• verysoft@kbin.social
    193·
    11 months ago

    If you can afford it, then it’s no harm really. I’ve made a profit from the lottery myself, albeit a minor one. Depending on the lottery, it’s not the worst thing you can give pocket change away to for a bit of fun. So I never understood this “you’ll never win” mentality/gatekeeping hobbies, people know the chances, but it’s fun either way.

    • themeatbridge@lemmy.world
      16·
      11 months ago

      I think the big problem is that people who are addicted to gambling are being suckered several times a week. It’s not really gambling, it’s buying a daydream. If a casino gave you similar odds in one of their slots, it would likely be illegal based on the odds and the payout. So people who think of it like gambling are getting the worst of it. The expected value never approaches anything close to fair, even at rhe highest jackpots.

    • brbposting@sh.itjust.works
      7·
      11 months ago

      people know the chances

      This article agrees. Huge caveat:

      …Osmond…obtained a database from the Connecticut Lottery containing 21 years’ worth of winners. What did he find?

      They are largely poor, largely minorities, and often addicts.

      The lottery preys on these people.

      Vox, “4 ways the lottery preys on the poor”, 2016