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Lotteries are like Robin Hood in reverse. They steal from the poor and give to the rich. It tends to
be the poorest people in society who participate in lotteries. They desperately hope that one random
stroke of good fortune can lift them out of their dire economic circumstances. Of course, for nearly
all of them, that doesn't happen and the money they spend on the lottery is money down the drain.
But where does the lottery money go? It goes to fund arts projects, opera houses, poetry recitals
and so forth - all middle class pursuits. So the lottery basically leeches money from the working
class and doles it out to finance middle class leisure interests. |
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Most people who participate in lottos do not bear the typical characteristics of avid gamblers.
Lottos, after all, are usually drawn once or twice a week and this structure means that participants
are essentially 'forced' to wait out the results and be patient. This is in stark contrast to slot
machines and other forms of casino gambling, which offer instant gratification; something that
lotteries can never provide.
Many people who regularly participate in lotteries find that in the long-run, they either break
even, or lose only very small amounts of money. It is not uncommon, for example, to guess three out
of six numbers drawn and be awarded $10. If you pay $2 per draw and participate in a weekly lottery,
then you will still break even, regardless of whether or not you lose the next five draws. The only
time when lotteries have proven dangerous, is when people win the grand prize and rapidly become
greedy and unrealistic, causing them to invest huge amounts in the purchase of subsequent tickets,
or spend their funds in an irresponsible manner. |
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Yes it has an impulsive influence on people |
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No, i will not agree with this gateway effect of leading to heavier gambling.
I love a gamble, I always have I feel it is something I was born with in a way. I do not classify
myself as an addict as I stick to the golden rule of never betting more than I can afford to lose.
It is more of a hobby. If you want to gamble you should be able to. If someone has the personality
that leads them to gambling they will have been betting on ants crawling across the floor or which
raindrop falls down the window first. Anything you could stake a wager on, from an early age. I
ran books on sports at school.
Anyone who knows about it knows that the lottery doesn't fulfil the buzzes that a gambling addict
seeks. It is more of a raffle than gambling. The odds are so spectacularly against you I never
play it. If someone is stupid enough to chase their losses on the lottery (a true sign of an
addicted gambler) they are that dumb they would most likely only spend their money on magic beans
anyway. |
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I live in Nevada, the most notorious state for gambling.
The gaming industry constantly lobbies against the institution of a state lottery. This is despite
that it would enrich the public coffers -- and, God knows, Nevada needs increased schools funding.
So here, the opponents of a state lottery are not concerned with the morality of gambling.
Many Nevadans cross the state line to buy California lottery tickets. When the latter was put in
place, naysayers bemoaned its effect on morality and the poor, who are looking for ways to get rich
quick. None of that came to pass, and California’s schools benefit greatly from lottery ticket
sales.
Another big scare for the Nevada gaming consortium is the proliferation of Indian gambling casinos
in California. The tribes benefit greatly from the slot machine income, but it has created many
social problems, too, and some tribal elders now decry the trend. |
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Yes, they can be causes of compulsive gambling. However, much of the money from lotteries is given
to schools, which helps boost students' education, which leads to a better economy and better
opportunities. |
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17 Mar 2008 20:39
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