It never ceases to amaze me how the very same people that yell the loudest about how high taxes are rush out to the nearest store and buy a lottery ticket. The lottery is nothing more than a tax on greed and stupidity.

The lottery is entertainment for me. On a whim I'll buy a couple of $1 scratchers and when the money in the big draw gets to $100,000,000 or more I'll buy one of those for a dollar.

Sometimes I win $1 or $5 but most times I win nothing. What's the big deal about it?

It's my money, my fantasy and my fun. Why should anyone else care?

Given my luck, I'd say I have a much better chance of getting hit by the airplane.

I agree with Hugh. Another issue of personal responsibility.

I agree, Hugh. It's cheap entertainment and a matter of personal choice. A guy I know was being harassed about his chances being 8,000,000 to 1 of winning. He said that is better than 8,000,000 to 0. All in how you look at things.

I'm not sure what the point is or how really big it is?

If you are saying that gambling gives one a reasonable chance of winning then what about all those people who leave "tons of money" in Vegas? I know a few and there are many more. "The house never loses".

When I buy a lottery ticket, I don't think education; I think about wonderful opportunities.I really don't expect to win. This fantasy, however, gives me alot of fun. I buy at most 2 tickets a week. And the money still goes to education.

Basically, from my reading on Vegas, I understand that the casino's are heavily regulated and that they must guarantee a certain percentage of returns on bets. I think it's around the 90 percent mark but it's been a while since I reviewed this.

With all odds of probability, if you continue to bet in Vegas, you're going to eventually lose it all. If you get lucky and find yourself ahead, it's probably wise to quit before you find yourself behind.

So, the writer has one valid point. The odds of winning are much less with the lottery. They are also much less at most local poker machines due to the fact that there are no required percentage of return put on them.

Still a gamble, regardless, and it is still voluntary.

There is a guaranteed winner each time a winning number is hit: Federal and state govts. They win everytime by confiscating about half of the winner's earnings.

No wonder govts. love the lottery, they get the front end money and a huge chunk of the back end winnings. Can't beat that.

Of course it's always a good thing if it is "for the children".

Frankly I don't care if someone plays or not, personal choice. I just hate it when I get in line to buy a soda at a curb market and have to wait behind indecisive lotto ticket buyers.

Dan,

That last sentence is the TRUTH!

Dan, you are so right about how annoying it is to have to wait in line behind someone purchasing a lotto ticket. You can check in at the freaking airport now at a computer terminal, why haven't they figured out a more computerized way to enter the lotto? All the cashier usually does in scan the pick ticket in anyway, anyone could do that. Or how about a punch screen? Personally, I just buy computer picked tickets, but I still get what you were saying.

As for the LTTE, the Lottery is here, and it is running......get over it?

........one more thing. It would be like the people who are still mad about the ballpark being built downtown!

My only problem with the lottery is that it is another state monopoly. Government has no business in the gambling business. Defense, protection of citizens, trash collection. Not much else the government should do. Legalize gambling, sure. But don't restrict it to the government. Let private citizens build casinos. Tax the profits.