In case you've forgotten or are new to the game,
modern day lotteries are designed as a form of income for state governments.
They are an alternative to raising taxes. This non-tax income is usually
earmarked for a noble cause. Education, road and highway improvements,
and parks and recreation facilities are the most popular.
Lotteries
are advertised as a form of entertainment, but we all know what prompts players.
It's not the enjoyment of paying a dollar and trying to guess which number
combination is going to be drawn next. "And, if I don't guess the right number
combination, well, at least I've helped the government." If that were the case,
then there are a lot of players out there who have gone broke being humanitarians.
No.
Players are there because of the enticement of becoming rich. As a matter of fact,
many of these players see the lottery as possibly their only chance of ever
getting rich. This becomes even more evident when a lottery "rolls over"
causing the grand prize amount to become very high. Lottery lines become very
long and lottery business booms. Even those who don't usually play jump into the
game. Greed, then, is the underlying issue. Greed is what prompts the players
and advertisements for the lottery play on this same greed.
The
basic concept works well for all parties concerned. Politicians aren't forced into
raising taxes, making them look bad. They raise the money they need, and some
people do become rich. The others who supported this concept become humanitarians.
Well, at least they had a chance of becoming rich. How many of them had a good
appreciation of just how much of a chance, or how little a chance, they actually
had of becoming grand prize winners?
By
design, the state cannot lose money on the lottery. First of all, they don't have
to play the odds. You do. As a matter of fact, they don't even play! Next,
the pay out, no matter what the game, is designed to give them a profit.
Of course, that was the whole purpose in the very beginning. Everyone puts
their money into one pot. The state takes their share (usually half). They
didn't need to play the odds or win. They've already won. The drawing takes
place and those with winning tickets share the money that is left in the pot.
It is impossible for the players, the ones at risk, to recoup their money.
Half of it is already gone! One, or maybe a few, become grand prize winners
and the rest the losers. There are also a number of lower tier winners. Enough
to keep the game interesting.
The
foremost requirement for a game of chance is that no one knows the outcome
before it happens. Lotteries and manufacturers of lottery products go to much
expense and great detail to guarantee that the outcome of a lottery game
is the result of pure chance. Other procedures make it impossible for someone
to buy a lottery ticket after the drawing, thus ensuring themselves of becoming
a grand prize winner. For our purposes, we have no doubt that the lotteries do
everything they're supposed to, therefore, giving us purely random drawings.
They depend on it. If, for any reason, there were any doubt about the integrity
of the lottery no one would play the game. We depend on purely random drawings
to know that we have as much a chance of winning as anyone else. What you
didn't know was that we depend on purely random drawings because we can
calculate expected results.
Like
any other game of chance, the odds do prevail when it comes to the lottery. And,
just like any other game of chance, knowing and playing the odds can make you a
much better player. Players can take a cue from casino owners who know and play
the odds. They know that over a period of time they will win more than they will
lose. They know that one particular roll of the dice or one particular spin of
the roulette wheel does not make a difference. Consistency is the name of the
game. The calculated odds are in their favor and they know that over a period
of time the odds will prevail. If someone didn't win something every once in
a while no one would play. As with the lottery, winners are good for business,
but, they are the exception and not the rule.
By design,
all winners of the lottery are recipients of blind luck, regardless of
how smart they were playing. Because the odds will never be in your
favor, no matter what, it is still going to take a certain amount of
luck to win. The best that you can do, then, is to better position
yourself for luck to strike. It is for this reason alone that you
should play responsibly. Do not risk the house, the wife, or the kids
for a better chance of winning the lottery!
When
it comes to playing the lottery, the odds are totally against the
players. To have a better than average chance of winning, you must
make an effort to know and play the odds. There is no way of turning the
odds in your favor. That will not happen. However, with some sacrifice,
you can use the odds to your benefit.
For
those who would like to take a more scientific approach, there is
help. Through Lottery America Calculated Results Tables you learn to play the odds.
You get to pick the odds you want to play. Once you've seen the
Lottery America Calculated Results Tables, you will come away looking at the
lottery with a whole new perspective. Indeed, you are much better able to
better position yourself for luck to strike. You will be able to
play the type(s) of number combinations which are drawn the most
consistently. With some emphasis placed on your pocketbook, you are
able to test your skills without spending a dime on the lottery. You
will be able to watch and track actual drawing results. When you feel
you're ready, go for it. Opportunities do arise and present themselves
through the Calculated Results Tables.
