The $500 Million Powerball Jackpot And Why It's Not Worth Buying A Ticket

BI ^ | 2-11-2015 | Andy Kiersz

[38special]

That’s way too much money. I’ll take my chances on the state lotto for $5 million. Slightly better odds. My best ever was 4 of 6 numbers matched, won $56.

[Osage Orange]

It's never too late......

What do you have that suppressor screwed to?

[Smellin Salt]

If I had a million dollars
Well, I’d buy you a fur coat
But not a real fur coat, that’s cruel

[LostInBayport]

You have good comebacks! I’ve made mental note of them for future use.

[RandallFlagg]

My Springfield XDm .45 bitone. If you look at my posting history, there’s a pic somewhere.

[Lizavetta]

The thing is you should buy tickets when the pot is smaller. Odds improve greatly.

How so? The numbers are going to be the same set of winning numbers whether there are ten ticket buyers or 10 billion ticket buyers.

[LostInBayport]

If they would divide up the $500 million into 500 separate $1,000,000 prizes...I’d buy tickets.

Sales would skyrocket. It is beyond me why no one has done that here. They do something like that in Spain, I think.

[Ouderkirk]

It’s technically a tax on those who don’t understand statistics.

However, on an incidental play like the last few 300+ million, what am I out..a few bucks. I could waste the same six dollars on a single drink at the bar.

It’s worth what I have into it...a small entertainment value, for the chance at serious wealth.

Most who win lotteries and end up broke, waste the money on hookers, drugs and gambling.

[Osage Orange]

That would be incorrect....the odds are always the same.

[Osage Orange]

I think you can figure about 1/3 the pot.....in most states.

[MaxMax]

If I win I’m going to buy myself a Congressman.

Senators are cheaper.

[Osage Orange]

You want a buzz kill..?

Took my girl to see a movie this afternoon...I'd heard it was good. A comedy I was told.

So here we are sitting in this movie house watching "Birdman"...kept waiting for the humor. This movie was pure TORTURE!~! And we walked out....

Now THAT was a buzz kill!!

LOL!!!

[Hot Tabasco]

While that's a huge amount of money, buying a ticket is still probably a losing proposition.

Of course it is! However buying a ticket is a guarantee that you MIGHT win while not buying one is a definite guarantee that you won't win...........

I forgot the drawing was tonight otherwise I would have purchased a few............

[US_MilitaryRules]

You have a better chance with lightning!

[Hot Tabasco]

I bought one. Yeah, my chances of winning are just about nil - but what the hell?

Look at the bright side, your chances of winning were a hell of a lot better than mine since I forgot to purchase a ticket.......LOL!

[Colonel_Flagg]

"While that's a huge amount of money, buying a ticket is still probably a losing proposition."

If you don't buy one, it's guaranteed.

I'll spring for two bucks for a shot at dreamland.

[al baby]

we got 20 bucks worth

[US_MilitaryRules]

Yes it is. Lottery money coming in. 1/2 goes to the gov schools, etc... The other half to the winner! Oh yea the gov gets 1/2 of that to. That means if you win you get about 25% of total sales and the government gets 75%! And if you don’t spend it all before you die, they get over half of that to. Aren’t lotteries fun! Oops! I mean a great investment! lol

[Mama Shawna]

That’s one of the things I’ve thought about if I won something that big! Million dollar donation to Free Republic? Yep! Wouldn’t that make some lib heads EXPLODE!? I’m just hoping to contribute to this freepathon before it’s over now that my hubby is employed again (with a GOOD job!).

[moehoward]

ROTLMAO!!!