Luck of the Lottery: Is Playing the Mega Millions Smart or a Waste of Money?

by SodaHead Living Posted 2011/03/26 17:01:33

Related Topics: Mega Millions, Megamillions, Jackpot, Lottery, Winning Lottery Numbers

309 votes
Read all 280 opinions
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	Smart	45 votes	15%
	Waste of money	169 votes	55%
	None of the above	95 votes	31%

Life just got a whole lot easier for some lucky lottery player(s).

The Mega Millions jackpot is $319 million -- the sixth highest chunk of dough in the game's history.

The winning jackpot ticket for Friday's drawing was sold at
Coulson's News Center in Albany, N.Y.

Are you the winner?

The winning numbers were 22-24-31-52-54, with Megaball number 4. Check that ticket!

+22

Add a comment above

Fef 2011/03/27 08:13:39

Waste of money

+6
I've heard it called a "tax on stupid people." The government operates it and mostly people who don't understand statistics give their money to the government with only "HOPE" for a "CHANGE" in their lives.
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More polls by SodaHead Living

mg's haven~POTL~PWCM~JLA 2011/05/26 05:38:34

None of the above

Its the thrill of the "maybe" that gets me to play

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Michael 2011/04/07 23:02:02

Smart

Well you're not likely to win.

But if you only spend a little bit like say 5 bucks, it's worth it if you win.

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TommyB 2011/04/03 13:25:18

Waste of money

Rather buy a coffee refill. That way I'm a guaranteed winner. Here in Texas we started a state lottery in 1992. It was going to used to fund public schools and that was the big selling point in getting the referendum passed. Yeah, right!

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PRAYER WARRIOR 2011/03/31 10:13:41

None of the above

IF it is a waste of time, u wouldn't convince the few who have won the lottery and what about the percentage oF the lottery that is funneled OUT to educate. OR IS THAT A LIE TOO?

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Haightbear 2011/03/29 17:02:39

None of the above

I have always thought of it as the cost of buying a chance to dream for a moment. While you're holding that ticket before the drawing, you can think up all the things you would do....in my mind...it's worth the dollar.

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Jackie 2011/03/28 23:15:17

None of the above

I see no harm in playing lottery for a dollar a week. If you don't play (like me) you cannot dream of ever winning someday.

Of course if you blew lots of money on a game of chance like the lottery every week that would be stupid. And could even be harmful by way of wasting lots of money.

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Glory 2011/03/28 18:27:47

None of the above

personally, I call it the poor mans tax, some call it the dumb mans tax ......anyway you slice it, its your wasted money for the most part.....

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jane harrison 2011/03/28 18:07:53

Smart

i choose smart because if u get a card with millions on it u can go any where u want to go.

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Glory to jane ha... 2011/03/28 18:29:12

thats a really big IF.....

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wow-really 2011/03/28 15:08:40

None of the above

it's fun...
You win some, you lose some, that's why it's called gambling..
where else can you spend a buck and possibly win millions??
i can think of things people spend a buck on that would be considered a waste to others...
Prospective and point of view have a lot to do with how people chose to spend their money, and there's nothing wrong with that...
It's wishing and dreaming once in awhile is good for the soul............
Besides:

; )

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Icedragon1969 2011/03/28 14:25:27

None of the above

Depends on how you do it. I'll drop a dollar in once in awhile. After all, lightning strikes, right? But am I going to drop even ten dollars on it, much less this months rent? Not a chance.

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Deviant 2011/03/28 12:55:22

Waste of money

Although I bought some tickets for the lottery I freely admit it's a waste of cash.

Oddly enough, I posted a story about this just last Saturday. Feel free to share of course as I make no bones about being a bit of a points wh)$#

http://www.sodahead.com/fun/3...

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comptech - Quit whining please 2011/03/28 11:34:10

Waste of money

+1
A friend of my family won $3 million in the Florida lottery the first time they ever played.

That being said a former business associate of mine had a son who spent his entire paycheck every week on scratch offs and lottery tickets, he lost his family and everything else he had gambling it away.

I play one "Powerball" ticket per drawing, just to satisfy that inner voice repeating the lottery slogan "You gotta be in it to win it!"...that chance might be astronomical but, hell I don't treat myself to Starbucks, cable, or other "luxuries" and I am tight as a tick's bottom with my money, so a single ticket isn't a big deal...

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zekke 2011/03/28 10:30:15

Waste of money

The lottery is for the mathematically challenged.

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Playerazzi 2011/03/28 08:20:45

Waste of money

+1
It's like throwing your money away. It's like using the money on the slot machine, or worse. It's like buying cigarettes and seeing your money go up in smoke. It's like buying a ticket to a very bad movie. If you think it's fun to buy a lottery ticket, then go ahead, but chalk it up to "entertainment expenses", because that's all it is.

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Danale 2011/03/28 08:10:03

Waste of money

+1
I always dream of winning the lottery but... I really hate to waste my money. Chances are as slim as getting hit by lighting. So instead I work hard to make the dreams I want come true. In some way I find the lottery a tax on the dreamers.

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viper4358 2011/03/28 07:51:50

Smart

+1
If you can spend a couple of bucks for a chance to win much more then it is smart. It is nothing more than a glorified raffle with many more people buying a "chance" to win the prize. I don't condone spending your entire paycheck or not providing for your family a reason to buy tickets though. If you have an extra buck or two then definitely take the chance. You would buy a twinkie or soda or something else that you really didn't need anyway.

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DANNY_B0i♛ 2011/03/28 07:41:25

Waste of money

+2
I can't tell you how many times I've lost.

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Fef to DANNY_B0i♛ 2011/03/28 08:21:36

+1
Wouldn't you rather have that money back?

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DANNY_B0i♛ to Fef 2011/03/28 18:38:25

I would rather not waste my money and something that I could possibly not get back. but the trick is not to buy the tickets that cost five dollars because there is less of a chance you'll win something then the ones that only cost a dollar or two. I figured it out :D

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Topcat57 2011/03/28 07:40:49

Waste of money

+2
If you play make sure it doest take food off the table

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Ralph 2011/03/28 03:53:35

Waste of money

+2
Its a one in a billion chance that I could win the lottery, then there's income tax. A lot of the money would go to the government. I personally do not enjoy the lottery, then again, I've never been much of a dreamer. My biggest dream is to work at a PR firm, rent an apartment, and have money left over.

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Linnster to Ralph 2011/03/28 13:21:45

+1
LOL ... at 13, you aren't even old enough to buy a lottery ticket.

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Ralph to Linnster 2011/04/07 03:02:29

+1
I still think that its a potential waste of money. Lottery ticket expense builds up, the same way every expense does.

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Linnster to Ralph 2011/04/07 03:51:02

Well, if you play a lot of money very frequently, yes, it's a problem. I doubt I spend $30 a year on lottery tickets. Who knows, someone has to win and clearly I'm not addicted to gambling. :)

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Peach2u 2011/03/28 02:58:50

None of the above

+1
If I lose, oh well I was fun to think about. But you can't win if you don't play. And I don't miss the 1 or 2 bucks a week. It's cheap entertainment.

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sweetgreatmom 2011/03/28 02:40:09

Smart

If you have the money, I think you should play the lottery.

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Fef to sweetgr... 2011/03/28 08:21:58

+1
If you have the money, you don't need to play the money.

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[Giga] 2011/03/28 02:28:29

None of the above

Playing a lotery is NEVER smart, but it doesn't necessarly means it's a waste of money, for someone who can pay for it without anykind of impact, it can help you hope in your dreams.

As for me, i've learn to place my hope on something else than lotery! :)

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krayzrick 2011/03/28 01:54:41

None of the above

+2
You have a better chance of getting hit by lightning, but just for the heck of it, if I end up in Georgia once or twice a year, I might buy a few tickets. Doesn't hurt to dream a little.
You certainly won't win if you never buy one...

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whipnet 2011/03/28 01:42:15

Waste of money

+1
I don't voluntarily pay taxes.

*

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shinnis 2011/03/28 01:32:16

Waste of money

+2
A bird in the hand....as for the winners...I'm hearing that many of them have miserable lives after getting all that money. I'd like to try and be that miserable for a while.

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Linnster to shinnis 2011/03/28 13:23:09

+1
The only thing money can't buy is poverty. I'd like to see how the other half lives. :)

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john doe 2011/03/28 01:25:23

None of the above

+1
It all depends on how much you play.

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2426227 2011/03/28 01:22:13

Waste of money

+1
i think if you play alot you would be better off saving that lotto cash

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LawMan5150 2011/03/28 01:15:10

Waste of money

+1
How about all of you sodaheads just mail me $5 and then at least one of us will get paid.

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MattPajor 2011/03/28 01:06:25

Waste of money

+1
Is it smart to gamble? Well isn't that the $319 Million question...

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Dinha 2011/03/28 00:48:23

None of the above

It depends of the results. I played the four Mega Millions games in my country and I didn't win. Now I see it as a waste of money, time and hope. But, if I had won, I'm sure I
wouldn't see things that way and probably I would shout outloud how smart and lucky I am.

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kevracer 2011/03/28 00:46:32

None of the above

+2
an innocent game; I play for a buck a week

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studman 2011/03/28 00:15:47

None of the above

+1
Just a risk...if you win, definitely smart! Lose, well you get the picture!

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