A sign that the Cost of Living (Taxes) is too High!

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Yeah it is.  But also, it's the over-population that we see, have seen and have yet to see, which has caused the
"lotto-powers-that-be" to increase the already impossible odds on the 2 main games we play.

With the ever increasing India-scaled over-population our planet sees, comes that much more greed.

I've urged people, and still do,  to start wearing protection.  But they refuse, laugh, and continue to have kids like rats.  We'll see. This is also why I turn down any pan handlers on the streets that should come up to me, bumming change.
Food shortages in the USA could be a very real threat.

So, playing lotto these days would turn me off too, if I was in that earlier age group that the article mentions, and if I've blown the money I have.

Or simply that they understand the odds better than their parents do and they're not relying on gambling to attain wealth. In either case it's not about taxes. Especially since on these current taxes, their parents are purchasing an increased number of tickets.

One of the main challenges I see for the lotteries in attracting millennials is their unbearable snarkiness and blind following of their social media heroes.  They are so afraid of independent thought and analysis that once their social network derides an idea like the lottery (they don't debate, they deride), it is nearly impossible to get a millennial to step out on their own and make an independent decision.  So afraid to be different, yet claiming to be just that.

Of course I'm stating generalities here, but generalities are what marketers look at.

I agree with all the comments but I also believe the lotteries are deflecting blame for their own poor management.

IMHO

If they can't play online using their smart phones, they aren't interested!!
Maybe the politicians will wake up and realize that many potential lottery gamblers can't drive anymore, or have stopped going to the store for a host of reasons.
Cost and taxes don't have anything to do with it.
I'm hoping that Texas politicians now in session are smart enough to see that adopting online play is their only option.
Be a shame if we have to wait another two years.

You make a very valid point. I am 75, I graduated high school at 17, in 1959. Raised by a sharecropper, stepped out into the world with confidence. There are people 40 and below, who don't know what the words obligations and responsibilities mean. They can't think for themselves, still depending on mom and dad to take care of them. How do they expect to exist, when mom and dad die? I believe the majority of them are Liberals.

I would never blame State Lotteries, which have contributed to numerous FABULOUS times in my life! I have won more times in DC and Maryland than I can even recall. On MLK  day in 2005, I hit 4444 for $15,000 and $5,000 on 2222!  A typical win for me is $1,200 two to three times a month.

I have since left the DC/Maryland area and continue to play state lotteries wherever I travel.

I arrived in Texas in August 2012, and by year end I had won $14,600! I won $3,600 in Tennessee, $1,500 in Missouri, $1,250 in Rhode Island. Yes, Rhode Island! $1,200 in West Virginia, $1,200 in Virginia. I could go on and on, but I gotta go play my numbers!

They internet lotteries have to offer both options store and the Internet!

So true.

It's because they're lazy, good for nothing, entitled!!

What celebrities have campaigned against playing the lottery? If I recall, when the jackpot hit a billion or 600 million a few years back, people like Ellen were giving tickets away. An NBA player bought 10's of thousands. People viewed it positively! Everyone young and old was playing

I see your points, I think, CARBOB.  Many people born after 1976 are living at home.  Their parents/guardians  are going to the grocery store and gas station to get the weekly replenishments.  I presume that the majority of lottery ticket sales are made to these older generous multi-taskers.

I also think that many adults under 35 are questioning their older, regular weekly lottery ticket buying acquaintances.  This questioning leads the younger to understand that their acquantances' past 25-30 year results have been a leading loss of approximately $450/year.  They therefore decide not to develop their older acquaintances chronically depressing habit of long-term losses.

My guess is a realization of how long the odds are and therefore play accordingly, an understanding that they are still young and control their destiny in life whereas a lot of older people see at as the only way they will get rich in their remaining years.

I never played the lottery in my 20's. I thought it was a waste of money. I was always amused when my granny spent a dollar on her weekly pb ticket. She would get the bonus # very often. 

Once I could put some effort into it and read all the stories online and past numbers, my attitude changed.

Heard on some crime documentary that mafia gambling was so popular because they had better odds than casinos.   

Do people still play "the numbers"

Millennials listen to the media and think about what messages the media has been sending these last few years with the poor odds of winning

I would like to see online play also, but Texas is very conservative. And don't forget that there are politicians in Austin that are very anti-lottery, and would love to abolish the lottery. So, I think the online idea is not going to happen for a long, long time, if ever here in the Lone Star state.

My 3 kids know I play regularly, and they think I just waste my money. Well, I probably do. But it is my entertainment. My oldest is 35 and when I visit her in Odessa, I'll go out to buy tix, and she just shakes her head and says "Dad, you and your lottery". Kinda like I would scold her when she was little. LOL.

You're not paying attention then.  The lottery is frequently and regularly derided by the celebrity types who think they're so smart.  Case in point is the video I actually made an appearance in, by John Oliver.  The same old rubbish about how the lottery is a "tax on the poor" and other jingoistic falsehoods.

The fact that some celebrities play the lottery when the jackpot gets high is testament to their hypocrisy, not an endorsement of lotteries.  The primary motivation for people like Ellen is to boost their ratings because the people she normally looks down on for playing the lottery will tune into her show that features the popular lottery game that all the normal people are playing.  If you think Ellen is stopping by the 7-11 every morning to pick up some Pick 3 tickets, you're sadly mistaken.

I'm not saying that Ellen (or other celebrities) are all bad because of this.  I am referring strictly to their views about the lottery, so hopefully you don't feel like I am attacking your favorite TV host or movie star.  My mention of celebrities was because they generally hold very anti-lottery views, and millennials blindly follow the leads of these somewhat rudderless members of society.

I agree with Todd in the sense that it does not help anybody to criticize things that people do. No one knows what goals people have who play the lottery. What benefit does it offer to say something negative or put down someone who plays. I think that thats no good. And people who do that should try do something else. like the opposite in fact. Negativity breeds negativity, so those people are just trying to convince everyone that they are right. 

And for the fact is, the lotteries of all states should be worried. Their payouts suck. Period. Excuse my French. But seriously, they do period.

When someone can't even pull in $40 in 30 days guessing, and the lotteries are making over $25 million in a month, well it ain't hard to figure out, is it? Anyways, I am not talking about myself btw, but in general.

LOL! I hear ya. But when I do win my youngest and I are dancing and singing boom shaka laka! Lol. Plus she thinks I'm a genius. Lol. Best of luck to you.

That's not a generality, that's just wrong.

If it wasn't for the selfish, lazy, stupid brats called "Baby boomers" and "GenX", then we wouldn't need to struggle as hard as we are.

To quote an ignorant, foolish, misguided, lying young man who thinks he's entitled to a free ride through life:

"That's not a generality, that's just wrong."

I don't know about other LP posters, but once in a blue moon I'll frequent several different state lottery sites.  Like looking @ the pictures and how much they've won.  Seems to me there a quite a few millenials that win the lottery and many have been featured on LP just as recent as three weeks there was an 18 year old from MA.

He is not even qualified to work at a fast food restaurant. He lives in his parents basement and waits for them to die so he will own something.

I agree Carbob. It seems the ones under 40 or even 50  were also never taught basic money management skills. We have several people in my office who are divorced but they bought homes first by cashing out their retirement accounts and did not have at least a year in emergency savings when they bought homes. So when an emergency arose or a marriage broke up, they lost their homes and have major debt in addition to student loans. There really is no excuse, especially for well educated professionals. But these people still eat out 2-3 times a day and whine about their debt.

I did without a car for 4 years when I finished school and brought my lunch every day to work in order to buy a home.And I still do most days!

Many Millennials are up to their eyeballs in student loan debt. First time homebuyers is  what drives the health of the housing market, and many Millennials are opting  to rent then buy becuase they can't even save up money for a down payment for house, furthermore many are choosing to use public transportation rather then own a car. The Millennials are basically Generation Broke!

Ding, ding, ding!

They don't truly understand yet that the only people who really get ahead in life are lottery winners.

You don't know what struggling is.

kingofdearth..."making millennials look bad since the day he was born !

Lol lol

Started working at 15, my Dad was smart first time job for a kid, as long as you pay them under a certain amount, you can write it off on your taxes. Reasonable wages that you pay to your minor child to work are fully deductible as legitimate business expense. Got an IRA too when I was young. But I've seen what Wall Street and places like Charles Schwabb have done with that. None of it is good. But still I've done a lot of different jobs in my life. Some people have helped while some people have decided to hurt. Since I live in NYC, the truth is that you can never make enough money here. Working is tough, cell phone bills, rent, clothes, FOOD, dating. It all adds up. Parents tell their children save your pennies for a rainy day. Well, what's wrong with listening to your parents? Nothing at all. Good friends good times best money on earth. And stay away at all costs from the scammers. Kids need options, lotto is supposed to be fun. In the words of my Dad, "nobody said life was supposed to be easy."

This thread is a hoot!

The young'ins don't buy into the lottery because it's not attractive to them.

It's no different from those so called lottery players who ONLY want to put their money down when the jackpot is high. Yeah, let the regular players keep pumping up the jackpot until they decide it's the right time to get in. I think these folk are the worst. 

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You do realize, though, that it's not just the people who can't drive anymore, that will continue to play lotto.
I'd feel a lot safer in Texas traffic (the next time I'm driving through there), if they don't pass ANY smart phone gambling bill.

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Yeah. The "so called" lottery players, who'll only play when the jack pot is "ripe enough".
Those players should definitely be "banned".

I was going to say the same thing.....If they can't play on their phones, forget it. 

Of the generations you mentioned the millennial are most likely to not leave home and stay with mommy and daddy. 

If it wasn't for an awful lot of baby boomers you'd be speaking Japanese or German right now, Verstehe  ingrate.

On the plus side you'd then know what this is: Rindfleischetikettierungsüberwachungsaufgabenübertragungsgesetz.

(And yes, it's an actual word)

Also, those boomers fighting in WW2 is quite the feat seeing how they were born after it ended.

MM,

Nolege is power is what the N on the University of Nebraska's helmets stands for.

haha boomers always trying to take credit for everything good

Arizona Lottery Commission sales statistics . . July-December 2016

Scratchers 71.3%

Total Draw Games 27.8% . . Powerball 13.1% . . Mega Millions 5.8%

I don't know if I still have that book haymaker, "Extraordinary popular delusions and madness of crowds", by Charles Mackay but I've read that book and it's definitely a fun read.

Guilty as charged I guess, but it's still gambling and you're making it sound like the every draw players are owed something. Never had a clerk ask how much i contributed in past drawings or even if I played that particular game often.

As for why millennials don't regularly play lottery games, It's probably for several of the reasons listed. And when read where one of them wins a major jackpot, you'll say "those folks are the worst" too. 

Seriously, do you really expect to win a PB or MM jackpot?

Not to be mean. Every parent is different. But this happened to me. If your kid turns 18, and they are not enrolled in college, a parent has every right legally when they turn 18 to kick them out of the house. If they're enrolled in college, then I believe a parent can not kick them out until they turn 21.

Only polar bears hold onto their young as long as people do.

Would seem to me that if I were a millennial visiting this site, then I would respond with snarkiness to this comment, and be justified in doing so. It's making an insulting generalization to a group of people who definitely haven't thrown the first punch in this fight. I know a lot of responsible, level headed millennials just as I know a lot of lazy, good for nothing, judgemental people in my generation and those before. It also seems to me that when it comes to forming an opinion on anything, it's the older generation that stubbornly and rabidly hang on to their views of right, wrong, politics, religion and what they view as societal norms. And they don't budge. God knows there's plenty of evidence of it on LP, and my how the insults and attacks rain down on those who deviate from the populous. As I expect will happen to me on this comment. It's funny really, how those who bash millennials for being stubborn and afraid of change are usually the ones guilty of the exact same thing. As a minority in every sense of the word, I know from my own personal experience and friends of mine in the same boat that it's been the millennials who've been a lot more inclusive and accepting of me. They aren't afraid of my different POVs. They don't care if I date someone outside my skin tone, culture or religion. The same can't be said of other generations.

Are they really? But aren't the lotteries benefiting their constituents and paying for services that would ordinarily have to either be cut or taxed for? It's one thing to be anti-lottery if the state doesn't already have the lottery system in place, quite another to be anti-lottery when it's already established and people are benefiting from it. 

They'd probably see an increase in revenue if they went online, and not just because of millennials, but because it would be more convenient for all players. Convenience = increased sales = increase in revenue (even with the additional costs involved in getting in set up) = increased funding for community services. Only downside I see is that it will make it easier for people to spend more than they should on tickets, but we can't police everybody just because a few will develop gambling addictions.

Yes, many still depend on mom and dad because not only are more going to college, the cost of a college education is a whole lot more than it used to be. And when you have more people entering into the work place with 4 year degrees than every before, it becomes more important to go for a master's or some kind of professional license to ensure a higher pay scale and job security. Because you'd be surprised how many admin (secretarial) positions paying jack squat require you to have a bachelor's degree before you will even be considered for an interview.

I was searching Careerbuilder the other day and came across a posting for a receptionist paying $15/hr, 4 year business degree required, and you had to have your own transportation. So right off the bat, in order to nab a $15 an hour job, you're going to be about $500/month in the hole with Sallie Mae and car payments, just for the opportunity to be a receptionist. 

Imagine having thousands of dollars in student loans and these are what your options look like upon graduation. So unless flipping burgers is a calling, higher education is more essential than ever before. And with that comes more debt than ever before. More debt at such an early age means increased reliance on parents. 

Maybe, just maybe, the situation is bigger than liberalism, laziness or entitlement. Maybe, just maybe, there might be other factors in play which don't require this level of condescension.

Wasn't so long ago that women lived with their parents until they got married, and when liberalism changed that, a lot of people had a lot of derogatory comments to make about it then too. Circumstances bring changes to each subsequent generation.  I was taught that no lady went anywhere without a handkerchief in her handbag. Times change. Badmouthing them because they're doing things differently than you did isn't the answer.

I too find myself lecturing them in the "when I was your age" spiel, but for the most part, I recognize that how I did things when I was their age wouldn't work in today's world. My aunt and mother still think that simply going online will give a pedophile access to their grandchildren's photographs all because of an episode of Dateline. The way they view technology wouldn't work in my world and life's way too short to keep trying to explain to them why. So I simply nod and let them keep their views while I carry on with my generation's way of doing things, much in the same way I expect Millennials are doing to us.

Goes to an old saying that a farmer once said to a philosopher, when asked if he didn't care whether his son went to college and if it mattered to him whether or not his son got and education and gained higher intelligence , farmer replied I don't care what he thinks he know I know he doesn't know how to (paraphrasing) drive a tractor or plow a field, etc..To me that's stupid. 

I read this for a second somewhere for another reason, so I am paraphrasing as best I can, but the story stood out to me because there's two sides.

There is no such legal right after 18. A parent can kick a child out even if enrolled in college.

I am from New York. I don't know where you're speaking of or living in, but it says New York right under my name. NY law states that a child is not fully emancipated until the age of 21. That is pretty clear to me as a responsible level headed thinking adult. You are wrong. Period. And not that it's worth my time to even think of telling you neither.

Google it. The age of majority in NY is 18. Try doing some basic research. In fact, a NY appellate  court ruled in 1977 that a college education was not a necessity to be paid by a father.

Stop embarrassing yourself.

You're wrong. You don't know anything about the law. Just whatever is in your head. I don't even know you and you're trying to talk legal with me. For what reason. I don't need a reason to have with you. You're trying to tell me about law and you're telling me to Google it. Wow, basic indeed. Please do not talk to me again. You are just weird. As if. Google makes you an expert. I believe you should look up the word emancipated. Seeing that you should speak French, it shouldn't be so hard for you.

"I didn't say college education I said living in your house. " Que l'enfant over here. Simpleton I swear. Do not talk to me again.

Lets keep in mind that these "millennials" probably don't have any actual money,  which is kind of surprising with all that money george soros has paid out to all these protesters.

  If they can't understand electoral college vs popular vote,  I don't believe they have a clue what "odds" mean.

What a nutcase. Support does not include paying for a college degree vs food and a place to live. You sound kind of jel over my credentials. Working on your GED, c'est vrai? And yes, you can kick them out prior to 21 even if enrolled in college.

That first cmoment that I made right at the end of first paragraph about negativity breeds negativity, that's you. Just trying to prove your right when you're really wrong. But that's alright I don't know you ,but I do know that you don't know what you're talking about, "Artist" 77. You said college education not me. I repeat, does l'enfant need pictures to help?

Lol lol Guess you lost that argument. Most people on LP are capable of doing basic online research. You are so jel. Did you overspend on lottery tickets again? What a spoiled brat attitude. Guess you want mommy and daddy to support you forever.

No. I guess Artist means you know everything. You sound like you're 5 years old. Incapable of listening or looking outside your own imagination. You are a loser. My credentials are solid. I don't dream.

I use cold hard facts and research, not my imagination. Sounds like you have caviar dreams from mommy and daddy.

Bull. I smell it. I see it. You must be it.

Get a job.

You are such a typical confused little lady. I have one and a lot of other things too. I also own an apt. in Manhattan, New York City. I repeat i've been working since i was 15. While my mates were off at Harvard and Princeton. I was working. But that's ok. Who are you? "Oh I'm an Artist". Yeah, ok.

That would be no different than everyone else pumping up the jackpot, and then california comes and takes the jackpot win.  Pretty rich for someone in the california "bay area" to be calling out what "folk" are the worst.  Vote out these lunatic politicians nancy pelosi & barbara lee, maybe then others will take you seriously.

Actually,  as many know, I am an attorney in Washingon, DC. See , when you attempt to act superior, you make a fool of yourself.  I suspect you live in an old run down building with no elevator. Sounds like you do not have the comprehension for any degree. And attempting to put one down by calling them a confused little lady shows your hostility towards women. I bet  that the NY women fail to even acknowledge you. So funny! You do not even own your own computer.

Yes, they are. (Austin is a liberal city), but the state is conservative. Lawmakers actually voted to abolish the lottery commission a few years ago, then realized how much money was at stake, and reversed their vote. This is why we will never see casinos here.

In Dallas, Reunion arena was a building where the Mavericks and Stars played. When American Airlines Center was built and those two teams moved there to play, there was talk about making Reunion Arena a casino. The end result? Reunion Arena was demolished and it's an empty lot. When I go to Winstar Casino just across the border in Oklahoma, there are more cars with Texas license plates in the parking lot than OK license plates. I'm sure it's the same for casinos in Shreveport LA. Our legislators know it, but they just don't care.

I agree if our lottery went online, it would increase revenue. But....it ain't happening.

And listen pussycat, before you sound more stupid than is even possible. You don't know who my parents are and you don't know if they are alive or dead. So I suggest you try to remember a little French pride if at all possible and watch who the hell you try to talk about. We all can't learn things sitting in front of a computer, but I guess some people still try. I'll jump on the wagon, you must be a millenial.

Omg. You are truly insane. Do you really think I will be intimidated by an uneducated lowlife like you? How was your prison time? Get a job !!!! Mommy and daddy need to kick you out. Come and get me!!!! 

Washington D.C. is not New York. And f.y.i. it's well over 6 figures. But like all attorneys you're just trying to sound like you know something. I think you're starting to talk to yourself because you're telling me I'm saying things that I'm not actually saying. Typical.

Actually why would they, that would be disrespectful to the woman that I've been with for the past 22 years and continue to raise 3 kids with. You sound like you don't get any. Hey in NY kindness ain't free, especially if it isn't deserved.

Tell us all again how classy and sophisticated you are! 

.Blah blah blah blah. I never said anything about oh I'm so classy and sophisticated etc etc. But that's just like I said before and you're still doing it , saying I said things that I didn't say. Wow, you French. Gotta give it to you. Go back to your coffee and cigarettes. Are those pictures helping you to understand?

  I think you have a crush on me but I have no interest in trash. I think I recall some pm's from you and placing you on block. Your type does not take rejection well.

Not when I'm right. And this has absolutely nothing to do with rejection. It has to do with the law. Wow, good to see where you're mind is going. And you call yourself Artist. You know, a lot could be said about that.

Another frustrated artist wanna be? Dime a dozen. You are not qualified to address any issue. They need to deport you.

Wow. If that's your best lawyer argument I guess we can see who really won the case. You've basically proven everything I've said with you're own words. While I've stuck to my guns. I thought that was like a lesson in law school. No matter what you believe. I can see that's not the case with you. Ha ha. Sorry no pictures. Take your time.

I guess we have a new troll on lp. Do not accept any pm's from him. He is mentally ill.

Oh it's the person that routinely and obnoxiously makes everything about politics at every turn...why don't you join a politics forum.

Hold on a minute there Kemosabe. It was an opinion and only an opinion.You not seriously suggesting that l should not have one, or are you? In the past you have flaunted your prediction hits,am l and others to assume that you predicting those hits but are NOT playing those games only later to say " darn, l should have? People who live in glass houses should not throw stones. That is not a suggestion.

My last comment to you was " you misguided, you interesting..l forgot to add, in a funny way.What on earth does living in the Bay Area and politicians got to do with pumping up the jackpot? By the way it seems pointless at this stage to re educate you on the fact that States do not win jackpots- persons do.Did l mention misguided?

As Ronald Reagan would say " There you go again."

Based on your assumptions about me, as if, I can see that you are filled with nothing but prejudice and bias with no concern for the well being of others. Are all the lawyers in D.C. like you. I may be a bit trollish when someone decides to get into an argument with me and thinks that name calling me like a 5 year old, or shall a say like a cretin, yes I shall call you a cretin, proves their "case" then sure see if I care. Thank you for proving that you are not capable of arguing without acting like a l'enfant. And I'm not here for the pm's cretin,

 But people still do me and I am always curteous and gracious to reply.

I think it bothers you that you as a prejudice individual have created this imaginary picture of me and since I don't fit into your, as if, picture you decide to to just call me names and try to put me down, as if. I guess that's the best you can understand as l'enfant. Here's a name for you ,cretin.

English is clearly not your language. lol  Tell us again how much more sophisticated you are over everyone and how you own more and make more than everyone else.  What a joke. Arriere! I outed you for what you are. A phony.

You're assuming they don't know the difference. I haven't met one yet that didn't know the difference, they just don't agree with that there being any need to have an EC, which is a completely different to them not knowing what it is or why it's in place. Not agreeing with a system is completely different from not understanding a system.

I've never seen an attorney with this much time to argue over the Internet and I am friends with at least a dozen of people who went down that route (I agree on age 18 though).

Well actually I am doing 2 things at once. Most women multi-task well. lol  Sounds like women bashing actually but you aren't saying it to the loser bragging about all his money and sophistication. I guess you expect women to be silent.

So glad you said it. I don't get why a lottery forum can't have a post without politics and personal insults coming into it. Why does something that's supposed to be entertaining have to descend to nastiness for no reason. These constant conservative vs liberal fracases aren't even germane to the discussions. It's just an excuse to insult or bait someone else. One would think the name Lottery Post would be indicative of people posting about the lottery, not politics. Not insults and generalized nastiness. The L-O-T-T-E-R-Y.

Toronto is a troll. He gets angry when women stand up to insults. He is no better than the pick one person.

Quite amazing you somehow strawmanned that into an attack on women. You must not be a very good attorney. I'm guessing you work in doc review or something inconsequential judging by the time you have to spend on an lottery forum arguing with people over any slight or perceived slight (not just based on this post, but your posting history)

Why don't you folks give it a rest?
This is a lottery forum.
If you can't stay on topic - go somewhere else.

Economic situations are changing.
Texas lottery claims it has made over $6 billion in profits so far this year - thanks to the jackpot games and popularity of the scratch tickets.
The politicians have padded their pockets with reduced taxes and now don't have enough money to fund child care and education needs.
The lottery knows there is trouble ahead if they can't get more young people to bet on the 'draw' games. 
Selling tickets online is a possible solution, but current politicians are worrying more about where people 'pee' than raising extra money to fund
needed programs.
Maybe some of the newer politicians will see the lottery as a great asset and allow it to adopt new ways of doing business.
The lottery tried to get involved in fantasy sports but the Governor shut it down.
Apparently he was pissed that he didn't get a chance to get a piece of the action.
I don't really think anything will happen until there is a significant decrease in lottery profits.

Thank you. You see how silly her arguments are without her gang there to cover up for her. And yeah I agree but I don't take someone trying to diss me lightly. Sorry to all that had to read etc I guess, nothing against any of you. But I felt like this was a personal attack, from someone who does not even practice law in my state and had to refer to Google, and other vague and non specific thoughts of her own as proof for her so called arguement. Thank you so much, this was a big waste of my time. But she has acted like this in the past with me. the exact same way.

I have a gang??? Lol. Sounds like you needed your gang to help you out. And some of us work during the week and are not online. Your imaginary outrage at being told to Google something is too funny.  I bet you could use some crayons and play doh as well. I bet you work at Wendy's. Better watch out for the INS people.

I said in another post on the 4 draws a day in Georgia thread that Texas went to 4 draws because it's a canny way to increase revenue. Basically, they are selling fewer online tix, and way more scratchers. That's where the profits are really coming from. Coupled with millennials not into playing the lottery, lottery commissions are going to $2 a ticket games, and 4 draws a day to increase revenue.

At first glance, a player would look at 4 draws and think that's 2 extra draws to win. The reality is a player will not win more often, but lose more often. Those $2 games look great on paper. All or Nothing gives you 2 ways to win. The odds are still 1 in 2.7 million to hit a jackpot, so "winning" usually means hitting for $2. Texas Triple Chance looks really good. Three chances to win!!! Play it for a few weeks and it's not so hot for $2.

Lotteries are not making these changes to benefit players. It's to benefit the lotteries. And while I don't begrudge them making a profit, I do begrudge 4 draws a day, and $2 games. I'll be honest. I got hooked on the All or Nothing for a couple years. Played it every day. But after looking at how much I spent last year and seeing which games gobbled up my money, it's time to wake up and come back to reality.

Oh, and scratchers. Read the Florida thread about Florida's shenanigans, and I'm sure Texas and other states are doing the same thing. In fact, I know that Texas closes games before all the top prizes are sold. You can't even be sure they even distribute all the tickets in a game before they close it.

I love playing the lottery, but things have been changing, and not for the player's benefit.

Give it a rest alreday dc lawyer. You looked like a fool. As for other things that have been said about you, well it's obviously true so why don't you just accept it and move on dc lawyer. You lost and your attempt was pitiful. Move on.

Give it a rest Mr. new York sophisticate who brags about making more than 6 figures a year and owning more than one property. You sound like a jr. High kid. I outed you a long time ago and you are angry. Go back to serving fries.

I thought one of Todd's rules was to keep the responses in tune with the article, not all this bickering.

On a positive note, Powerball is up to $310 million and my prediction with American Indian was wrong...I said $315 million.  Nothing in KY or IN and never check my MA tickets, they do it for me.

I agree. Someone had a hissy fit when I corrected him on the law. I don't like false info being fed to my fellow LP members.

I have my PB #s picked out!

I never said what I make, I said where I lived. Aren't lawyers supposed to pay attn to details? I don't even barely read what you say bc it makes no sense, but ttutt I already know what you're gonna say. I sound like me, I don't know who you think you sound like.

With cheating employees like Eddie Tipton maybe none of us should be playing!

Is that the reason you have only posted 6 times in 4 years- keeping a watchful eye on the Eddie Tipton's of this world?  It's great seeing people sticking to their word.

I salute you. 

Eddie isn't an employee anymore.

The Virginia Lottery has tried to make things easier for players in an increasingly cashless society by allowing debit card purchases

A bigger problem is cashing in wins.  Stores in Arizona only have to pay up to $100 and even that is a hassle for small retailers.  Ironically, Arizona lottery tickets can be purchased with credit or debit cards at stores, but the lottery commission offices will only accept cash because they want to have cash reserves to pay off winning tickets.

After commenting on your opinion about "jackpot hunting", I said seriously, do you really expect to win a PB or MM jackpot hopefully indicating to you I was kidding. Don't take it personal because it wasn't a knock on your opinions.

"In the past you have flaunted your prediction hits,am l and others to assume that you predicting those hits but are NOT playing those games only later to say " darn, l should have?"

Now you must be kidding, because a lifetime prize ratio under 50% is nothing to flaunt. If anything, my predictions hit ratios proves how extremely difficult it is to win the Georgia All-or-Nothing jackpot. The odds against winning that $250,000 jackpot are 1 in 2,704,156 whether I predict one, four, on no games every day.

Maybe I should ask the difference between opinions and alternate facts?

"You must not be a very good attorney."

 There are millions of people claiming to be Internet lawyers and a few gullible people believing them. Ever wonder why so many people are scammed?

I think the millenials can understand the math and they know the odds are bad.  How many times do you have to buy Powerball or MegaMillions tickets and get nothing back to realize there are better ways to spend your money.  The lotteries have not helped by making the odds increasingly worse every several years to pump up jackpots. 

With that said, I enjoy playing despite knowing that the odds are remote that I'll ever win a life-changing prize.

Ah Stack.You missed it entirely. I started with the word " Kemosabe." That should have told you something. ...at least telling you that l did not take your post personal.l threw that bit back at you to see your reaction.

  We are men of action. Lies do not become us.- The Princess Bride.

Peace.

The lotto is basically the lotto. It promised nothing in the beginning in Babylon and it still promises nothing. But when you start talking oh jackpots of 500 million well you're setting a pretty high standard on what profitable should be. Hey, forget 500 million I'll settle for a million. I'd be cool with that. Even 250,000. Sure Fine What's the big deal. Gimme I'll take it with a smile on my face and jump for joy too. I mean am I right or what. Greed is not good for all.

I saw it and it reminded me of a very old "joke"; "why did the Lone Ranger shoot Tonto?" so I wasn't sure.

"In Navajo, on the other hand, “kemosabe” translates as “soggy shrub.” If this seems an odd thing for faithful friend Tonto to call the Lone Ranger, perhaps he was just repaying the Ranger's long-standing insult. “Tonto,” after all, is a Spanish word meaning “stupid.”

I'm trying to figure out there are any arguments on this topic because if millennials are not playing lottery games, the lotteries ought to introduce games that appeal to that age group.

Widen your search- in fact try and look up of all places a site called: The stack exchange- that word in the Ojibwe dialect, the verb means " he who looks on in secret. "  nifty huh? 

Coming from the stink stack guy I outed months ago as a fake law professor.  Well some of us have jobs and careers to go to...later. I am always amused by the resentment of a very few nuts on this forum to professionally educated women. I guess it makes them feel even smaller.

How about paying out more money for the winning numbers? a 50% return (sometimes less with taxes taken out) is horrible.

Though I said I wouldn't harp on CA lottery anymore, when I saw the paltry sum paid out for five numbers on the lottery this past weekend it was ridiculous just over $92K whereas all other states pay out $1 million pre-tax. 

OTH back to your post, why should they pay out more, too many hands in the till so to speak.

CA Mega Millions is what I was talking about.

Yeah.. I mean, it might not be beneficial for them to pay out more money but as a person who enjoys playing the lottery- it really ticks me off that the payout structure is so darn low. I wish there was a legal alternative with better payout. For example, The Pick 3 lottery pays out 500 to 1 on a straight when the odds are 1 in 1000. I would like a payout of at least 800 to 1 and any casino/betting establishment placing those odds would still be making a decent profit. Again, nothing legal that I know of like that exists, unfortunately.

CA winnings are parimutuel. That's why they are what they are. Blame the legislature, not the lotteries.

Basically lotteries pay out roughly 50%. It's always been that way as far as I know. Lotteries are in business to make money. Profit is not a dirty word. It's how any business survives. They start paying out 80%, then they won't be around long.

Yeah, we all want more money. But, it's not like they're hiding anything. When I buy a ticket, I know what I'm getting if I get lucky. I'm ok with that. If I don't like what I'm getting if I get lucky, then I won't buy the ticket.

"stack guy I outed months ago as a fake law professor."

Then it should be very easy for you to just show everybody when and where I claimed to be a law professor.

"I am always amused by the resentment of a very few nuts on this forum to professionally educated women."

You don't even have enough sense to check the gender box on you profile and besides this is an Internet message board, you can pretend to be anything you want. Just like the President said, you could be a "guy sitting on their bed who weighs 400 pounds."

And again, it's an Internet message board, you can't prove you're not.

Honestly the increasingly slim odds to win because of push for "Mega jackpots" or "Higher jackpots" across board have hurt and will continue to hurt lotteries going forward

At state level the games are becoming less and less winnable with matrix/cost changes. Illinois lottery and Lucky Day Lotto because of increase in # of balls have far fewer winners (We can go months with no winners in Illinois regular lotto)

Illinois Little lotto (Pick 5 game) changed to Lucky Day lotto a few years back with Matrix increasing from 39 balls to 45 balls

Went from 1 in 575,757 chance to win jackpot as Little Lotto to 1 in 1,221,759 chance to win jackpot in LDL

I would rather see many more smaller jackpots then what is becoming rare jackpot wins since matrix changes. The lotto is moving in opposite direction and will eventually start to push away longtime players as well as deter new players with increasingly longer odds

Illinois pick 6 lottery used to be get two lines for $1 which made the 1 in 20,358,520 odds to win jackpot seem a bit more realistic and they had more wins before cost change. Now all lines cost $1 ,, It was more enjoyable to get more lines at less cost and have smaller jackpots more often then not won then this craze for mega jackpot and constant rollovers

Both moves were made to increase size of jackpots and both moves have truly made games less enjoyable honestly. Scratch offs in state are also getting worse as they push for more profit and harder to win jackpots

Then you add in Powerball + Mega matrix changes for national games that made odds even worse and overall the field sorta sucks to be honest when spending lotto $$$

That Lucky For Life game that seems to be moving into more and more states doesn't seem all that good either with very limited winners

Perhaps. I have no idea. But does that negate the fact that he's right in this case? It is possible for a troll to make a valid point, is it not? And the fact is that the constant political and/or racial attacks keep occurring with none if the non-trolls taking a stand against something that's become an obvious, unpleasant and ongoing problem.

I see nothing wrong with a poster making the request that we stay on  point and keep unrelated political gripes out of LP and relegate them to political forums where they deserve to be. It was a logical and reasonable request for which no escalation in enmity is warranted. IMO.

Hello? Is this thing on? Write this down, because it is the #1 truth that all players regardless of demographics will tell you. The lotto payouts suck. Period. " Raquetero"

Oh, IDK. Times are changing and eventually the people who live online will be the ones making the decisions. The lottery will keep seeing a decline in sales until eventually someone will present a cost benefit analysis and things will progress from there. 

The young adults of today are both heavily reliant on, and accepting of,  online services and technological advances. Attracting their dollars will require changes in how lottery games can be played. Online sales is the next logical step if they don't want to see a steep decline in sales/revenue in the next decade.

The only alternative is to make the odds of winning less prohibitive. The people in my circles and in my age group who don't play out of habit, only gamble when the JP is really high or the odds are good enough that they have a chance of winning something. They'd rather take a trip to LV, Monaco or go on a casino cruise than spend $2 on a PB ticket. Funny, ironic but true.

Playing a MUSL game is never going to be as fun as Monte Carlo, but they'd be more willing to fork over money for non-billion dollar jackpots if they thought winning anything more than a free ticket was a distinct possibility.

Between those types of players and the millennials, the lottery is heading for financial trouble if they remain as is.

 so true. They're all bad. Just some are so much worse than others so they look good by comparison. Apart from putting caps on jackpots, the UK lotteries have the right idea. What is advertised is what you get. No jackpot value vs cash value. No 40-50% taxes. No marketing requirements to fulfill. That's a good system.

I see signs in lots of stores saying they won't accept debit cards for purchase under $5, some under $10, and some will only take cash for lottery purchases. The state lotteries choose their agents and when stores limit play, the lottery is blamed.

The KY Lottery sells jackpot game tickets online along with several interactive instant games, but not pick-3 and pick-4. I cashed out $350 and the funds were in my bank account in three days. Don't know about major jackpot wins, but would like to find out first hand.

well, with the dang odds so high on so many games, not enough "winning" going on to get them interested.