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While I'm certain that there are people who spend an irresponsible amount on lottery tickets, I don't know if those are also the lottery winners. I'd be very i

While I'm certain that there are people who spend an irresponsible amount on lottery tickets, I don't know if those are also the lottery winners. I'd be very interested in any statistics for that. Where I am lottery tickets cost about the same as a Starbucks coffee, and I'd bet the average lottery player buys tickets less than the average Starbucks drinker buys coffee, making me wonder about the label of "less fiscally responsible", unless we're also grouping all Starbucks drinks in there. And given the astronomically poor odds of winning, I also wonder how much more regular players win vs those who buy a ticket once every month or two - does it really help enough to be obvious in the statistics.

PaulDavisThe1st 5y ago
The lottery ticket purchase is a gamble: spend money, almost certainly get nothing, tiny chance of winning big. The coffee purchase is just that, a purchase: spend money, get coffee. The amounts might be similar but the transaction class is totally different.
- SketchySeaBeast 5y ago
  I don't know, it's really a form of entertainment. The odd chances I do buy a ticket it's to think about what I would do if I won. I'm not expecting to win, I just like the idea. And both are transient and rather empty - neither provide any real value outside of a brief joy.