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The lotto is an additional tax for people who don't understand math
A lot of people understand how unfair the math is, and still buy the tickets because "you never know."
Source: I buy tickets sometimes because you never know...
If you can afford it, then it's no harm really. I've made a profit from the lottery myself, albeit a minor one. Depending on the lottery, it's not the worst thing you can give pocket change away to for a bit of fun. So I never understood this "you'll never win" mentality/gatekeeping hobbies, people know the chances, but it's fun either way.
I think the big problem is that people who are addicted to gambling are being suckered several times a week. It's not really gambling, it's buying a daydream. If a casino gave you similar odds in one of their slots, it would likely be illegal based on the odds and the payout. So people who think of it like gambling are getting the worst of it. The expected value never approaches anything close to fair, even at rhe highest jackpots.
people know the chances
This article agrees. Huge caveat:
…Osmond…obtained a database from the Connecticut Lottery containing 21 years' worth of winners. What did he find?
They are largely poor, largely minorities, and often addicts.
The lottery preys on these people.
Vox, “4 ways the lottery preys on the poor”, 2016
No, we do know. You will not win once.
Somebody might win a huge amount, but that one will not be you. I can guarantee that.
You will put in more money than you will get out. Somebody needs to pay their shareholders.
How can you guarantee that? The chance is close to zero, but not zero - ergo you cannot be 100% sure that they won't win.
And that's the point they are trying to make - you don't need to be 100% logical to enjoy life. Sure, they probably won't win. But thinking they might, the anticipation of scratching the tickets, etc, is worth it to them.
Oh no, I spent $3 to dream of being rich. Anyways
I would sometimes buy one just to have something to wait for. It's cheaper than buying trash online.
whip up some pizza dough and spend the week waiting for it to proof, then at the end you get a delicious pizza to look forward to
I always feel it's more of a tax on hope. I know a few folks who play and the understand the odds very well... but what if!
'What if' can be very appealing for only £2, even if it is incredibly, incredibly, (repeat incredibly a thousand more times) unlikely.
Sucker tax
What a silly belief. Everyone knows the odds are ridiculous. It's just that people are still hoping they'd win