, 8:51 am

Quote: Originally posted by JoshUK on Nov 6, 2013
This pretty much explains how I play, I only really play now when the JP is big and only buy one or two lines now for the draw and if my time comes when I hit it then great if it don't well I had a chance to hit it and lost fair and square.

I normally play like once every 2-3 weeks unless the JP is big and it rolls then I just play it till it's won

Hi JoshUK,

Yes we do play similarly. It's a nice feeling to keep some money in my pocket and not have that letdown when I lose. Now when I lose on a draw game it's only a few dollars at a pop.
JoshUK

London
United Kingdom
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March 24, 2013
589 Posts
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Nov 6, 2013, 8:58 am

Yeah, much easier on the pockets. I don't play scratchers or anything like that either so just the Euro Millions draw for me.

£2.50 and a dream!
billionaire2bee

United States
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July 25, 2012
1,636 Posts
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Nov 6, 2013, 11:44 am

Quote: Originally posted by shyguitar on Nov 6, 2013
Hello,

Just wondered about people's thoughts about those who play the lottery only occasionally? I've mentioned many times that I have cut way back on my lottery playing and have continued to do so. It's been about 6 weeks since I last bought a scratch off ticket and I still have that ticket at home unscratched (will eventually scratch it). I'm trying to get away from buying scratch tickets since it's nearly impossible to be at the right place at the right time to win anything decent. I do still buy the PB with the powerplay and since the new matrix change on MM still play it but will play it less. It's been a great feeling being able to go into any store now and not even look at the scratch offs. Normally whenever new scratch off tickets for my state would be announced I would immediately go and buy them. A few weeks ago we had the new Holiday tickets come out in my state and I had no desire to buy any. I also looked at the prizes on the website and there are not many good prizes to begin with. When I do play now it's a draw ticket every now and then. I still think about the lottery but I've just become more realistic about spending money on the lottery when more than likely my jackpot win is not going to happen. Often I will read stories of people who have won on the PB or MM with just buying one ticket and that's what I'm doing, just not playing each draw. Since I figure the lottery is going to be around for awhile then even if you go months without playing it will not make a difference. Since the lottery is so random I really don't think that it matters if someone has played faithfully for 30 years or just occasionally play. Now that I have worked on my lottery habit my next thing to tackle is my love of junk food (I need to lose some pounds). Would like to hear thoughts on occasionally playing.

Ask that guy that just won 400 million in SC....he only played on occasion and won, just because he decided to go out and get hot dog buns LOL
SLOYAROLE

United States
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August 20, 2011
30 Posts
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Nov 6, 2013, 10:50 pm

My year-to-date lottery spending is=$34... Total wins=$9... Net YTD Loss=$25

This is from PB and MM tickets. I don't buy scratchers...EVER. I live in metro Nashville area.

This State's draw games and scratchers are garbage. I stopped playing MM after the new matrix change.

I'm the textbook example of an occasional player.
psykomo

United States
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May 30, 2004
5,289 Posts
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Nov 6, 2013, 11:05 pm

Quote: Originally posted by SLOYAROLE on Nov 6, 2013
My year-to-date lottery spending is=$34... Total wins=$9... Net YTD Loss=$25

This is from PB and MM tickets. I don't buy scratchers...EVER. I live in metro Nashville area.

This State's draw games and scratchers are garbage. I stopped playing MM after the new matrix change.

I'm the textbook example of an occasional player.

ole:

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Move It On Over>>>>>>>>B>HERE>>>>>>>almost^^^^^year>END>>>>>$

FOLK's need 2 sign^UP>>>>4DJ-Pot>>>>>>>HERE@^^^^>Lottery Post>>$$$
noise-gate

* In hot pursuit of $ *

White Shores- California
United States
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December 12, 2012
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Nov 7, 2013, 12:14 am

If you purchase a lottery ticket you ARE in the game.It matters not whether you play often or seldom- you hold a " possible" winning ticket and that puts you right in the middle of the action.
shyguitar

United States
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February 1, 2012
530 Posts
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Nov 7, 2013, 8:07 am

Quote: Originally posted by billionaire2bee on Nov 6, 2013
Ask that guy that just won 400 million in SC....he only played on occasion and won, just because he decided to go out and get hot dog buns LOL

Hi billionaire2bee,

Yes I heard about that guy who only played on occasion and won the big one. Often times it does seem to be people who are not regular players who win. So often I will be getting one ticket for a MM or Powerball game and waiting behind people buying tons of scratchers or draw game tickets and have to wonder if they have any success. I really do believe that someone who plays occasionally will have just as much chance to win someday as the person who plays all the time. When it came to scratch tickets I had won more when I started playing less by just buying one ticket than when I would chase tickets. Also it didn't seem to make much of a difference if I bought more than one PB or MM ticket at a time since the odds are so impossible that even if someone spent 100 dollars there odds of winning the big one would still be somewhat the same as someone who only bought one ticket.
shyguitar

United States
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February 1, 2012
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Nov 7, 2013, 8:20 am

Quote: Originally posted by SLOYAROLE on Nov 6, 2013
My year-to-date lottery spending is=$34... Total wins=$9... Net YTD Loss=$25

This is from PB and MM tickets. I don't buy scratchers...EVER. I live in metro Nashville area.

This State's draw games and scratchers are garbage. I stopped playing MM after the new matrix change.

I'm the textbook example of an occasional player.

Hi Sloyarole,

You seem to be a smart player. I'm not nearly as good as you are with the low spending of just your 34 dollars for this year that you spent. You are wise to not buy scratchers if your scratch tickets are lousy. I agree about the new matrix on MM being a reason not to play for some people. I was furious when I learned the numbers were going up to 75. I never got more than 2 numbers correct and that was out of 56 numbers or something like that. MM is more like Keno now and Keno is impossible to win big money on. Your statement about being an example of an occasional player is correct. I've really just started to change my way of thinking about the lottery and feel that playing way less is the way to be for me. In the past I would leave work and stop at the gas station near me to buy a PB or MM ticket and now it's down to every few weeks. Good luck with your playing strategy.
shyguitar

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February 1, 2012
530 Posts
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Nov 7, 2013, 8:37 am

Quote: Originally posted by noise-gate on Nov 7, 2013
If you purchase a lottery ticket you ARE in the game.It matters not whether you play often or seldom- you hold a " possible" winning ticket and that puts you right in the middle of the action.

Hi noise-gate,

I totally agree with you about being in the game just by buying a ticket. That's one of the reasons that I've been playing far less. By not completely stopping playing the lottery I still feel like the less times I play do still keep me in the game. I use to stop off at my local gas station after work on MM and PB days. Now it's a great feeling to go weeks without playing and knowing that the lottery games will always be there and therefore will have a chance the next time I play.
SLOYAROLE

United States
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August 20, 2011
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Nov 7, 2013, 3:39 pm

Quote: Originally posted by shyguitar on Nov 7, 2013
Hi Sloyarole,

You seem to be a smart player. I'm not nearly as good as you are with the low spending of just your 34 dollars for this year that you spent. You are wise to not buy scratchers if your scratch tickets are lousy. I agree about the new matrix on MM being a reason not to play for some people. I was furious when I learned the numbers were going up to 75. I never got more than 2 numbers correct and that was out of 56 numbers or something like that. MM is more like Keno now and Keno is impossible to win big money on. Your statement about being an example of an occasional player is correct. I've really just started to change my way of thinking about the lottery and feel that playing way less is the way to be for me. In the past I would leave work and stop at the gas station near me to buy a PB or MM ticket and now it's down to every few weeks. Good luck with your playing strategy.

Thanks for the compliment, shyguitar. However, I'm far from wise. I just live on a reasonable budget as like most people. I'm a family man but like anyone else, I have various hobbies and interests that could easily bankrupt me if I'm not careful. I look at playing PB/MM as bottom-of-the-list-things-to-do-with-disposable-income.

I've purchased my share of scratch tickets and I can tell you, "free ticket" is best it's ever turned-out for me. I've have a set of numbers I play for the draw games and they've never fell. I figure buying a PB/MM ticket here and there is good enough. My odds are 1:250,000,000 whether I buy 1 ticket or 100 so I tend to keep my money in my pocket moreso than not.

You summed it up how I feel about Mega Millions: I was furious when I learned the numbers were going up to 75. I never got more than 2 numbers correct and that was out of 56 numbers or something like that.
rdgrnr

100

The Hall Of The Mountain Kings Tennessee
United States
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April 28, 2009
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Nov 7, 2013, 6:46 pm

Your good luck is like the tide.

It ebbs and flows.

But your good luck ebbs and flows at times of it's own choosing.

And it don't make no nevermind to the tide if you're there to get wet or not.

If you're there when it flows -- you're gonna get wet.

And it don't make no nevermind to your good luck if you're there or not.

If you're there when it flows -- you're gonna win.

But only if you have a ticket.

And it don't make no nevermind to your good luck how many lines or what numbers are on your ticket.

Just be there with a ticket when it flows and you'll have just what's needed.

Just remember your good luck has no schedule of arrival or departure.

It comes and goes, ebbs and flows, as it pleases.

It may flow for a day or a few hours or just a few minutes.

But if you ain't there with a ticket when it does...

Well, it don't make no nevermind, cuz you won't even know it came and went.

More details in the book.
shyguitar

United States
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February 1, 2012
530 Posts
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Nov 8, 2013, 7:54 am

Quote: Originally posted by rdgrnr on Nov 7, 2013
Your good luck is like the tide.

It ebbs and flows.

But your good luck ebbs and flows at times of it's own choosing.

And it don't make no nevermind to the tide if you're there to get wet or not.

If you're there when it flows -- you're gonna get wet.

And it don't make no nevermind to your good luck if you're there or not.

If you're there when it flows -- you're gonna win.

But only if you have a ticket.

And it don't make no nevermind to your good luck how many lines or what numbers are on your ticket.

Just be there with a ticket when it flows and you'll have just what's needed.

Just remember your good luck has no schedule of arrival or departure.

It comes and goes, ebbs and flows, as it pleases.

It may flow for a day or a few hours or just a few minutes.

But if you ain't there with a ticket when it does...

Well, it don't make no nevermind, cuz you won't even know it came and went.

More details in the book.

Hi rdgrnr,

I always like to hear what you have to say about things. I like your phrase "your good luck has no schedule of arrival or departure". What a great world it would be if people who played the lottery actually won (yes I know there are a small percentage of people who do win the jackpot). On a separate note I feel like this country is going backwards instead of forwards, lol.
Coin Toss

Zeta Reticuli Star System
United States
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January 17, 2006
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Nov 8, 2013, 7:38 pm

shyguitar,

You're doing fine by playing occassionally.

Granted as rdgrnr said you have to have a ticket to win but in the gambling business a 'degenerate' gambler is considered someone who has to have money riding on a decision. That could be the score of a ball game, a hand of cards, a roll of the dice, a lottery drawing, etc... but they have to be 'in action.'

A really gone degenerate cares more about being in action than winning or losing.

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

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

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Do some people just play the lottery occasionally but still feel they are in the game?Prev TopicNext Topic

Do some people just play the lottery occasionally but still feel they are in the game?Prev Topic Next Topic