Lotto-holic - Striper Talk Striped Bass Fishing, Surfcasting, Boating

spinncognito · 12-01-2004, 05:11 AM

I recently scratched off $1000 on a $5 instant ticket. Was nice and I caught up on some bills and what not. I have been winning as of late and trying to figure out "ways" to increase my odds in a game that has such horrible odds.

Are any of you fishaholics also lottholics? Do you play the numbers? Megabucks? Do you scratch tickets? Have any good stories about your successes? Any strategies that have worked?

Spin

BigBo · 12-01-2004, 05:47 AM

If there were any good strategies that worked, the Massachusetts State Lottery Commission wouldn't be one of the most profitable in the country.

BigFish · 12-01-2004, 07:26 AM

Quit while your....."ahead"!

The Dad Fisherman · 12-01-2004, 08:10 AM

Be careful on this one...I've seen to many people have a little winning streak and then become really addicted to scratch tickets.

My wife works in a liquor store (God I love that woman) and she sees the same people coming in on almost a daily basis feeding in 50$ or more into the lottery system.....that adds up pretty quick.

What Bigfish said....Quit while your ahead

Big Vern · 12-01-2004, 11:56 AM

Scratch Off Tickets = Tax on the Stupid.

There is no strategy. There is no reasonable expectation to do anything but lose in the long haul. The expected value of a scratch ticket is around forty cents. So, why even get involved.

Save all the money you'd spend on scratchies, go to Foxwoods, and gamble with a better shot at winning.

spinncognito · 12-01-2004, 12:49 PM

While I do realize that if I invested each dollar that I potentially piss away gambling say, in the stock market, that I would eventually have close to the million(s) I seek, I also realize that by the time I reach the age at which I can enjoy the benifits of that $$$, I may be dead or too ill to spend it like I want to now that I am reasonably young and healthy. So I put away enough in the sweetly matched 401K at work and use what I can to play the lottery in hopes of hitting significantly. Do I think it will happen? Perhaps it will. I am willing to guess (not bet) that just about everyone who posts here at the very least knows someone who has won a significant (if not life-altering) amount of cash in the lottery. Without sounding like a lottery ad, folks do win. There are ways to improve your odds as well. Surely not everyone who hit the lottery hit because their kids B-day numbers happen to pop outta the machine. There are both mathematical and common sense strategies available to those who seek them...

Spin

FishermanTim · 12-01-2004, 01:02 PM

The best you can hope for is to lose only half your money.

If you want to double your cash, fold it in half and put it back in your pocket!

I USED to be a scratch-aholic, wasting hundreds of dollars a week.
Sure you may have an occasional "win", but you'd be lucky to even break even.

tynan19 · 12-01-2004, 02:21 PM

My family owns a LQ. When I work we have people coming in and spending there whole paychecks. We tell them to stop or just stop selling the tickets to them. I have seen people spend 200.00 on 10 tickets and not win anything.

Can't say I don't buy one though. There is always a chance and if you don't play you can't win.

Jim O · 12-01-2004, 03:24 PM

It's rare when I play the lottery. Two years ago things where tight cash wise so I bought a scratch card , i figured $2 what the hell. Cashere picked it for me. Took it home and told my wife to scratch it - the ticket that is- next thing she's telling me something is wrong all the numbers match -all the numbers
$10,000 worth

cashed it in minus taxes $6800
Haven't played since didn't want to push my luck

t.orlando · 12-01-2004, 05:04 PM

Hold-em aholic.........Anybody wanna play?

gilligan · 12-01-2004, 05:58 PM

i play the scratchys all the time. unless you completely quit buying them you/i will Never(w/ very few exeptions) win.
you gotta take the money and walk . buying them again is just putting your winnings back into the grind i am sure this is not the first ticket you have bought and im pretty sure it wont be the last. soooo every time you buy a ticket subtract that from your winnings and sooner or later you WILL no longer be a winner. TRUST ME. if you keep playing the scratchys you WILL end up losing in the long run.
BUT it sure is fun and exciting to hit a good pocketful when ya got fifty bucks for the for the week.
more often than not i buy em for my pregnant wife to somewhat pacify her but she never wins and still keeps bustin my peanuts so i guess ill never win

any way congrats and put the cash to good use now because whether it be 1 or 10 you probably are gonna spend that on scratchys,before you hit like that again

THE ONLY WAY TO INCREACE YOUR ODDS IS TO STOP PLAYING. THE ODDS ARE AGAINST YOU, THATS WHY THE STATE APROVES

Jenn · 12-01-2004, 06:04 PM

While I enjoy the occasional casino trip and the once in a blue moon scratch ticket I know I will never "win". (Note: add all the $$ you put in over the years and subtract all you ever won...bet it =you still in the minus)

Strategy you ask???? each game you have as much chance of winning if you play every day as the person that plays once a year

ccrods · 12-01-2004, 06:45 PM

A guy I work with has hit for @$2800 in the past two weeks, and today cashed in one of his two $1000 winners in Fairhaven. Winning anu prize or being compensated over $599 must be reported to the IRS and the MassDOR for income. Well today the MA DOR has teamed up with the Mass Lottery Commision and his $1000 prize, was only a $950 prize!! The state is now automatically taking their share out!!

Rob Rockcrawler · 12-02-2004, 04:18 AM

Im workin at a gas station right now selling them to the degenerates all day long. There are people that think nothing of spending 500 a day on em. They cant stop because its always the next ticket thats the winner. Ive sold a few 1-10k winners but these people are still behind after they win. Not all of em but most. There is no way to pick winners, i love the strategies everyone has. I would say that they pay out about 1/3 of what you put in, sometimes ya hit good sometimes i take all your money. There is a great line from Vegas Vacation, when he is playing blackjack, and the dealer says something like "how bout you give me half your money and i kick you in the nuts". Im gunna say that to someone this week.

kippy · 12-02-2004, 07:16 AM

My friend hit for $20k a few years back on a scratchy, he has played since but hasnt one nothing. I told him his luck ran out..When I play I usually hit for 1 or 2 dollars. Waste of money..