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KY Floyd

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Jul 19, 2018, 10:58 pm

Quote: Originally posted by Stack47 on Jul 18, 2018
Only three jackpots were hit in the last 90 drawings and you're saying it made sense to buy tickets for all the other 87 drawings hoping to win the jackpot?

Nope, that's not what I said.
Stack47

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Jul 20, 2018, 12:42 am

Quote: Originally posted by KY Floyd on Jul 19, 2018
Nope, that's not what I said.

"Why would the chance that somebody else will win a jackpot have anything to do with whether or not it makes sense for me to play?"

I said: "wouldn't it make more sense to wait until ticket sales give at least a 50% chance of somebody winning the jackpot?"

And that was based on the fact there were only three MM jackpot winners in the last 90 drawings. The question "is it worth playing the lottery with those odds" I was simply pointing out that the majority of MM and PB drawings will have no jackpot winner.

I also pointed out if one played both drawings twice a week it would cost $416 a year and some LP members are asking where you can win multi-millions on a $2 bet.
BobP

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Jul 20, 2018, 3:46 am

I would only play the higher priced high odds game if it were the only game available. Not to say I don't drop a few bucks on it when already in line and the prize is huge. The best bet is Pick-6, 12 numbers on 6 lines playing blocks of three numbers against each other so not only is there a 3if5 and 4if6 guarantee, there is also a 3+3 jackpot shot. As for Quick Pick versus Self Pick, the Self Pick is a total swill of every method under the sun and darker places. There is no comparing the two as people doing quality workouts may be only a tiny percentage out of the birthday, pattern, lucky number players. Besides, if you did something and won, how quick would you be to tell everyone exactly how you won?

BobP
Stack47

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Jul 21, 2018, 4:49 pm

Quote: Originally posted by Raven62 on Jul 17, 2018
At the end of the Day:

At the end of the day about 45 million tickets were sold for the 7/20 drawing without a winner.
noise-gate

* In hot pursuit of $ *

White Shores- California
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Jul 21, 2018, 10:24 pm

I * think the odds would not be a concern, if you play the lottery for FUN. Do not go into the game saying to yourself " l will definitely win today." I knew an acquaintance years ago who refused to fly, would rather take Amtrak. When asked why not get there sooner, his reply was" the plane may go down." As if trains do not crash....

Live a little, take a two dollar chance. Personally, l am not giving up the dream of walking on white shores ....get my drift?

* Voice of Reason *

* People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it- George Bernard Shaw.
gy65

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Jul 21, 2018, 10:29 pm

Quote: Originally posted by gy65 on Jul 18, 2018
"Real bummer would be to have a Mega Millions 5+0 win with a 5 Megaplier, and NOT having paid the extra dollar . . $1 million versus $5 million difference."

That would be THREE 5+0 winners in the July, 17 2018 Mega Millions drawing.

So they may clear around $63,000 after 37% federal taxes, less state taxes if applicable . . plus most of their other income for the 2018 tax year probably gets jacked up into the 37% tax bracket.

Unable to edit previous post . . should read "may clear around $630,000 after 37% federal taxes".
Stack47

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Jul 22, 2018, 12:51 am

Quote: Originally posted by noise-gate on Jul 21, 2018
I * think the odds would not be a concern, if you play the lottery for FUN. Do not go into the game saying to yourself " l will definitely win today." I knew an acquaintance years ago who refused to fly, would rather take Amtrak. When asked why not get there sooner, his reply was" the plane may go down." As if trains do not crash....

Live a little, take a two dollar chance. Personally, l am not giving up the dream of walking on white shores ....get my drift?

The overall chances of a $2 MM or PB ticket winning something is terrible and Power play and Megaplier aren't much better. And don't get me started on the $3 MM "jackpot only" tickets.

I'd agree with you if it really was "taking a two dollar chance", but is it really just a $2 chance or more like an $8 a week chance playing both games that will probably cost $416 yearly for "living a little"?

What use to be a "dollar for a dream" is getting more and more expensive and much harder to achieve every year.
noise-gate

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White Shores- California
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Jul 22, 2018, 1:29 am

Quote: Originally posted by Stack47 on Jul 22, 2018
The overall chances of a $2 MM or PB ticket winning something is terrible and Power play and Megaplier aren't much better. And don't get me started on the $3 MM "jackpot only" tickets.

I'd agree with you if it really was "taking a two dollar chance", but is it really just a $2 chance or more like an $8 a week chance playing both games that will probably cost $416 yearly for "living a little"?

What use to be a "dollar for a dream" is getting more and more expensive and much harder to achieve every year.

Well Stack,regardless of whether you playing PB or MM, you still only paying $2.00 per ticket. That was the thrust of my point. Take the lottery winning Robinson family from Tenn. If memory serves me right, he bought two tickets, one line each. Beginner's luck does exist.How about you filling up gas, you look up at the tv above the pump* we have those out here- go back in to see the attendant to purchase a ticket for the jackpot, and the next thing you know..yeah, that! Unlike gaseline prices, it's still $2.00 a shot at your dreams.

* I may not be right, but I'm never wrong.

* Voice of Reason *

* People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it- George Bernard Shaw.
wander73

EveryMailBox Type in Search.

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Jul 22, 2018, 1:43 am

Quote: Originally posted by Tucker Black on Jul 16, 2018
You lose most of the time because 32.5% of your ticket (65 cents) gets added to the jackpot, which someone else invariably wins. The state keeps about 50% of your ticket as profit, leaving only about 20% for lower prizes, most of which are very difficult to win. PB is the opposite of a slot machine, where most prizes are less than the jackpot, which gives you a reasonable chance of winning something, even if it's not the jackpot. The large majority of time that you do win, it's not the jackpot.

PB is heavily weighted towards high prizes, which means there is a very low chance you of winning anything, even a small amount.

So, if you're okay with your money disappearing into the state treasury and someone's else jackpot winnings (albeit with a tiny tiny chance of you winning), then go for it. But I recommend only buying one ticket. Sure, you double your chances of winning with two tickets, but that costs twice as much. You will most likely lose twice as much, so don't do that. You would have to buy millions of tickets to have a reasonable chance of winning, and if you don't, well there goes MILLIONS of your own dollars! Terrible idea!

To give you an idea of the chances of winning the jackpot, it's like picking an address anywhere in the United States at random and knocking on the door and there's your BFF from the third grade. Who would waste their time on that, given that it's virtually impossible it would happen? Yes, it CAN happen (assuming you know your best friend from the third grade is still alive but you have no idea where that person lives), but it's incredibly unlikely. If it costs you $2 for every door you knock on, how many doors are you going to knock on before you realize you are throwing away money $2 at a time?

This is one of the best answers and true. Most members on this site don't realize it.

ISO of content generation for anything.

blogs , reselling, and more.
BobP

Dump Water Florida
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Jul 22, 2018, 2:51 am

Believe you can't win and you're halfway there.

BobP
jjtheprince14

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Jul 22, 2018, 2:27 pm

If you live in Pennsylvania or New Jersey, odds don’t matter, it is EXTREMELY easy to win if you buy tickets in those states.
CDanaT

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Jul 22, 2018, 3:13 pm

Quote: Originally posted by jjtheprince14 on Jul 22, 2018
If you live in Pennsylvania or New Jersey, odds don’t matter, it is EXTREMELY easy to win if you buy tickets in those states.

Wellll FUDGE ME, I had no idea that the odds changed for those 2 particular states...

Si vis pacem, para bellum.
noise-gate

* In hot pursuit of $ *

White Shores- California
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Jul 22, 2018, 4:23 pm

Quote: Originally posted by jjtheprince14 on Jul 22, 2018
If you live in Pennsylvania or New Jersey, odds don’t matter, it is EXTREMELY easy to win if you buy tickets in those states.

I am calling your bluff jjprince.

How is it then, that you haven't moved to either of these extremely easy States to win the jackpot?

* Voice of Reason *

* People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it- George Bernard Shaw.
KY Floyd

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Jul 22, 2018, 10:10 pm

"probably cost $416 yearly"

Those of us who aren't addicted don't have to play every drawing. Those who are addicted can seek help.
amber124

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March 22, 2018
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Jul 22, 2018, 11:07 pm

Quote: Originally posted by Lucky Loser on Jul 16, 2018
This kind of mentality proves to me there are a lot of people who can't handle the stresses of critical thinking, either because they mentally can't, or are aware of it but decide to look the other way and ignore it because it makes them feel bad.

I don't care how bad the truth is, I still want to know it.

Those two statements hit home, right into the kitchen, and all into the pantry next to the rice and beans!!! You covered many levels here and that's all I'll say. That's heavy...

Well thank you very much my friend. You don't do such a bad job yourself when you expound on a subject in the blogs or in the general forums. You are witty, and show lynx to information that clears up the issue at hand. Basically you don't come empty-handed to the party LOL

I say that's it I see it and that's the way it goes, people don't like the truth if it's affecting them negatively.

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