Playing the Lottery and QUESTION for you all! :)

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hope777

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7 January 2012 - 9:14pm

Hello Everyone!

Well, this isn't "Online Casino" related, but gambling related instead.

I am curious about several things. First, what types of lotteries are offered in your areas, and next, how often you play.

In Minnesota, USA, we have the Powerball for the main, big lottery. The Powerball is a pick five plus the Powerball. Powerball involved several states, but I am not sure how many.

We also have MegaMillions. That is kind of like the Powerball in that you can win millions. Someone told me there are fewer states involved in Mega Millions but I don't know details on that one, because I haven't played it or checked into that one much.

For Minnesota, ONLY, we have the Gopher Five. We choose five number and that is it. The odds are better, of course, because it is only Minnesota. The Gopher Five starts out at $100,000 and goes up each week. It has reached as much as one million, in the past and sometimes, before it is hit.

There are a few others that are smaller like NorthStar Cash, Daily Three and more.

I used to play Gopher Five on a regular basis due to the odds. I used to RARELY buy the Powerball, maybe one to times a year. I also played Daily Three and NorthStar Cash, on occasion.

The past, maybe six months or so, I have been buying ONE Powerball quick pick on quite a regular basis. The reason is that I always say, "when I win the lottery.... " but I would then rarely play! lol! Well, I can't win if I don't play, right? The Powerball is $1.00 and they draw twice per week. I now play as often as I can, but not every single time.

I am trying to also pick up on the Gopher Five. I started playing when my youngest son, now 23, was 3, because I have my sons' ages as part of my first numbers. That many years ago, I chose two sets of numbers. I have them memorized, so if I don't play for a while I CANNOT look at the results at all. If they drew when I didn't play and they picked my numbers, I would go into a permanent depression, lol. That is why I advise to do quick picks. For the Gopher Five I play my two sets of numbers and that is $2.00. The problem is they used to draw twice per week and now they increased that to three times a week. I can't afford that, so I just play the Gopher, here and there.

Okay. This is a REALLY long message, so I am going to write the next one about scratch-off tickets and ask my questions there.

For this one: What type of lottery do you have in your area? Do you play? What is the most you have ever one on THIS TYPE (NOT scratch tickets) lottery?

I won $250.00 playing the Gopher Five SEVERAL years ago, now. I missed one number, at the time. They have changed the payout since then, but I am not sure what four numbers is now. The most I have won on Powerball is like $3.00 for hitting the actual Powerball.

hope777

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7 January 2012 - 9:27pm (#1)

Scratch tickets: I used to buy these a little too often, lol, so for a long time now, I have put myself on a budget/set a limit for these. I also decided that when I was tempted to buy a scratch-off ticket, I would, instead, purchase a Powerball or a Gopher Five.

In Minnesota, we have tickets ranging from $1.00 to $20.00. The twenty-dollar tickets are 1:3 odds. I think the top prize is around $500.000 for the twenty-dollar tickets. For the $1.00 tickets, it is like 3 to 5,000. I have never had the courage to buy a twenty-dollar scratch-off and I don't think I ever will, lol. The most I spend is $3.00 and you can win from $21,000 to $30,000 on the three-dollar tickets.

When I was in Florida, I was surprised to notice they had several scratch off tickets where you could win one million or more! In Minnesota, there is nothing like that available as far as "top prizes" go.

The reason I tend to purchase the $3.00 tickets is that I love the crossword ones. I also like the Bingo ones. The reason I like both of those is that it takes a while to play them and I enjoy taking my time with the tickets.

Like I said, I have now set a limit on the number of scratch offs that I can buy per month (and per payday, lol). I also purchase only ONE ticket at a time of a specific kind. I started doing this, because a few times I bought like three of the same one-dollar tickets, won on the first one then not on the next two, so I ended up only breaking even. So...now...only one at a time.

If I buy a three-dollar ticket and win my money back I buy one more. If I buy a three-dollar ticket and win, say, six dollars, I will purchase one more of that ticket and get my three dollars back. That is the method to my madness, lol.

Now for the fun question. What is the MOST MONEY you have won on a scratch-off ticket?

The MOST I have ever won was $300.00 on a crossword. That was really fun! Right before Christmas, I purchased a three-dollar ticket called "Rings of Cash," and I won $100.00! I was so shocked and surprised, because I hadn't won a large amount on a scratch-off ticket in a long time. I won $25.00 on one "ring" and $75.00 on another. I was no the phone with my friend when I was playing it, lol.

Do you play scratch-off tickets? What are the types in your area? Which ones are your favorites? AND What is the most you have ever won playing a scratch-off ticket?

I won't even get started on pull-tabs, lol, because I do not play them. They have these in Minnesota at bars and at the casino. You see people at the bar with baskets and baskets full of pull-tab losers and they are still playing away trying to hit that big one and the prizes usually only go up to 2 or 300 bucks. I won the very first time I played them in the early 80s. My brother used to go the bar the next morning and "buy out" boxes where there were only a few left and still held big prizes. He did that several times back then.

My friends that are so lucky went to the casino. The husband was waiting for his wife to get some type of reward so she was waiting in line. He was standing by the pull-tab booth and he reached in his pocket and found a quarter. He bought ONE pull tab and ended up winning $1198.00! I just don't have that kind of luck! lol!

LuckyMe

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7 January 2012 - 9:45pm (#2)

I rarely play the scratch offs or the lottery tickets. The most I have ever won on a scratch off was $50.00 many years ago. My ex won $10,000 before on a scratch off. That was before I knew him but I did see a copy of the ticket.

My brother use to do the pull tabs and has won quite a lot of money on them. I don't know how much he has spent on them either. He may break even.

Some friends and I had been playing at a casino and were on our way out. My friend gave me and the other person with me one last token to play. I won about $125.00 on one spin! I ended up giving her and the other person $10 to play with but none of us won anymore. It's fun winning that much money on one spin.

hope777

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8 January 2012 - 4:17am (#3)

LuckyMe wrote:

My brother use to do the pull tabs and has won quite a lot of money on them. I don't know how much he has spent on them either. He may break even.

Woo Hoo! You ARE Lucky, LuckyMe! lol That is a fun story.

LuckyMe

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8 January 2012 - 5:16am (#4)

hope777 wrote:

Woo Hoo! You ARE Lucky, LuckyMe! lol That is a fun story.[/quote]

I am lucky with some things but other things not so much. Maybe I should change my name to LuckyMeSometimes

CL-Ed

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9 January 2012 - 3:30am (#5)

We have a bunch of different lotteries here. Lotto, OzLotto, Powerball and the Soccer Pools. I don't play very often - mainly just when there is a huge draw or someone gives us a ticket as a gift. I know someone that won Lotto in the 80s. She won over $800,000 I think.

My mother gave me one of those crossword scratch tickets this year for Christmas. She always buys a bunch of them for everyone in the family at Christmas time. We never win anything worth writing about though. I think the most anyone ever won was $10 or so on a single ticket. I once sold a ticket to a woman who won $700 many years ago when I worked in a newsagent. But thats the best I can do on those ones!

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hope777

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11 January 2012 - 5:46am (#6)

I never give lottery tickets as gifts, because if someone won big, I would have to dislike them for life. lol! And if they don't win? Like Jerry Seinfeld says, "Here! I gave you nothing!"

I thought of putting "Minnesota Millionaire Raffle Tickets" in my sons' stockings, but if I ever did it would have to be with "conditions," lol.

Tonight I bought one Powerball with one set of numbers and one Gopher Five with three sets of numbers (my two memorized sets and a quick pick). Wish me luck for Wednesday night!

When I bought the Powerball there is a sign that the Powerball is changing, but I couldn't read the details, so I have to look this up online now. I did notice it said the Powerball will now be TWO dollars instead of ONE dollar. That better mean there are more prizes and more chances to win!

LuckyMe

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11 January 2012 - 6:37am (#7)

Hope, I am sending you some good luck. I don't like scratch offs as gifts either since I am not lucky with them. As you said, if the person loses then they have nothing to show for ....it except a piece of paper.

I did play scratch offs at one of the casinos today. It was kind of fun but didn't win anything outstanding.

hope777

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11 January 2012 - 10:03pm (#8)

I don't think I have ever tried the scratch offs at the casinos. Maybe once, but it must have been a long time ago. I have tried the Bingo and the Keno. I have never liked Keno, land or online, but my friend's hubby has won BIG jackpots on Keno at the land casinos.

I also LOVE video poker at the land casinos but I don't like playing it online. I don't know why, but it is just not as fun for me to play it online. Strange, lol.

CL-Ed

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11 January 2012 - 10:47pm (#9)

I have to say I find online scratchcards to be incredibly lame. I don't like them at all.

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hope777

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11 January 2012 - 11:01pm (#10)

CL-Ed wrote:

I have to say I find online scratchcards to be incredibly lame. I don't like them at all.

Lol, I tend to agree with that statement, but I guess one doesn't know until they try. I bet not many people actually do them that often.

LuckyMe

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12 January 2012 - 12:37am (#11)

hope777 wrote:

CL-Ed wrote:

I have to say I find online scratchcards to be incredibly lame. I don't like them at all.

Lol, I tend to agree with that statement, but I guess one doesn't know until they try. I bet not many people actually do them that often.

Yeah, I had no idea what they were at first. I have to try everything at least once (casino games that is). What is almost funny is always the cards or dice (don't remember now) that are the 7's, the ones that are the winning cards or 11's) have 1x on them. All of the other cards or dice have 200x, 1000x. Those never had the 7's or 11's when I played. I'm sure someone has to win on them sometimes though.

hope777

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13 January 2012 - 3:35am (#12)

I just won another $25.00 on the "rings of cash" scratch off, which is the same one I won the $100.00 on right before Christmas! Now the problem is I think every ticket will be a bigger winner, lol! I am talking about LAND lottery and scratch offs, just to be clear.

Yes, LM, I understand about trying everything once. Good that you are exploring, but I am sure you soon discovered you don't get very far with those scratch offs (even though someone has to win sometimes!).

LuckyMe

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13 January 2012 - 6:22am (#13)

hope777 wrote:

I think I played 5 times and won twice. It's kind of boring. I tried Keno too but I didn't win much there either.

stavrinho

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13 January 2012 - 1:05pm (#14)

There is only 1 lottery company in my country...
Republic Of Georgia...
to win jackpot 2 310 000GEL = 1 400 000 USD u play with 6/36 ticket... some more info...
There are 2 types of the game: “standard” and “standard+”
“Standard” game: Pick out the desired 6 numbers from 1 through 36. Mark the desired numbers on the lotto choice card. Each 6 number combination means 1 standard ticket for the purposes of a lotto draw.
There are 5 choice tables on a lotto choice card. By choosing 6-number combinations in all 5 tables you are able to purchase 5 lotto “standard tickets”. It is also possible to purchase a “standard ticket” without the choice card. Tell your desired 6 numbers to the personnel at the service centers and get the lotto ticket.
With a 6-number combination it is possible to take part in more than one draw. Enter the number of draws of your choice on the choice card, or tell about it to the personnel at a trade facility. If you wish a machine to select automatically the desired 6-number combination promptly, mark the corresponding field on the choice card or inform the personnel about it, and get the official lotto ticket.
When playing the “Standard+” game you are able to choose seven and more different numbers from 1 through 36. Respectively, you will get all possible 6-number combinations out of the numbers chosen. Each 6-number combination equals to 1 purchased ticket with the price of 2 GEL;
Example: choosing 8 different numbers from 1 through 36 results in 28 different 6-number combinations, meaning that 28 tickets are to be purchased. The more the numbers chosen, the more the chances to win the largest prize. During a live draw the drawing machine draws 7 winning numbers from 1 through 36, 6 of them being main numbers and the additional one — a bonus number.
The ticket wins if 4 numbers from the chosen 6 ones coincides with the drawn numbers — three of them with the main ones and the remaining number with a bonus one.

hope777

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13 January 2012 - 4:44pm (#15)

Thanks for explaining that, Stavrinho! I find it interesting to hear what is available in other countries and even other parts of the United States. It sounds as if I have a great deal more variety than you do, when it comes to the lottery, but that also means I have more chances to "donate" my money to the state, lol.

Here, our lottery funds are used for the environment and other things that benefit the state of Minnesota, so I am donating my money to a good cause, right? lol

Thanks, again, for sharing!

CL-Ed

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16 January 2012 - 6:58am (#16)

6 from 36 is pretty good. They used to have 6 from 36 here when I was young, but every few years they add another ball and make it harder to win. I think its 6 from 45 or 46 now.

Look at the difference it makes to the odds of winning:

(6/36) * (5/35) * (4/34) * (3/33) * (2/32) * (1/31) = 0.000000513 or 1 in 1,949,318

(6/45) * (5/44) * (4/43) * (3/42) * (2/41) * (1/40) = 0.000000123 or 1 in 8,130,081

stavrinho

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16 January 2012 - 12:13pm (#17)

yep it's pretty good chance to win a jackpot... about an here ago there was 6/38 lottery.. and they deducted 2...
and one woman won 5 M GEL... but I'm sure she didn't got paid properly.. after that their sales got reduced...

hope777

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18 January 2012 - 12:21am (#18)

That IS a huge difference, CL-Ed! I always like it when someone "does the math" for me.

Ubetcha

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24 January 2012 - 5:02pm (#19)

We also have lottery & scratch off games in the Lone Star State such as Powerball, Mega Million, TX Lotto, TX Two Step. I won some scratch off tickets a while back. Most of the percentage earned is going to fund schools for education. But still, I don't get it.. some of the schools I heard were closing. That's a lot of money and yet it's not enough..??

hope777

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25 January 2012 - 12:58am (#20)

With education, it is never enough Ubetcha. For someone closely tied to the public school system, I witness so much waste that it makes me ill. I will tell you no matter how much the lottery funds education, and no matter how many times that voters vote to have their own property taxes increased in referendum after referendum, the schools will NEVER have enough.

I remember one school where the parents were threatened by saying if they did not pass the referendum that class sizes would go up to 30:1 for student-teacher ratio. Well, they passed the referendum, and guess what? Class sizes swelled to OVER 30:1, which is a very sad thing for our children/students.

I found out about the new Powerball. The top prize still goes up each week, but the second prize, which used to be around 200,000, I think, is now a cool million! Some are angry about the price going on, saying the increased odds do not make it worth it, so my hope is that everyone will go play the MegaMillion, leaving me the only one still buying the Powerball, then my odds will go up, haha!

I bought a Minnesota Gopher Five for Wednesday night. The prize starts at 100,000, and I think it is around 560,000 right now, which I could definitely handle!