Why Do People Play the Lottery?
Why Do People Play the Lottery?
Insecure people are always actively on the lookout for reasons to look down on others to feel smart about themselves, which is why I find a certain satisfaction in never being able to understand why some people are stupid enough to play the lottery. Granted, on the scale of stupid games, it's probably no where near the far extreme, but it's very expensive to play over the long term and most people know this, so what's the attraction?
Your Chances of Winning
Over 50% of people in the United States regularly play the lottery while approximately 65% have received college education which leads me to believe that at least 15% of people took media studies because they were too thick to get into a real course. (Incidentally if you did take media studies in college: I was just kidding, please upvote my post, I meant people who studied psychology; and vice versa if you took psychology, I'm sure you guys have a phrase for that too).
So what are your actual odds of winning? Well, I wouldn't expect it to be high as I don't think my friends are complimenting me when they say something like 'your chances of getting her number are as good as winning the Powerball jackpot, Traf'. So I looked it up and I was right: Powerball reports its odds of winning the grand prize to be at 1/175,000,000. Holy shit! The likelihood of you winning is probably on par with flushing $15 down the toilet, then going outside, picking a random spot at the local park and digging a hole to find a bag filled with $50 million of drug money; and depending on how shady your neighborhood is you may be more successful doing the latter if you can stomach stumbling upon decomposing bodies from time to time too.
In fact, most lotteries in the United States have a payout rate that's lower than 50% of the funds earned from the ticket sales. In comparison, slot machines are generally required by law to have a payout rate of over 90%, as do most casino games. So you're better off hitting the spinners or craps tables with your kids' college savings instead guys; I mean they'll probably just end up doing media studies or psychology before jumping on welfare anyway.
You know, there's actually no reason to underline the number 69 as it's symmetrical in rotation, there are just some really lonely people out there manufacturing these balls
The Allure of Playing the Lottery
Some people often retort that it's not stupidity that compels them to play the lottery, as they're well aware of the odds (like knowing this would make you less stupid for taking part rather than more), but hope and excitement that comes from the uncertainty of a game of chance.
This does on some level make sense, I must confess. Perhaps I underestimated how riveting watching a bunch of multi-colored balls floating about can be. Maybe some people are so excited about next Saturday's Powerball that they re-watch all previous 59 seasons to get a recap of the plot so far. Hell, I suppose if the balls were delivered a different way, say fired out from a thai dancer, I'd probably be just as glued to the screen.
This makes it look deceptively fun, like a roller coaster at a gay pride parade
Another possible explanation may be that studies have shown that our brains are incapable of actually comprehending infinitesimal odds like 1 in 175 million, you know, much like how seals can't count pass 3 or some shit, and we just focus on the fantasy of winning millions, which, if you're reading this in a few years time, might be enough to buy 3 or 4 bitcoins. So while the probability of success is low, the cost is also minimal and the rewards can be potentially really high - it's basically the same thing that's been motivating me to spend 6 hours a day swiping right non-stop on Tinder.
Conclusion
So what do you think about the lottery? Is it a tax on stupidity or am I being too harsh on something that's just a bit of harmless fun? Hell, have you perhaps won the lottery or know someone who has? Where I'm from, we consider ourselves having won the genetic lottery if we have the right number of chromosomes.
Sources:
Why The Lottery Is So Seductive
Hey Bill Nye, Is Playing the Lottery Rational?
Breaking down the odds of winning Powerball's $700M jackpot
*If you enjoyed this piece, please Upvote, Resteem and follow me @trafalgar.
For me I believe people play lotto though it's like 1 is to 5,000,000, chancesof winning is the thought that if they win they will definitely an instant millionaire. And there is a sense of happiness that a person feels, which gives them a positive feeling that you'll really win. This gives hope.
I know of one who won the jackpot. But still the chances of winning is very low. So since we have Steemit and Bitcoin migth as well invest here!
Thank you for sharing this @trafalgar ! Resteemed!
yes, thanks for having a read
You caused me a brain hiccup, Trafalgar! https://steemit.com/fun/@rockwellontherun/bible-the-best-reason-to-buy-dogecoin
winning jackpot is what i have if am to have a good X-mass this year
The answer to the question can probably be found in what happens to most people that have WON the lottery. It's a mind-numbingly high number of winners who are in poverty within just 5 years of winning the lottery. It's safe to say, I'd think, that people who are irresponsible enough to gamble away their hard earned dolla dolla bills every week, are the same kind that would blow through a few cool mil in like...5 years.
To me, finding a man my age that is intelligent but didn't major in liberal arts is akin to winning the lottery. The odds are probably about the same though.
Runs out to buy Powerball ticket
it's definitely weird
it's like they win the lottery and then go short bitcoin the very next day
best of luck with finding a man
Oh I'm married to one...with a liberal arts degree.
Playing the lottery is far worse than just a tax on stupid.
What the lottery people never show you is that all the winners (there may be one that is not) are broker, unhappier, and fatter then before they won.
The biggest problem is that money does not fix your life.
Money does not make one rich.
So, if you have a dream of owning a restaurant, go for it. Get hired as a manager of something similar. Learn accounting. Retrain your mind to think in terms of cash flow. This leads to success.
Playing the lottery, is just trying to distract yourself from all your bills, for a moment. The hope of getting out of the rut that you call your life.
It is a costly distraction. Just like television. It does not lead to any happiness, or dream fulfilment. And, if you are very, very unlucky, you may get to find out that money does not fix your problems.
This is very true, I ran into some of these stats when I was researching for this piece
great advice
Generally though, people who are attracted to playing the lottery have a mentality that prevents them from knowing how to sensibly use and invest their rewards if they do win
💯
People think they're lucky to win. Dreamers!
life is a chance game
Money does fix your life. Try living on borderline poverty and you'll see why. I ate oatmeal with warm water because I couldn't afford milk. Personally I'd invest most of my lottery money, since I'm already used to be low maintainance and pretty much Spartan.
Yep, have that $29 a week grocery thing beat too.
But, time after time after time, it is shown that giving a man on the street a lot of money, will result in them being still out on the street.
Here is the thing broken down.
A middle class broke person will usually pick themselves back up, and can totally use some money to give them a leg up.
A poor broke person will blow any money given to them, and be just as broke. Or they will be worse off. If you have a heroin addiction, being broke keeps you alive.
Give trump a small loan of a million dollars, and he will make a fortune.
Give the average middle class person a loan of a million dollars, and it will just leak through their finger tips.
Basically, you have to find an entrepreneur who has already worked out cash flow, who is at the point where he only needs an infusion of cash. And then, that person can become rich.
To become rich, you do not need any money.
And, money does not make one rich.
Btw most lotto winners burn their winnings in a Very short time.
Yep! And most gain weight.
This was an awesome post. Made me laugh several times. And I totally agree with you, it takes a certain level of stupidity to play the lottery consistently.
I mean I've bought scratch off tickets before on a regular basis but that was just because I was trying to get with the girl that worked at the gas station where the tickets were sold.
But as far as playing the Powerball or anything like that it's just insanity. Dreamers with more money than sense play the lottery.
haha, you're not alone there
which guy hasn't bought dumber shit than some scratchies to impress a girl?
Though it is definitely a "voluntary tax", ignorance being a large part of what may be called stupidity in some cases, the allure of the thrill of possibly winning seems to take the dreamers over and, eventually, its addicts living in a realm of unfulfilled desires.
Great job, again, @trafalgar! Namaste :)
haha thanks, glad you enjoyed it
life is just a chance
But I might win
haha that's the spirit!
The reason people play the lottery is everyone wants to go to that promise land, which always seems so close (in proximity, at least), but so very far.
Most people in this world are starving. The ones who are “better off” are in debt or living paycheck to paycheck. This is how the power structures of the world want things to be, and they’re happy to host lotteries every few days to get us to keep our heads down, not question, and hope for a better tomorrow.
It’s important that we not criticize each other for being ‘stupid’. We the people have the power to flourish, if only we realized that. It’s up to you and me to talk to our friends and family, and to get us there.
Something tells me we’re getting close.
that's fair enough, I was mostly being facetious
I think it's not so much that lotteries are a grand conspiracy to keep us quiet as more of an open way to tax people that are less well off which is annoying to me
Well, I’d say it’s both. Two birds, right! I think most people who play inherently know the odds, but do feel trapped and use it as desperation/hope. And I can empathize with why they do.
I understood your facetiousness, and your article was well written and I should have included that in my original comment. I just had another perspective to add!
HA! because people are broke and in debt! Every one of my factory worker buys a lotto ticket. It's not because they are not paid well, although I think if they won I would get the big middle finger anyways ;)
haha sounds like you're a great boss
I’m pretty fair, I just think it’s a “workers” dream to put up the finger and say I’m outta here to the boss :)
I just wanted to add I love your sense of humor. Slightly sarcastic, slightly random but still very clever. I wish I could write that well. As to the subject matter, I see buying a lotto as a flight of fancy and okay is small doses, but it really doesn’t make sense if you do the math.
thanks a lot, not that many of us writing comedy on here
i wish it'd take off more on the platform
Could you suggest any other accounts on Steemit that have good comedic content?
The best irony is - many people believe that given too many lottery tickets they will win.
But they shy away to try again in life where they might win sooner.
P.S. I bought a ticket once and got nothing. That was probably the last time I bought a lottery ticket.
haha, wise that you learn your lesson so quickly
basically the maths does not go your way when it comes to winning the lottery