Is it ever worth playing the lottery

Speedbird676

The only time I ever buy one is when there's a Euromillions non-rollover draw and the chance of the jackpot rolling down to the next prize level.

The other half and I usually stick a tenner each on in those circumstances just for fun.

sevenhills

FaceHead said:

I never play the lottery. I'm an economist by profession, so see it as a voluntary form of taxation.

I used to buy a ticket when I was in a lottery ticket corner shop. But I haven't bought one for months and months.

I did it online a month ago. I was very unclear what I had committed to, but its around £15 per month. I haven't won anything. I view it as a donation to charity, which I haven't done much of either. I tell a lie, I did win a free lucky dip.

I will cancel it, when I feel I have spent enough.

cattom

I don't play lottery, euromillions ,village fete raffles etc. instead I pay £50 a month into premium bonds and have done for several years. it pays out now and again. won £50 last month. so thats my lottery. difference is of course I dont lose my capital.

csgohan4

I dabble in the Euro mil when its over 100mil from time to time for the fun of it, nothing more nothing less

Nice to imagine what you would do with 100mil. I would certainly exceed my tax wrappers available sadly. 

MX5huggy

You just need 1427 friends to borrow their ISA and premium bond allowance. 

coyrls

I should think you'd find that you had a lot of new friends if you won £100 million.

MalMonroe

I have come to realise that the answer to this question is an emphatic NO.  I used to play regularly and would occasionally win one of the very small prizes (less than £4). Then the cost of tickets increased and I started to win nothing. It could have just been coincidence (yes, it probably was) but it dawned on me that I might as well make regular small donations direct to a charity of my own choosing instead of to a lottery. When it comes to lotteries or prize winning and things of that nature, I have become invisible. I won't become a millionaire and now I've come to terms with that, I can go forward with confidence!  

Mickey666

I find it interesting that firstly, the OP is an economist (knows the price of everything but the value of nothing? ) and that secondly, no one has mentioned the pleasure that some people get from gambling.  That must have some value, right?  And if £2.50 buys a week's worth of pleasurable anticipation and day-dreaming about how a win could change their lives, then it could be considered that it's £2.50 well spent - win or lose.

mooneysaver

MalMonroe said:

I have come to realise that the answer to this question is an emphatic NO.

Congratulations, you're  a moron: https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.cbsnews.com/amp/news/jerry-and-marge-selbee-how-a-retired-couple-won-millions-using-a-lottery-loophole-60-minutes-2019-06-09/

barnstar2077

Mickey666 said:

I find it interesting that firstly, the OP is an economist (knows the price of everything but the value of nothing? ) and that secondly, no one has mentioned the pleasure that some people get from gambling.  That must have some value, right?  And if £2.50 buys a week's worth of pleasurable anticipation and day-dreaming about how a win could change their lives, then it could be considered that it's £2.50 well spent - win or lose.

I agree.  I do the Set For Life one.  The Euromillions is just that bit too expensive for me, where as I don't mind losing £13.  I started it up during lockdown as my outgoings had dropped so much because I wasn't going out, so I figured why not.

It is nice to know while I am slaving away on the coalface (and gradually investing my money towards my early retirement) that I may be plucked from the clutches of misery any day now.  It is impossible to live without hope, and £13 a month for hope seems pretty cheap to me! :  )