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What is the point of buying a scratch off ticket?
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Author:  Brick [ Mon Aug 25, 2014 8:31 am ]
Post subject:  What is the point of buying a scratch off ticket?
I stopped at a grocery store this morning and there was a guy at the machine buying a few scratch off tickets. I'm not sure what game he was playing but I doubt this was a one time thing if he is doing it on a Monday morning before he gets on a bus. This leads me to believe that this is a common occurrence which means that he is clearly going to lose money because the odds on those things are pretty much terrible with no real upside of making "never work again" money. A quick google search indicates most of these games pay out 60-70 cents on the dollar. Given this persons financial situation of not having a car or not using a car and instead using the horrible bus system here I just truly don't understand why you would do this.

I get buying a lotto ticket to try and win $250 million. The odds are astronomical but if you do happen to hit it then you make back all of your money by a massive amount. Most scratch offs have a maximum payout that would only last a short time. I guess you could play some of those that payout a few million dollars, but even that isn't going to let you live the rest of your life without working.

I get that playing the lottery is dumb pretty much always, but why play something where your "winnings" are almost certainly not even going to cover what you put into it unless you succeed quickly and then quit?
Author:  Rod [ Mon Aug 25, 2014 8:34 am ]
Post subject:  Re: What is the point of buying a scratch off ticket?
Do you know what the second biggest thrill is?
Author:  Brick [ Mon Aug 25, 2014 8:35 am ]
Post subject:  Re: What is the point of buying a scratch off ticket?
Joe Orr Road Rod wrote:
Do you know what the second biggest thrill is?
Getting judged by a guy buying pork chops?
Author:  Douchebag [ Mon Aug 25, 2014 8:36 am ]
Post subject:  Re: What is the point of buying a scratch off ticket?
I never understood the scratch-off people. You would have better odds making a trek out to the casino each weekend, and you would probably have a better time even if you lose.
Author:  Rod [ Mon Aug 25, 2014 8:37 am ]
Post subject:  Re: What is the point of buying a scratch off ticket?
Boilermaker Rick wrote:
Joe Orr Road Rod wrote:
Do you know what the second biggest thrill is?
Getting judged by a guy buying pork chops?


:lol: No, losing.
Author:  rogers park bryan [ Mon Aug 25, 2014 8:43 am ]
Post subject:  Re: What is the point of buying a scratch off ticket?
Douchebag wrote:
I never understood the scratch-off people. You would have better odds making a trek out to the casino each weekend, and you would probably have a better time even if you lose.

I think its the cost to time gambling ratio

You can get 10 scratch offs for 10 dollars and spend an hour losing.
Author:  Telegram Sam [ Mon Aug 25, 2014 8:43 am ]
Post subject:  Re: What is the point of buying a scratch off ticket?
Rick, would it surprise you to learn that there are people who play scratch-offs 6 or 7 hours a day, 7 hours a week, at the same store or gas station?
Author:  Rod [ Mon Aug 25, 2014 8:45 am ]
Post subject:  Re: What is the point of buying a scratch off ticket?
Telegram Sam wrote:
Rick, would it surprise you to learn that there are people who play scratch-offs 6 or 7 hours a day, 7 hours a week, at the same store or gas station?


I wouldn't surprise me. They're usually scratching them off on the counter while I'm trying to buy my newspaper.
Author:  leashyourkids [ Mon Aug 25, 2014 8:46 am ]
Post subject:  Re: What is the point of buying a scratch off ticket?
The lottery was invented to tax the poor. It does a very good job.
Author:  leashyourkids [ Mon Aug 25, 2014 8:46 am ]
Post subject:  Re: What is the point of buying a scratch off ticket?
Telegram Sam wrote:
Rick, would it surprise you to learn that there are people who play scratch-offs 6 or 7 hours a day, 7 hours a week, at the same store or gas station?


There's a guy at my local 7-11 who does this. He's there all day. I think he's retired.
Author:  bigfan [ Mon Aug 25, 2014 9:05 am ]
Post subject:  Re: What is the point of buying a scratch off ticket?
I have 10 cups and I will place a ball under 1 of them, and I will give you 2-1 odds you will guess which one.

Are you in?
Author:  Jaw Breaker [ Mon Aug 25, 2014 9:11 am ]
Post subject:  Re: What is the point of buying a scratch off ticket?
Joe Orr Road Rod wrote:
Telegram Sam wrote:
Rick, would it surprise you to learn that there are people who play scratch-offs 6 or 7 hours a day, 7 hours a week, at the same store or gas station?


I wouldn't surprise me. They're usually scratching them off on the counter while I'm trying to buy my newspaper.


That would be even worse than the person who writes a check and then also records it in their checkbook register while you're waiting to check out.
Author:  Douchebag [ Mon Aug 25, 2014 9:12 am ]
Post subject:  Re: What is the point of buying a scratch off ticket?
Joe Orr Road Rod wrote:
Telegram Sam wrote:
Rick, would it surprise you to learn that there are people who play scratch-offs 6 or 7 hours a day, 7 hours a week, at the same store or gas station?


I wouldn't surprise me. They're usually scratching them off on the counter while I'm trying to buy my newspaper.

I get mad when the guy in front of me is buying a newspaper. Doesn't he know he can get that online for free? Another tax on the poor....
Author:  Bagels [ Mon Aug 25, 2014 9:14 am ]
Post subject:  Re: What is the point of buying a scratch off ticket?
i enjoy playing the Bingo one every now and then
Author:  KDdidit [ Mon Aug 25, 2014 9:18 am ]
Post subject:  Re: What is the point of buying a scratch off ticket?
The "Win for life" ones are tempting.
Author:  Brick [ Mon Aug 25, 2014 9:20 am ]
Post subject:  Re: What is the point of buying a scratch off ticket?
Telegram Sam wrote:
Rick, would it surprise you to learn that there are people who play scratch-offs 6 or 7 hours a day, 7 hours a week, at the same store or gas station?
Engage this person in conversation next time you see them to find out the answer to this question.
Author:  Telegram Sam [ Mon Aug 25, 2014 9:20 am ]
Post subject:  Re: What is the point of buying a scratch off ticket?
Joe Orr Road Rod wrote:
Telegram Sam wrote:
Rick, would it surprise you to learn that there are people who play scratch-offs 6 or 7 hours a day, 7 hours a week, at the same store or gas station?


I wouldn't surprise me. They're usually scratching them off on the counter while I'm trying to buy my newspaper.

Those are probably impulse buyers. The addicts are pretty good about the protocol.
Author:  bigfan [ Mon Aug 25, 2014 9:21 am ]
Post subject:  Re: What is the point of buying a scratch off ticket?
Bagels wrote:
i enjoy playing the Bingo one every now and then


Bagels take a look on the back of a card....they will tell you that the ODDS of getting something like 4 of a kind is like 150-1, thus if you played $5 and got 4 of the same symbols, you should get $600, maybe less some vig/profit.....but instead they will pay you something closer to 25-1.....

I dont know the exact numbers, but the payouts are FAR FAR less than the take in.....it's about 20%....

I would like 50 people here to send me $100, then I will give one person $500! ......that is the essence of the scratch off...

And try to find where that $$$ goes into the "Special Education fund"
Author:  Frank Coztansa [ Mon Aug 25, 2014 9:25 am ]
Post subject:  Re: What is the point of buying a scratch off ticket?
Quote:
What is the point of buying a scratch off ticket?
To help Jerry Reinsdorf pay for renovations at State of IL Park.
Author:  Telegram Sam [ Mon Aug 25, 2014 9:28 am ]
Post subject:  Re: What is the point of buying a scratch off ticket?
Boilermaker Rick wrote:
Telegram Sam wrote:
Rick, would it surprise you to learn that there are people who play scratch-offs 6 or 7 hours a day, 7 hours a week, at the same store or gas station?
Engage this person in conversation next time you see them to find out the answer to this question.

The answer is that they are addicted, and the addiction supplants any adherence to the logic or odds at play.
Author:  Brick [ Mon Aug 25, 2014 9:29 am ]
Post subject:  Re: What is the point of buying a scratch off ticket?
Telegram Sam wrote:
The answer is that they are addicted, and the addiction supplants any adherence to the logic or odds at play.
You should tell them about this message board. It is a better addiction and slightly less damaging to a persons life.
Author:  Rod [ Mon Aug 25, 2014 9:31 am ]
Post subject:  Re: What is the point of buying a scratch off ticket?
Boilermaker Rick wrote:
Telegram Sam wrote:
The answer is that they are addicted, and the addiction supplants any adherence to the logic or odds at play.
You should tell them about this message board. It is a better addiction and slightly less damaging to a persons life.


I'm going to wait for Spaulding's next move before I agree with you.
Author:  Telegram Sam [ Mon Aug 25, 2014 9:34 am ]
Post subject:  Re: What is the point of buying a scratch off ticket?
Boilermaker Rick wrote:
Telegram Sam wrote:
The answer is that they are addicted, and the addiction supplants any adherence to the logic or odds at play.
You should tell them about this message board. It is a better addiction and slightly less damaging to a persons life.

I did. They find your Swiftian tropes to be tedious at times (I'm paraphrasing.) They love bagels.
Author:  312player [ Mon Aug 25, 2014 9:36 am ]
Post subject:  Re: What is the point of buying a scratch off ticket?
I will buy now n then ...maybe 100$ yearly ...usually the Win 4 Life

I'm sure there are many scratch off junkies , just like shopping or eating too much...or addicted to the internet or porn...there are always going to be people who over indulge .
Author:  Jaw Breaker [ Mon Aug 25, 2014 9:42 am ]
Post subject:  Re: What is the point of buying a scratch off ticket?
bigfan wrote:
Bagels wrote:
i enjoy playing the Bingo one every now and then


Bagels take a look on the back of a card....they will tell you that the ODDS of getting something like 4 of a kind is like 150-1, thus if you played $5 and got 4 of the same symbols, you should get $600, maybe less some vig/profit.....but instead they will pay you something closer to 25-1.....

I dont know the exact numbers, but the payouts are FAR FAR less than the take in.....it's about 20%....

I would like 50 people here to send me $100, then I will give one person $500! ......that is the essence of the scratch off...

And try to find where that $$$ goes into the "Special Education fund"


I wonder what some of these players' understanding is regarding the odds. It's one thing to go into a casino and know you're giving the house 2% on slots, a 10% edge on other games, etc. Do they have any idea?

Conversely, if these tickets were only paying out 20%, you would think that the lottery is not optimizing its profit. Wouldn't you get more players (and retain more regulars) if you gave them a better payout? That's what Vegas does...they don't try to bury you immediately. They give you enough success to keep you coming back.
Author:  Rod [ Mon Aug 25, 2014 9:44 am ]
Post subject:  Re: What is the point of buying a scratch off ticket?
Jaw Breaker wrote:
I wonder what some of these players' understanding is regarding the odds. It's one thing to go into a casino and know you're giving the house 2% on slots, a 10% edge on other games, etc. Do they have any idea?


I would say the vast majority have no idea. Just like most horseplayers have no clue about the takeout.
Author:  mcbrides [ Mon Aug 25, 2014 9:53 am ]
Post subject:  Re: What is the point of buying a scratch off ticket?
I just won a $1000.00 on saturday. Put $100 in, then went to Hollywood and won $900.00 more 8)
Now I am done for a while I play about once every 2 months.
Author:  Jaw Breaker [ Mon Aug 25, 2014 9:56 am ]
Post subject:  Re: What is the point of buying a scratch off ticket?
Joe Orr Road Rod wrote:
Jaw Breaker wrote:
I wonder what some of these players' understanding is regarding the odds. It's one thing to go into a casino and know you're giving the house 2% on slots, a 10% edge on other games, etc. Do they have any idea?


I would say the vast majority have no idea. Just like most horseplayers have no clue about the takeout.


Probably right...that's what kills me about the regulation of gambling. You can have all these lottery games with arcane odds and obscene edges for the house (state), yet God forbid we allow sports betting, where it's relatively easy to understand and the house vig (~10%) is reasonable.
Author:  Don Tiny [ Mon Aug 25, 2014 10:27 am ]
Post subject:  Re: What is the point of buying a scratch off ticket?
bigfan wrote:
Bagels wrote:
i enjoy playing the Bingo one every now and then


Bagels take a look on the back of a card....they will tell you that the ODDS of getting something like 4 of a kind is like 150-1



I have a hunch getting 4-of-a-kind on the Bingo scratchoff is considerably less likely than 150-1.
Author:  Bagels [ Mon Aug 25, 2014 11:28 am ]
Post subject:  Re: What is the point of buying a scratch off ticket?
Don Tiny wrote:
bigfan wrote:
Bagels wrote:
i enjoy playing the Bingo one every now and then


Bagels take a look on the back of a card....they will tell you that the ODDS of getting something like 4 of a kind is like 150-1



I have a hunch getting 4-of-a-kind on the Bingo scratchoff is considerably less likely than 150-1.


yeah, i didn't say i play because there are great odds.....probably once or twice a year when i actually go inside a gas station i might get 1. in the grand scheme of things it's probably in the bottom 1% of things i waste money on ...
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