The National Lottery

abouttobebanned

To many this post will seem a bit contradictory...especially when I get to the bit at the end...but I'll go on anyway.

I can't help but think that there's going to be an enquiry sometime soon into The National Lottery. Maybe i'm completely wrong, barking up the wrong tree etc but have you ever really thought about this company and the amount of money that it has, and how it uses it. How much of is it monitored? Have the question been asked that if they can just add 2 million to the jackpot, willy nilly, as was the case this weekend then just how much bloody money have they? Is enough of it going to worthy causes? how much profit are they making a year? Importantly, are they giving out a fair percentage of prizes on their scratch cards compared to other european nations. Are these prizes being observed and regulated?

I often think about these things (I don't have too much time on my hands by the way, i think about these things when you're watching the X-factor)...and wonder if we're actually being treated fairly. Is there a governing body out there that makes sure that there is a winner to all those Text competitions that we see on the TV and in newspapers.

Last Weeks Winner - John Ryan - Dublin

That's just not good enough for me to be honest.

I once DJ'd at a new year's eve party where, all night long people were entering this competition to win a 2 grand party...at the end of the night, when i thought id be making the raffle...I was given the winning name to call out.

What annoyed me more about that though was when I told people about this - people in the industry - they just shrugged their shoulders. "Is that it? Is that the story?" Is that not shocking I'd retort. "Happens all the time"

But does it happen all the time to bigger operations than a City Bar?

I'd just like to see so figures from the national lottery...as in...last year there were 6 million scratch cards sold and 1 million winners and then the prizes broken down. Why are they not forced to release this information? Or are they? Is it already available to the public?

I'm not going to ask y'all if you've ever won money on a scratch card, cause that's been done to death. Instead I'll ask, have you ever wondered about the integrity of the National Lottery?


(Now to the contradictory part....I was at a party the other night where some christmas crackers were produced...i thought to myself, wouldn't it be a great idea if The National Lottery brought out Christmas Crackers...
As is my want when I have such an idea - I emailed them...and this was their reply -

Thanks for your email.

You could well be on to something there.. However, as all our games and promotions are developed in conjunction with our advertising agency I’m sorry but we will not be able use your idea.

Happy Christmas!

Now does this mean that because they didn't think up of the idea, that they can't use it? It didn't stop them with Deal or No Deal...)

Kiera

The Lottery has been going for years, surely if there was anything dodgy it would have come out by now. I know you're going to say "well the goverment and banks have been at it for years" but i'm sure there would have been a sniff of foul play by now?

Mr Benevolent

The Lottery has always just been a sort of tax on the less well-off really.

Last Weeks Winner - John Ryan - Dublin

That's just not good enough for me to be honest.

Why? Are you planning to send him begging letters?

Sangre

Its a tax on those who didn't grasp the concept of probability in school...probably.

abouttobebanned

That wasn't very witty confab. No one is gonna thank you for that one.

Wazdakka

Confab wrote: »

The Lottery has always just been a sort of tax on the less well-off Stupid really.

FYP

AnonoBoy

abouttobebanned wrote: »

That wasn't very witty confab. No one is gonna thank you for that one.

Oh dear, wrong again.

abouttobebanned

dunno why I bother with this fuckin forum

Jet Black

It has been said here lots of times that it may be rigged.

My opinion is that its not the lottery itself, but the machaines that print the tickets.
A lot of people hear that the lottery will be x million and is well advertised, so buy a quick pick. Its random numbers, but if the machines print tickets that leave certain numbers out they could based on probability reduce the odds of a winning ticket and thus carry it over to next week with an increased jackpot selling even more tickets.

Hopefully I explained that correctly??

That_Guy

abouttobebanned wrote: »

dunno why I bother with this fuckin forum

Just press the "Don't post" button.

Wazdakka

That_Guy wrote: »

Just press the "Don't post" button.

Help.. I can't find it.

Mark200

You should just see it as a donation to a good cause, and not see it as a real chance to win money. Nothing wrong with playing the lotto once you understand that.

That_Guy

Wazdakka wrote: »

Help.. I can't find it.

http://cache.lifehacker.com/assets/images/gallery/17/2007/07/medium_799744055_321c1e9670_o.gif

abouttobebanned

That_Guy wrote: »

Just press the "Don't post" button.

yeah...After Hours is the most viewed forum, but it's a shame that it's also just a thanks whorehouse. It's almost a pre-requisite now for conversations to descend into farce. Who can get in with the wittiest response first. Luckily though it will become rare for a thread to get a genuine response so maybe people may actually try that for a while.

Kiera

abouttobebanned wrote: »

yeah...After Hours is the most viewed forum, but it's a shame that it's also just a thanks whorehouse. It's almost a pre-requisite now for conversations to descend into farce. Who can get in with the wittiest response first. Luckily though it will become rare for a thread to get a genuine response so maybe people may actually try that for a while.

Or maybe you should go with the theme of AH and stop posting threads looking for serious answers.

abouttobebanned

Mark200 wrote: »

You should just see it as a donation to a good cause, and not see it as a real chance to win money. Nothing wrong with playing the lotto once you understand that.

I suppose.

http://www.lotto.ie/Good-Causes/

This page highlights them pretty well, although we don't actually know what percentages go to charity.

They don't market it this way though - the scratch cards in particular are marketing towards getting lucky and winning some money, rather than helping the needy

abouttobebanned

Kiera wrote: »

Or maybe you should go with the theme of AH and stop posting threads looking for serious answers.

But the theme of After hours is - All things non work related. I thought places like the cuckoo's nest was for silly answers. Or maybe I'm mistaken, you're around a lot longer than me so you obviously know best.

lugha

Jet Black wrote: »

It has been said here lots of times that it may be rigged.

My opinion is that its not the lottery itself, but the machaines that print the tickets.
A lot of people hear that the lottery will be x million and is well advertised, so buy a quick pick. Its random numbers, but if the machines print tickets that leave certain numbers out they could based on probability reduce the odds of a winning ticket and thus carry it over to next week with an increased jackpot selling even more tickets.

Hopefully I explained that correctly??

I doubt if the machines would omit particular numbers in a given draw (far to easy to rumble) if there was any rigging going on, which I doubt. But it is true that quick picks may be replicated which means some selections will not be used in a particular draw which of course does reduce the probability that there will be a winner. But they have to do it this way, otherwise there would be a limit on the number of tickets the could sell.

Maybe they could offer at a premium, selections which are not duplicated so if (!) you win, you don't share?

Dravokivich

abouttobebanned wrote: »

(Now to the contradictory part....I was at a party the other night where some christmas crackers were produced...i thought to myself, wouldn't it be a great idea if The National Lottery brought out Christmas Crackers...
As is my want when I have such an idea - I emailed them...and this was their reply -



Now does this mean that because they didn't think up of the idea, that they can't use it? It didn't stop them with Deal or No Deal...)

Er you do know that any company that provide a service will reject an "idea" such as this for copyright issue's...

Movies....
Games....
Porn....

- Drav!

Wazdakka

abouttobebanned wrote: »

yeah...After Hours is the most viewed forum, but it's a shame that it's also just a thanks whorehouse. It's almost a pre-requisite now for conversations to descend into farce. Who can get in with the wittiest response first. Luckily though it will become rare for a thread to get a genuine response so maybe people may actually try that for a while.

You want serious threads and discussions?
There are fora for that.

You want randomness, humour, thanks whoring and witty comments sometimes even with a hidden smattering of intelligence?
It's AH.
Genuine responses and proper thought out debate with valid points have no place here.
Get out of my madhouse with your seriousness!

AnonoBoy

abouttobebanned wrote: »

dunno why I bother with this fuckin forum

Ah it's fun....... admit it.

OldGoat

abouttobebanned wrote: »

yeah...After Hours is the most viewed forum, but it's a shame that it's also just a thanks whorehouse. It's almost a pre-requisite now for conversations to descend into farce. Who can get in with the wittiest response first. Luckily though it will become rare for a thread to get a genuine response so maybe people may actually try that for a while.

I thought everyone realised that in AH the sensible replies don't start till page two.
Just in case this post is still on page one: Lottery! It's a load of Balls. hahahahhehehehohoho!!!one!

That_Guy

abouttobebanned wrote: »

yeah...After Hours is the most viewed forum, but it's a shame that it's also just a thanks whorehouse. And I want thanks now!!! I have no thanks!! I want to be post of the day!!! Wah wah wah!!! Thank me!!!!

FYP..... a little.

AnonoBoy

Oh Ok Abouttobebanned I'll give you a serious response.

I think a lot of things are fixed. A prize at a New Year's Eve party being fixed? Doesn't surprise me in the slightest. I know of a popular website that runs comeptitions all the time which are regularly fixed by the staff (no not boards.ie).

But the lottery? No. I don't think it is. It's a tax on stupidity sure but I don't believe it's fixed or crooked. They money comes in, it goes back out. Maybe they spend a little too much on advertising but at least we see their ads (unlike the FAS ads that never were screened on TV at all)

abouttobebanned

I don't think it's fixed or anything like that...I just think it should be a little bit more transparent.

Kiera

abouttobebanned wrote: »

But the theme of After hours is - All things non work related. I thought places like the cuckoo's nest was for silly answers. Or maybe I'm mistaken, you're around a lot longer than me so you obviously know best.

We both know thats not true

TheZohanS

The Lotto isn't rigged.

However, initially all the funds raised used to go into the one fund and then donations would be made to various causes, now all the proceeds go to the Governments coffers and they then hand out funds to various causes.

It is in effect a tax on the poorer echelons of society.

abouttobebanned

I'm not sure there the notion that it was rigged came out of.

But that's interesting about the government being responsible for distributing the money.

CrazyRabbit

abouttobebanned wrote: »

dunno why I bother with this fuckin forum

I gave you a 'Thanks' to make you feel better.

Is the lottery fixed? I couldn't care less. If people want to waste their money buying tickets for a draw that has crazy low odds of 6 million to one, then let them.

I stick to much safer bets (Just made over €520 off a bet on the x-factor )

Meemars

Betting on the X Factor? That means you'll have watched the whole thing to follow your chosen stake, and multivoted for some warbling moron, Now THERE'S a stupidity tax! :pac:

Theta

abouttobebanned wrote: »

http://www.lotto.ie/Good-Causes/

This page highlights them pretty well, although we don't actually know what percentages go to charity.

Its non profit so ermmm 100% after running costs.

And people saying its rigged or the machine withhold numbers are having a laugh!

TheZohanS

Theta wrote: »

Its non profit so ermmm 100% after running costs.

And people saying its rigged or the machine withhold numbers are having a laugh!

Are you 100% sure the Irish Lotto is non-profit? I don't think it is.

/edit the fact tht the money goes directly to the government might make it so.

CrazyRabbit

Meemars wrote: »

Betting on the X Factor? That means you'll have watched the whole thing to follow your chosen stake, and multivoted for some warbling moron, Now THERE'S a stupidity tax! :pac:

I watched the clips online...under 3 mins per clip. After the first 3 shows, there was only 3 real potential winners, so I just watched their clips from then on.

I also used Youtube view counts and ratings for each contestent to gauge popularity and some sociology to determine voting transfers from contestants who were voted off. I never actually voted for anyone...I'm not that stupid.

In total, I spent about 2 hours watching clips and 1 hour gathering stats. Made some bets half way through, made additional bets near the end, and came out €520 richer.

Time well spent IMHO...

VERYinterested

OP you are right to question the integrity of the National Lottery. One of the functions of the Lottery is to provide Grants to various Sports and Arts projects. People are still playing the Lottery, possibly more now than ever. However it was decided in 2009 not to award any grants. Here is a link to the Dept Arts Sports and Tourism grants section, you will see the last date for grants to be applied for is Feb 2008.

http://www.arts-sport-tourism.gov.ie/grants_funding/default.htm#grants1

http://www.irishsports.ie/viewNews.jsp?id=240

Fighting Irish

Cigarettes and Drink are also a tax for the stupid/broke people

Kiera

Kiera wrote: »

We both know thats not true

Which bit......this:

But the theme of After hours is - All things non work related.

or this:

you're around a lot longer than me

:pac:

AnonoBoy

Fighting Irish wrote: »

Cigarettes and Drink are also a tax for the fun/broke people

Nonsense. Drink is a tax on fun people surely?

SV

Wazdakka wrote: »

FYP

lol. :rolleyes:



but nah I doubt there's much going on with the lotto tbh, it is quite odd how easily they can just add on these millions though, but they probably have them put aside for event such as this so..what does it matter.

Kiera

Deleted User wrote: »

Which bit......this:

or this:

:pac:

I have no idea what you are talking about :P

Hate people who say it's a tax on stupidity. We know what we're getting into, it's not stupidity.

Not much wrong wit a few quid now and then. Some of it goes to good causes, probably the same percentage as crap charities like concern etc. and I can sit and daydream about what I'd do if I won for a while.


If anyone thinks they're better than me cause they don't do lotto, they're the retards. It's 4 euro, less that a pint of beer.

Schism

This thread makes me want to play the lotto... and I've never played it, ever.

This means if I play it tonight I'll win right?

lugha

Deleted User wrote: »

Hate people who say it's a tax on stupidity. We know what we're getting into, it's not stupidity.

Agreed. I play occasionally and I fully understand that the chances of me winning big are about the same as correctly dialing someone's mobile number by
guessing the digits. i.e. As close to naught as makes no difference. But it does allow you to daydream a little on the day of the draw (rehearse the "stuff your job" speech ) and it does give you a nice little buzz just as the draw is being made. Which generally dissipates after ball one, or if I am on a streak, two!
I suppose the buzz from a pint of plain does give you a slightly longer buzz.

abouttobebanned

Just saw today that they have €10 scratch cards now! Yikes

Mike 1972

I remember hearing something a few yeas back about a big scandal in Italy when it was revealled that their lottery was in fact rigged.

Ticket sales actually rose the following week !

Mark200 wrote: »

You should just see it as a donation to a good cause, and not see it as a real chance to win money. Nothing wrong with playing the lotto once you understand that.

Surely it would make more sense just to give the money to charity directly? The charity gets all the money (and claims the tax back if you use Giftaid/covenant) plus it only goes to those "causes" that YOU deem to be "good" .

Fighting Irish

Deleted User wrote: »

Hate people who say it's a tax on stupidity. We know what we're getting into, it's not stupidity.

Not much wrong wit a few quid now and then. Some of it goes to good causes, probably the same percentage as crap charities like concern etc. and I can sit and daydream about what I'd do if I won for a while.


If anyone thinks they're better than me cause they don't do lotto, they're the retards. It's 4 euro, less that a pint of beer.

:werd:

InReality

I was working in a post office when the lotto tickets first came out. It was super organized , everything triple checked etc.

So I don't think its rigged re prizes.

The post about what is being done with the money raised is worth investigating though.

sedantez

OP, the lotto post their annual report on their website - this should answer your questions;

http://www.lottery.ie/About/Annual-reports/

ChemOC

I don't see how you could rig the lotto. Unless you had some Oceans 11 style operation with slightly heavier balls that would make your numbers come out first?!?!?

I really don't buy this "Its a tax on poor/stupid people". No one forces you to buy a ticket, therefore it's not a tax. Although that said I wonder does the average lotto player really know the odds? I'd imagine they know it's slim but they have no idea how slim.

slipss

Mark200 wrote: »

You should just see it as a donation to a good cause, and not see it as a real chance to win money. Nothing wrong with playing the lotto once you understand that.

Exactly. I genuinly can't believe someone went with "the lottery is a tax on stupidity" as a response, you know who you are, probably the same people that make Mary Harney jokes, or write your ma as a reply to posts. If you can't be witty at least be original. If you do the lotto the money you spend will help people and you might win something. That's it.

SuperGrover

SV wrote: »

lol. :rolleyes:



but nah I doubt there's much going on with the lotto tbh, it is quite odd how easily they can just add on these millions though, but they probably have them put aside for event such as this so..what does it matter.

It's unclaimed prize money.

lugha

ChemOC wrote: »

I don't see how you could rig the lotto. Unless you had some Oceans 11 style operation with slightly heavier balls that would make your numbers come out first?!?!?

I have a cunning plan! You might need to have Ronan, the independent observer (maybe?) and some of the recording crew on side.
You get our hands on some VT of earlier recordings (a good chunk of it in fact because of different coloured balls), and when each number is drawn from the drum, and the camera focuses in, simply transmit some old footage rather than the live one. Nobody in TV land could see anything amiss, and those in the studio who are not in on the scam would have to be paying serious attention to notice. Easy - ish!
© Lugha