Buying Lottery Tickets Online?

[FelixDeCat]

http://blogs.forbes.com/kymmcnichol...to-increase-winning-chances/?partner=yahootix

California residents don’t have to drive down to the local liquor store or gas station for a chance to win millions in the California Lottery. They can now buy them online through Lottogopher.

It’s a membership based model, just like Netflix. Members pay anywhere between $9.99 to $19.99 per month for the opportunity to buy Lottery tickets online, for the standard price of $1 per ticket. The membership fee pays for convenience and a user’s ability to play in ‘office pool’ style groups of up to 100 tickets per drawing. Users can also join existing groups basically crowdsourcing the Lottery, in order to increase their chances of winning. Winnings are automatically credited to members’ accounts.

It’s a long shot to win the lottery, so to pay a monthly fee to ‘increase your chances’ of winning, you still have a greater chance of being struck by lightning than bringing home millions from a winning ticket. But I have to admit this is the direction the lottery is going and this company is at the forefront. It’s only in California now, but it’s only a matter of time before other states’ lottery programs jump on the digital train.

If they want people to speculate in "the lottery", then why charge $10+ per month? If anything, it should be free. I do play the lottery, but I know playing more than a buck or two is stupid. And they want you to pay a monthly fee to top it off? Why not just a service charge per ticket?

 

[ViviTheMage]

Winnings are automatically credited to members’ accounts.


where's the fun?! haha

 

[mooncancook]

$10-20 per month? might as well spend that on actual lottery tickets

 

[mmntech]

Keeps them out of the convenience store lines.

 

[Mike Gayner]

You have been able to buy lotto tickets online here for ages now. Though there's no fees, certainly nothing as ridiculous as $10/month. It's a handy way to buy a ticket - you don't need to have a physical ticket, no need to manually check numbers etc.

 

[Jeff7]

Keeps them out of the convenience store lines.

No doubt.

It sucks to get stuck in line here behind someone who is buying 20 tickets, and they are very picky about the numbers they get. It's fun seeing how they figure out what's got the best chance of winning, usually looking to things like the previous week's numbers, or birthdays, or sequences...just play the same numbers each week, and you'll have the same chance of winning, and it'll waste a lot less time.

 

[kami333]

No doubt.

It sucks to get stuck in line here behind someone who is buying 20 tickets, and they are very picky about the numbers they get. It's fun seeing how they figure out what's got the best chance of winning, usually looking to things like the previous week's numbers, or birthdays, or sequences...just play the same numbers each week, and you'll have the same chance of winning, and it'll waste a lot less time.

Odds are the same, but the potential payout will change.

 

[eldorado99]

Have had that up here in BC for a few years already.

 

[DrPizza]

I believe you've been able to do this in NY for quite a while. I seem to recall an article where the NY attorney general went after some credit card companies for charging extra fees for processing lottery tickets - as cash advances or something.

 

[zinfamous]

Keeps them out of the convenience store lines.

fuck, yes. I hate waiting in line for these jokers. especially when they come in to try and cash their $10 of 15 scratch-offs.

 

[kranky]

Someone at Ticketmaster probably got fired for not thinking of this first.

 

[zinfamous]

Oh, and OP, you should probably update your title to "everywhere but Texas," lol.

 

[moshquerade]

stupid tax

 

[Jeff7]

Odds are the same, but the potential payout will change.

Why's that?

 

[FelixDeCat]

stupid tax

I hate taxes too, but what does that have to with it? :sneaky:

 

[techs]

Bulk?

 

[techs]

stupid tax

I hate taxes too, but what does that have to with it? :sneaky:

I think Mosh lost the remote with the station tuned to Fox News.

btw in my state you can't buy lottery tix with a credit card.

 

[QueBert]

I think Mosh lost the remote with the station tuned to Fox News.

btw in my state you can't buy lottery tix with a credit card.

You can't in California either, not in stores any ways. This online one will either be debit only or they're changing the rules totally.

 

[JEDI]

You have been able to buy lotto tickets online here for ages now. Though there's no fees, certainly nothing as ridiculous as $10/month. It's a handy way to buy a ticket - you don't need to have a physical ticket, no need to manually check numbers etc.

wonder why you cant do it in the us?