I'm a triple lottery winner!
At the start of the year, me and the missus decided to have a go on the lottery each week. We are fully aware that it's a tax on the stupid, but it's a bit of fun.

We're the last of the big spenders, so we've been getting a line on the Euromillions each week and we put an extra quid each on the Lotto the week it was a triple roll-over.

So far, we've had two wins on the Euromillions and one on the Lotto.

Total amount staked so far: £14, total amount of winnings £37 (£10.40 and £16.60 on the Eruomillions and £10 on the Lotto). I maintain that £23 prfit is still better than a big kick up the arse. My wife reckons we'd be better off chucking £2 on ManYoo to win each week (I won't bet on Liverpool, it's bad luck).
(ScousersPet, Tue 15 Feb 2011, 11:14, 8 replies)

Hmm.
A couple of weeks ago, my sister in law came to visit. Long story short, she cocked up a parking ticket, I got a £30 parking fine. Shit happens, I told her not to worry, we all do it etc.

When she went, she left £30 in cash behind. Rather than have a stupid 'no, I insist' argument, my Mrs bought £30 quids worth of lottery tickets with the money, sent her an email telling her what we'd done and saying we'd split the winnings in half.

We got absolutely fuck all.
( Not Pineapple anymore, Tue 15 Feb 2011, 12:22, closed)

Not actually a waste of money
if it teaches you all the folly of gambling!
(Juan Quar is clinging to her front teeth on, Tue 15 Feb 2011, 13:20, closed)

I find gambling
like betting on horses etc to be kind of sleazy. Those online casinos are just sewers, as far as I can see.

But the Lottery is a no brainer. My Mrs buys one ticket a week usually. I don't see the point of buying more, far as I'm concerned odds of 7 million to 1 are the same as 14 million to 1. You just have to get really lucky!
( Not Pineapple anymore, Tue 15 Feb 2011, 14:30, closed)

I don't think it works like that if you buy two tickets

(waxdart hello., Tue 15 Feb 2011, 15:56, closed)

Just working on the
premise that the odds of winning the lottery based on possible permutations of numbers is 14 million to one (I haven't actually looked, but I'm sure I've heard that number).

So, if you get another ticket with different numbers, you have 2/14m chances, which looks like 1/7m to me.
( Not Pineapple anymore, Tue 15 Feb 2011, 17:24, closed)

Yeah that's what I told people when I'd won it, too.

( Je suis un vagabond is an unfunny, up your own arse middle class knob, Tue 15 Feb 2011, 13:25, closed)

I buy tickets every week but don't expect to win anything.
That way, the odd ten or 20 quid comes as a nice surprise.

I like to think I'm unlucky at cards but lucky in love, y'know.
(Juan Quar is clinging to her front teeth on, Tue 15 Feb 2011, 13:32, closed)

I never understood the appeal of gambling.
"Proper gambling", as I call it, is far too much work -- either learning about "form" or counting cards. I'd rather have an easier job and forgoe the champagne lifestyle.
The lottery also is something I don't understand. You've got about the same odds of winning as falling over, hitting your head, and discovering the flux-capacitor.
This did make me think of a new kind of gambling:
"CV lottery": Regularly apply for jobs you fancy, or that are better paid, and see what happens.
(Me, I'm not... in any way intoxicated, Tue 15 Feb 2011, 17:28, closed)