Lottery

[JolyB]

I think that a person who buys a lottery ticket in Arkansas has just as much of a chance of winning the jackpot as a buyer in California (naturally, it is more likely that someone from Cal will win because there are many more tickets sold there). Unfortunately, that chance is something like 302.6 million to one.

We horseplayers talk about a takeout at the track that makes it very difficult to show a wagering profit. The "takeout" from all of the various lottery programs is much, much more prohibitive than any track. And that's before you have to deal with the various taxing authorities who want a share of your winnings.

I didn't buy any either. My wife is the eternal optimist even though she understands that the odds against winning are staggering.