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the odds in
the lottery
The News Reporter news staff’s experiment of playing the North Carolina Education lottery turned out exactly like we thought – the obliteration of $100 in short order.
A true lottery, in theory, shouldn’t be so predictable, but why would any state or casino get into the gambling business if they knew they weren’t going to make money?
We bought $100 worth of $1, $2 and $5 tickets soon after the lottery began and scratched them at six consecutive staff meetings. Whatever we “won” on the cards was used to buy another round of tickets. Our experiment wouldn’t end until we were out of money or we hit the jackpot.
Some people do hit the jackpot. We’ve seen at least two emails from the N.C. Lottery Commission telling of $77,000 winners.
Supporters of gambling and lotteries say that people should have the right to do what they wish with their money. Maybe they’re right, but be warned.
Our little experiment proved that playing the lottery is fools’ gold except for the occasionally well-publicized big-ticket winner.
Perhaps our experiment could be accused of sucking the fun out of a harmless game; in fact, staff members will admit it was fairly exciting to see if the last number scratched would yield a big winner.
In the long run, though, the excitement for most people will surely fade as one $100 bill after another is squandered. It’s hard to beat the odds.