Lottery

[Kiwon]

What's the catch? None!!! It's not race based, income based, gender based, age based, religion based - just good student based. I'm proud to say all three of my kids made it through college on Hope. Well my oldest took a couple of extra years so he had to pay for two years but still pretty awesome.

Congrats, AtlPackFan! Three kids through college is something to celebrate. I'm glad that there are a few politicians that still care about their people.

Typically, however, when gambling revenues rise, the educational budgets for the coming year get cut or proposed increases are left unfunded. State lawmakers just don't have the fiscal discipline and morals to do the right thing.

The odds of winning the above lottery were 1 in 176,000,000. A few win something. The vast majority, tens of thousands of people, get nothing in return except a few minutes of excitement.

I think that states that promote the lottery are doing their people a huge disservice. They appeal to everyone's "get rich quick" impulse and the net result is that many of the most vunerable (and guible) take the bait and voluntarily fork over to the state money that their families need. Instead of teaching their citizens fiscal responsibility and independence they are promoting irresponsibility and making their people ever more reliant on the government system.

It's a huge negative in my view.

[AtlPackFan]

What's the catch? None!!! It's not race based, income based, gender based, age based, religion based - just good student based. I'm proud to say all three of my kids made it through college on Hope. Well my oldest took a couple of extra years so he had to pay for two years but still pretty awesome.

Congrats, AtlPackFan! Three kids through college is something to celebrate. I'm glad that there are a few politicians that still care about their people.

Typically, however, when gambling revenues rise, the educational budgets for the coming year get cut or proposed increases are left unfunded. State lawmakers just don't have the fiscal discipline and morals to do the right thing.

The odds of winning the above lottery were 1 in 176,000,000. A few win something. The vast majority, tens of thousands of people, get nothing in return except a few minutes of excitement.

I think that states that promote the lottery are doing their people a huge disservice. They appeal to everyone's "get rich quick" impulse and the net result is that many of the most vunerable (and guible) take the bait and voluntarily fork over to the state money that their families need. Instead of teaching their citizens fiscal responsibility and independence they are promoting irresponsibility and making their people ever more reliant on the government system.

It's a huge negative in my view.

For the most part I agree with your assessment. In general, politicians/lawmakers have not demonstrated fiscal care. And, yes, the odds of winning are incredibly high.

But in general, I don't see anything wrong with putting a few dollars down here and there on lottery tickets or scratch off games. I think most who play view it as entertainment and do so within their financial means. And while they may entertain the thought of "what would I do with millions of dollars", all realize the odds.

Yes, there are those who obsess and play beyond their means and that is tragic. But you can't say you want less govemment on one hand and then say the state needs to teach fiscal responsibility on the other. It is not the state's job to teach fiscal responsibility. That, in my view, should be done at home and at an early age.

My parents bet on sheepshead, bingo-bango-bongo in golf and once and awhile a few bucks at the casino - always within their means. They have imparted their views on how to handle money to their children and we to ours. That is - in my humble opinion - where the responsibility for this lies, not with the state.

Don't get me wrong. I don't promote state sponsored gambling. It would be nice if programs - even good ones like HOPE - could be funded another way. But is it any more irresponsible than accepting revenue from alcohol and cigarette taxes? Isn't that also sanctioning unhealthy and addictive behaviors?

Anyway, not a huge fan of the state sponsored gambling, wish revenues would be generated in other ways but I am glad that Georgia - at least to this point - is using the revenues wisely. That was all I was really trying to say - not that I supported gambling, but that I was glad the revenues were funding a good program.

[Charles Woodson]

ATL, Florida does the same thing with what we call Florida Bright Futures Scholarship. They will pay all 4 years if college if you do a certain amount of Community Service.. I think its something like 75 hours. The only catch is that they will only pay if the college is in Florida. and i think thats the same thing for hope that the college has to be in the state. Florida along with a few other states does the same thing with the lottery that it goes to education.

[Partial]

I think its kind of funny that the profits from "the fools game" go towards improving education and schools. Perhaps the next generation of "fools" will realize exactly how foolish it is to play the lottery.

[AtlPackFan]

ATL, Florida does the same thing with what we call Florida Bright Futures Scholarship. They will pay all 4 years if college if you do a certain amount of Community Service.. I think its something like 75 hours. The only catch is that they will only pay if the college is in Florida. and i think thats the same thing for hope that the college has to be in the state. Florida along with a few other states does the same thing with the lottery that it goes to education.

Yes, school has to be in GA but I think there is enough quality schools in most states that one can USUALLLY find a school that handles their major well.

[AtlPackFan]

I think its kind of funny that the profits from "the fools game" go towards improving education and schools. Perhaps the next generation of "fools" will realize exactly how foolish it is to play the lottery.

Perhaps....

[Partial]

I think its kind of funny that the profits from "the fools game" go towards improving education and schools. Perhaps the next generation of "fools" will realize exactly how foolish it is to play the lottery.

Perhaps....

I am not trying to offend anyone, its just kind of funny.

The odds of winning are astronomical. If I was to play, it'd be more to have a little bit of fun and play a game versus trying to actually winning money.

[Guiness]

Won 1,200 once on a 2 dollar trifecta ticket.
It's better to be lucky than good.

Best I did was a ~$2000 payout on roulette - I was playing the el cheapo $2 bets, and hit on a number - wow, $72, right? I was talking, and didn't pick up the winnings, so let it ride - and the stupid number hit again! I just about pissed my self laughing.


My opinion is with SC's - except I've heard it called 'idiot tax' because it's a tax on idiots. When people talk about buying tickets, I tell them I'm going down to the store, just give me the money...I'll let them know if they win.

[AtlPackFan]

I think its kind of funny that the profits from "the fools game" go towards improving education and schools. Perhaps the next generation of "fools" will realize exactly how foolish it is to play the lottery.

Perhaps....

I am not trying to offend anyone, its just kind of funny.

The odds of winning are astronomical. If I was to play, it'd be more to have a little bit of fun and play a game versus trying to actually winning money.

None taken.

I can't imagine anyone playing these games not knowing the odds. My wife puts a couple of scratch off games in our stockings at Christmas every year. Anyone who wins over $20 (no one has yet) has to buy everyone a drink the next time we are out. And with the price of drinks at restaurants, the winner would probably wish he hadn't.

Did we buy tickets for the MegaMillions the other night? You bet! Spent five whole bucks...and then we forgot to watch the drawing! Completely forgot about them until they talked about the winners the next morning on the news.

And no, we didn't win anything.

[MJZiggy]

I'd like to think you'd have said something if you had...