48
I play the lottery once a week to feed a fantasy of a better life without debt and economic worries (lemmy.world)
submitted 5 months ago by to c/casualconversation@piefed.social
14 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

And I read the news every morning hoping at least one of those billionaire ghouls and their enablers have died a painful death.

(Preemptive response to the smartasses that are going to point out the statistics of winning - I FUCKING KNOW.)

all 14 comments

sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] 32 points 5 months ago (4 children)

As someone who sells lottery tickets, I would never buy one. It's the perfect scam and a tax on the poor.

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • hideshow 4 child comments
    •
  • [–] 9 points 5 months ago (2 children)

    It's a voluntary tax on people who are bad at math.

    Half the pot goes to the billionaires who run it. The other half (or so) is given to one winner out of millions who play, and then it's taxed, and what you spend with the money is also taxed. So they triple dip (at least). And even then: it goes to just one person. None of the others who paid into it get anything. And, though this may be statistical or prejudiced, but it never goes to someone who needs it. It seems like it always goes to help some upper middle class person buy their second or third home.

    Every once in a while the local news will run a human interest story on someone who needed the money who won big. Mostly to try to get more poor people to pay in. But even if you're someone who needs the money and you win, consider the risks and cons of the whole thing. Most winners are worse off a few years later (if they took the lump sum). First of all, you get family members who forgot about you acting like they were always there with their hands held out. All kinds of new friends. The best thing to do is get a wealth advisor and make the money work for you, keep working, and enjoy the dividends, but no one's gonna really do that. There's a guide (on Reddit, unfortunately) about how best to manage winnings. Most winners won't even read it. But everyone who plays, should.

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 2 child comments
    •
  • [–] 3 points 5 months ago

    Now, i’m not saying lotteries are a good thing but most of the proceeds in the US state based lotteries go to either educational funds or state general funds, not billionaires. As long as youre not addicted to gambling then buying a ticket every now and then doesn’t hurt you or your wallet any more than a starbucks coffee does.

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent
    • [–] 14 points 5 months ago (1 child)

    I get it. The odds are bad, but the idea of that much money is irresistible. You can't win if you don't play. And now you can dream about what your life might be like once you have the ticket because maybe, just maybe, this time it'll be you. It doesn't make sense when you think about it, but nothing makes sense anymore, and at least these dreams are hopeful and optimistic. You feel like there might actually be something to look forward to in this shitty existence.

    This is America, and even dreams cost money here.

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • hideshow 1 child comment
    •
    • [–] 6 points 5 months ago (1 child)

    Winning the lottery is very rare and usually doesn't lead to financial happiness. There's some great writing out there in how to handle a financial windfall like that, and it's good reading of you want to indulge in your fantasy. You can plan ahead how you'll avoid the pitfalls of other lottery winners.

    And if you can afford it I think there's nothing inherently wrong to play in the lottery. It's not the wisest investment, but I've bought a lot of stuff that I was sure about being great, only for me not really being into it.

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • hideshow 1 child comment
    •
    • [–] 4 points 5 months ago

    The hope of a lottery win, no matter the odds, is the carrot in front of the stick that keeps me going.

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
    •
    [–] 9 points 5 months ago (3 children)

    I get it, but on the other hand you are basically donating that money to a group of billionaires earning money by selling dreams to people who can’t really miss the money.

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • hideshow 3 child comments
    •
  • [–] 4 points 5 months ago

    What is with the notion in this thread that lotteries are run by billionaires?

    I will never buy a lottery ticket, it's a complete waste of money and a tax on people who are bad at math. However, at least in the US, lotteries are run by the government.

    Why are these comments being upvoted? Is that how it works elsewhere? If so, where?

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent