best way to play the lottery?

Jun 14, 2003
10,442
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what do you think is the best way?

get a lucky dip at the machine?

pick random numbers, different each week?

or use the same numbers week in week out?
 
Jun 27, 2005
19,216
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The only strategy known to work is to buy enough tickets that you are guranteed to win something, Real Genius style.
 

NaOH

Diamond Member
Mar 2, 2006
5,015
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Seriously, you're better off not playing and saving the money in a jar.
 

compuwiz1

Admin Emeritus Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
27,112
930
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A dollar in a jar will not get you as far as a win, but hey, most people probably spend at least a buck a day on soda, coffee, candy, or whatever. ;)

I have probably bought 2, maybe three tickets a year, if that. It's just not on the forefront of my mind. I know people who are lottery addicts, and when the pot gets big, they will use every excuse to get a break, so they can go down to the local 7-11 and buy a ticket.

I guess I'd just hate to win some obscene amount of money and be ruined forever. That just ain't natural! :)
 

HybridSquirrel

Diamond Member
Nov 20, 2005
6,161
2
81
i figure, if i cut down on my soda drinking/candy intake it gives me the right to buy more lotto tickets. so now i drink water and dont eat candy and buy 2 lotto tickets on wed (price of 2 20oz sodas)
 
Dec 4, 2002
18,211
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Originally posted by: HybridSquirrel
i figure, if i cut down on my soda drinking/candy intake it gives me the right to buy more lotto tickets. so now i drink water and dont eat candy and buy 2 lotto tickets on wed (price of 2 20oz sodas)

You don't need to give yourself the OK to buy them. People waste their money on things all the time...b/c it's their money. It's your money, so buy lotto tickets. There is no "best" way to play though, b/c you won't win.
 

compuwiz1

Admin Emeritus Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
27,112
930
126
Originally posted by: Mike
Originally posted by: HybridSquirrel
i figure, if i cut down on my soda drinking/candy intake it gives me the right to buy more lotto tickets. so now i drink water and dont eat candy and buy 2 lotto tickets on wed (price of 2 20oz sodas)

You don't need to give yourself the OK to buy them. People waste their money on things all the time...b/c it's their money. It's your money, so buy lotto tickets. There is no "best" way to play though, b/c you won't win.

[JGWentworth]It's your money, use it when you need it.[/JGWentworth] :)



 

pontifex

Lifer
Dec 5, 2000
43,804
46
91
Originally posted by: Mike
Originally posted by: HybridSquirrel
i figure, if i cut down on my soda drinking/candy intake it gives me the right to buy more lotto tickets. so now i drink water and dont eat candy and buy 2 lotto tickets on wed (price of 2 20oz sodas)

You don't need to give yourself the OK to buy them. People waste their money on things all the time...b/c it's their money. It's your money, so buy lotto tickets. There is no "best" way to play though, b/c you won't win.

how can you say you won't win? somebody always does...
 

Kelemvor

Lifer
May 23, 2002
16,928
8
81
I only buy lottery tickets when the jackpot is over 200 million. Winning 100 million or 150 million just isn't worth it. heh.
 

Bateluer

Lifer
Jun 23, 2001
27,730
8
0
Originally posted by: compuwiz1
I have probably bought 2, maybe three tickets a year, if that. It's just not on the forefront of my mind. I know people who are lottery addicts, and when the pot gets big, they will use every excuse to get a break, so they can go down to the local 7-11 and buy a ticket.

Last time the Powerball got above 300m, there were lines out the doors of every gas station around here with people buying Powerball tickets.

Personally, the lottery is a tax on people who are bad at math. However, spending a dollar on a ticket is probably healthier for your body than that coke or pepsi. Not to mention, you do get some cheap entertainment from it, whether you win or lose. Buying a single ticket occasionally isn't a problem. The people who habitually buy dozens or more tickets are bleeding money.
 

smack Down

Diamond Member
Sep 10, 2005
4,507
0
0
The best way to play is to cheat.

Other then that use the random number generator to pick your numbers. Most people only play dates so, more people pick low number increasing the odds that multiple tickets will hit the same jackpot.
 

moshquerade

No Lifer
Nov 1, 2001
61,504
12
56
Originally posted by: Mike
The best way to play is to not play at all.
and to tuck away all the money you WOULD have used playing until it gets to be a nice little stack that you can invest.

 

TXHokie

Platinum Member
Nov 16, 1999
2,558
176
106
Once you realize that your chance of getting hit by lightning on a sunny day is better than your chance of winning the lottery, then you can play.
 

DaShen

Lifer
Dec 1, 2000
10,710
1
0
Don't...

I play anyways because it is fun to think about, but your odds are impossibly low.
 

origami

Member
Jul 17, 2006
180
0
0
The best way is not to actually buy the ticket but just write down the numbers and match them with the winning ones to see if you could have won. 99% of the time you would be glad that you didn't actually buy the ticket. ^^
 

KarmaPolice

Diamond Member
Jun 24, 2004
3,066
0
0
I play once and a while..maybe once every 2 months. Its fun to buy one ticket. Yes the odds are winning are very very small but the fact still remains...someone has to win it. I am willing to spend a dollar...just a dollar once and a while for the excitement and chance to win enough money for the rest of my life.

i also love to gamble.
 

Mxylplyx

Diamond Member
Mar 21, 2007
4,197
101
106
Originally posted by: otispunkmeyer
what do you think is the best way?

get a lucky dip at the machine?

pick random numbers, different each week?

or use the same numbers week in week out?


Thats like asking the best way to play heads and tails with a coin. It doesnt matter what numbers you pick, it's totally random.
 

49erinnc

Platinum Member
Feb 10, 2004
2,095
0
0
Look at the typical person who buys lottery tickets. There's a reason the poor stay poor and it usually involves lottery tickets, cheap booze and cheap cigarettes.

Take the money you'd spend on the lottery and put it in a Money Market account. Odds are that in the end, you're going to end up with more money than if you played the lottery once a week.