Instant Lottery/"Scratch Off" Tickets-A question

[Minka Fox]

I really want to know if anyone *really* wins on Pennsylvania Instant Lottery tickets. I've been buying scratch offs for at least 20 years and the most I've ever won was 90$ some time around 2002. I think that they're a total sham, I hate that fuckin groundhog on the commercials, and just HOW have all the lottery proceeds come to "benefit older Pennsylvanians "??? I know this isn't necessarily hobby-related but it's been aggravating me for years now.

So...has anyone here had a fair amount of luck with them, because I'm about to stop playing them completely

[sx424]

I used to feel the same way, but still played occasionally anyhow. Then last month i won 500 bucks. Been playing alittle more since. In fact, the other day a provider was running late and i bought 20 bucks worth to kill time while waiting and won 80. Gave it all to her lol, she must've been lucky

[Smarty1]

Lottery proceeds are used to pay for property tax rebates that people over 65 are eligible for, assuming they meet certain income guidelines. Seniors are eligible to receive up to $500 (more in higher cost of living areas in the Philly and Pittsburgh areas) as a rebate for property taxes paid. Even renters are eligible, but lower income guidelines apply

[Smarty1]

BTW, by all means stop playing the PA lottery completely. People do win but it’s a horrible bet compared to other options. It’s hard to say for scratchers, but I’d assume they’re not too different from the drawn number games in terms of odds. For instance a straight bet of $1 on the pick 3 pays $500. That represents only a 50% rate of return on money bet. That is, the lottery keeps 50% of money bet and returns 50% to bettors as winnings. By comparison casino slots typically return 80% or more, and returns of 90-95% can be had on table games. Even parimutuel bets on horse races usually return 83% for win bets and 70% for exotics (exactas, trifecta, etc). The lottery is a sucker bet.

[relaxedman]

Its basically just another income stream for the state. Just another way to tax people, without calling it a tax.

[Dlh]

Ive hit 1000 a few times...
A guy in kittanning hit 3mil off a 30$ scratcher a few weeks ago.
A buddy had a cash 5 ticket in his jacket for weeks that ended up being worth 125k
A relitives father inlaw hit cash 5 for about the same.

[sjomonty]

Originally Posted by Minka Fox

I really want to know if anyone *really* wins on Pennsylvania Instant Lottery tickets. I've been buying scratch offs for at least 20 years and the most I've ever won was 90$ some time around 2002. I think that they're a total sham, I hate that fuckin groundhog on the commercials, and just HOW have all the lottery proceeds come to "benefit older Pennsylvanians "??? I know this isn't necessarily hobby-related but it's been aggravating me for years now.

So...has anyone here had a fair amount of luck with them, because I'm about to stop playing them completely

The gas station down the road from me just sold a 1.5 Million scratch off a few weeks ago.

[Minka Fox]

Originally Posted by relaxedman

Its basically just another income stream for the state. Just another way to tax people, without calling it a tax.

I've heard it colloqiually referred to at "the poor man's tax". Seems about right

[Beefcake69]

They are not designed for you to make money from them..

[sexymaid_69]

I won 600 off a scratch off once. Still haven't broken even on what I've spent on them.

[Xyzguy]

There is video on FB by MR Beast. He bought $50000.00 of scratch off tickets and lost about $17000.00 on them. He could have one ten million but didn't

[tannana]

Smoke the money. It's probably more useful that way.

[Looker151]

Sadly, most people who buy these things are those who can least afford it.

[bambino]

Nothing ventured, nothing gained. IJS.

[DrivesAllDay]

My Dad & I were talking about these a while ago.



Your odds of being attacked by a shark in Arizona are probably greater than winning a Million with scratch offs. Sure, some people just happen to get lucky and find that Big Money ticket.


My Dad even wondered how it benefited senior citizens, but Smarty just answered his question, which wouldnt benefit my parents at all since my Dad gets a pension. So he's not considered "low income".