SIGforum
Why do you play the Lottery??
August 23, 2017, 09:36 PM
SigSauerP226Why do you play the Lottery??
I agree, it's just fun to dream. Gives you a day or two to get excited about something and look forward to the drawing. When you lose, you aren't disappointed because you knew you wouldn't win. If by some insane miracle you win, then it's obviously worth it.
...Then it comes to be that the soothing light at the end of your tunnel, was just a freight train coming your way... August 23, 2017, 09:52 PM
CA DuckHunterquote:
Originally posted by SigJacket:
quote:
Originally posted by BurtonRW:
Because...
Lump sum is worth almost $288M after taxes. Conservative investments and a 2.5% skim off the top means living on a mere $138K per week - and that's without touching the principal, which would be earning quite a bit more than 2.5%.
That's why.
-Rob
$443M lump sum, 25% fed tax, 6% state in Georgia. I figure $305M in take home.
Nevertheless, couple o bucks for cheap entertainment.
Not to be a downer, but I think the lump sum payout would put you into the 39.6% tax rate.....
August 23, 2017, 10:02 PM
StorminNorminYou have to play to win and I rarely play unless the jackpot is really high. Every rare time we have played, we win nothing. Tonight my wife bought numbers for the Powerball.
Why do we play at all? Well if we won then we could buy a nice piece of land to build a modest home on. We would help out some friends and family, do some charity work, and probably open a facility for lost and found birds to take care of them.
NRA Benefactor Life Member August 23, 2017, 10:10 PM
divilI haven't played in years. The nagging thought of Voluntary supplemental taxation courses through my mind.
Plus if I did play and actually won, I would suddenly have all of these new friends and long lost relatives.
No thanks.
August 24, 2017, 12:08 AM
newtoSig765Well, I played, but lost -- again. Somebody in Massachusetts appears to have taken the whole thing, and at least 25 others in various states matched 5 numbers and won a million or two each.
Back to reality! *sigh*
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Every normal man must be tempted, at times, to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats.
-- H L Mencken
I always prefer reality when I can figure out what it is.
-- JALLEN 10/18/18
August 24, 2017, 12:10 AM
Excam_ManSomeone in MA is very happy... 700 Mil Winner.
26 people won at least 1 mil this time (including the jackpot winner).
That's why I play when it gets into the crazy money. Someone has to win and this is the only way I'm ever going to see that kind of dough.
August 24, 2017, 12:16 AM
XLTquote:
Originally posted by Black92LX:
I play with zero regularity but throw a few bucks at the Powerball when it gets silly high.
Not that I think I have any chance of winning in fact I know good and well I won't be winning anything aor all.
But for some reason when I buy a few tickets imagining what we would do with the money seems so much more vivid kind of like watching a movie in color vs. black and white.
Lots of money would be given away in some silly ridiculous ways if I won it all.
But all I really need is 1 million after taxes. I'd buy 4 years into my pension so I can retire in 4. My wife would quit work and the house would be paid off and kids school paid off and we'd live just about how we do now. Just no work for my wife.
And a little bit given to charity.
why would you keep working ? retire in 4 years ?? why waste four years of your life working when you could do whatever you want? I could think of a million things to do and work isn't one of them.

August 24, 2017, 12:18 AM
FenderBenderI don't because I can't. at least not without driving to California.
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The point is, who will stop me?
August 24, 2017, 12:44 AM
CopefreeSomeone in MA is now $700MM richer

. Holy hell, can you imagine?!?
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Mind. Over. Matter.
August 24, 2017, 12:46 AM
46and2Damn.
August 24, 2017, 12:53 AM
dwright1951I like to waste money on useless things, just kidding I don't play the lottery.
August 24, 2017, 01:02 AM
Black92LXquote:
Originally posted by XLT:
quote:
Originally posted by Black92LX:
I play with zero regularity but throw a few bucks at the Powerball when it gets silly high.
Not that I think I have any chance of winning in fact I know good and well I won't be winning anything aor all.
But for some reason when I buy a few tickets imagining what we would do with the money seems so much more vivid kind of like watching a movie in color vs. black and white.
Lots of money would be given away in some silly ridiculous ways if I won it all.
But all I really need is 1 million after taxes. I'd buy 4 years into my pension so I can retire in 4. My wife would quit work and the house would be paid off and kids school paid off and we'd live just about how we do now. Just no work for my wife.
And a little bit given to charity.
why would you keep working ? retire in 4 years ?? why waste four years of your life working when you could do whatever you want? I could think of a million things to do and work isn't one of them.
If I only won around 1 million I would still have to. Have not broken down numbers seriously but Probably up to 5 million or so I would work 4 more years (earliest I could retire). I am young 4 years is nothing to keep working so I would then have a continued income stream (pretty much guaranteed) and healthcare coverage for life.
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The world's not perfect, but it's not that bad.
If we got each other, and that's all we have.
I will be your brother, and I'll hold your hand.
You should know I'll be there for you!
August 24, 2017, 01:42 AM
slosigI guess I am a cheap bastard, but I don't. I've always figured the lottery was a tax on people who don't understand statistics.
Every once in a while I'll indulge myself in a daydream of what I would do if I won a jackpot that resulted in a silly amount of money after taxes on the lump sum payment - say $500,000,000.00. There are a few charities I'd like to help out, some scholarships to endow, some funds to set up to spend the income on various hobbies/toys, etc. I figure not buying a ticket doesn't measurably affect my chance of winning, so I can save the bucks.

I'll probably buy a ticket one of these days, but I'm not holding my breath. As much as I didn't care for that class in college, I do understand statistics.
August 24, 2017, 04:20 AM
PHPaulDon't play, because math.
I can dream for free and the odds are roughly the same.
Be careful when following the masses. Sometimes the M is silent.
August 24, 2017, 04:59 AM
Black92LXquote:
Originally posted by PHPaul:
Don't play, because math.
I can dream for free and the odds are roughly the same.
As can I and I do but for some reason if I have a couple tickets the dreams are much more vivid.
————————————————
The world's not perfect, but it's not that bad.
If we got each other, and that's all we have.
I will be your brother, and I'll hold your hand.
You should know I'll be there for you!
August 24, 2017, 05:02 AM
BurtonRWquote:
Originally posted by Copefree:
Someone in MA is now $700MM richer

. Holy hell, can you imagine?!?
Could have been an office pool. I used to run one with 20-25 regular participants.
Still, I'd be happy to take 1/25 of that pie!
Hey - there's at least one $1M winner in Maryland. If it's me, I'll run a really nice karma once I've collected.
-Rob
I predict that there will be many suggestions and statements about the law made here, and some of them will be spectacularly wrong. - jhe888
A=A August 24, 2017, 05:08 AM
Balzé Halzéquote:
Originally posted by PHPaul:
Don't play, because math.
Well, for someone in MA, the math worked out pretty well.
~Alan
Acta Non Verba
NRA Life Member (Patron)
God, Family, Guns, Country
Men will fight and die to protect women... because women protect everything else. ~Andrew Klavan
August 24, 2017, 05:27 AM
Boat FunI always remember Jim Carrey's character in "Dumb and Dumber" when he asks the pretty girl (Lauren Holly) if there is any chance at all she would go on a date with him. She answers "One in a million". He is elated and states "You mean I have a chance!". That is why I play. I know the odds suck but....."I have a chance!"
August 24, 2017, 05:43 AM
WishboneI used to play and never won and then I realized it's just an idiot tax and I stopped.
August 24, 2017, 05:55 AM
Oz_ShadowI probably spend $10 or less on the big draw lottery tickets each year. It's cheap entertainment playing the what-if game.