This thread is about the Lotto. The. LOTT.O.

Flippyfloppy

In a bid to pi$$ off and annoy people, National Lottery have decided to add another 2 pesky numbers to the drum, rising the odds of winning from 8,000,000:1 to 11,000,000:1.

http://www.rte.ie/news/2015/0807/719698-national-lottery/

AND they're upping the price of line from €3 to €4. What a bag of jerks.

Discuss.

frostyjacks

Balls

Mr. Incognito

Step 1. Sell national lottery to camelot.

Step 2. Run ads extoling predecesers use of National lottery funds. Insinuate this is continuing. This is not.

Step 3. Gouge Paddys asap before they cop steps 1 and 2

Cee-Jay-Cee

I hope it actually encourages people not to do the lotto and backfires on the greedy bastards. I stopped doing it when the current shower of incompetent crooks took over.

Menas

On the plus side there should be some bigger roll over jackpots.

jester77

So the fools tax just increased. Stop playing a line a week and you'll have €200 in your pocket at the end of the year. That will go nicely to covering the water charges.

Junkyard Tom

Flippyfloppy wrote: »

Discuss.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fgKyR73biJU

jamesbere

I'd do the lotto maybe 2 or 3 times a year. but some people spend a ridiculous amount of money on it. I know a woman who spends 50 a week on lotto.

It's crazy to be spending that amount on it. Mad i tell you, Mad

Barely There

I win €3 every week on the lotto by not doing it.

The Corinthian

Flippyfloppy wrote: »

In a bid to pi$$ off and annoy people, National Lottery have decided to add another 2 pesky numbers to the drum, rising the odds of winning from 8,000,000:1 to 11,000,000:1.

Because odds of 8,000,000:1 were good?

Lotteries appeared in the 18th century, alongside the development of probability in mathematics, as a means for governments to make obscene amounts of money - Casanova operated one for the French crown, which did very well (one of the few financial successes of his life). Basically, that is the nature of all games of chance where one plays against the house - they are designed for you to lose.

For me lotteries are Dummheitsteuer - basically a tax on stupidity. It's not a coincidence that the vast majority of those who play the Lotto regularly are demographically from lower socioeconomic and educational range, and lotteries helps them stay there.

Just don't play.

Kermit.de.frog

About 2 million to one more unlikely. The price of the lotto is going up too.

http://www.irishtimes.com/business/retail-and-services/minimum-cost-of-playing-national-lottery-to-rise-to-4-1.2309395

Flippyfloppy

The Corinthian wrote: »

/I] -

Just don't play.

I play very very rarely, like once every 3 months or so. And it would usually be the euro millions.

However some people who do it regularly buy me tickets for special occasions. Which is kind of a horrible present because I'm extremely unlucky. And now when I get said presents my odds will be a whole 3,000,000:1 worse off. It just kinda stinks that they're making it more difficult and upping the price.

The article says they will be able to give 100,000 for 5 numbers and the bonus. If I go to all the trouble of matching 5 numbers and the bonus id be wanting way more than 100,000!!

Really hope this stops people playing. Love a boycott I do!

Big Nasty

'Chances' Are there's already a thread on this.

Larbre34

Ah yes, Premier Lotteries, the consortium that includes two massive pension funds.

Anything that is said about improving the jackpots and increasing funds for good causes is all bullsh17, this is about profits for the shareholders, pure and simple. There is nothing to justify a 25/33% increase.

Do yourselves a favour, boycott the irish Lotto draw and stick with Euromillions.

strelok

this is the equivalent difference between emma watson cooking you a steak for breakfast the morning after instead of just throwing a quick coffee into you and horsing you out the door.

you still have to complete the ridiculously gargantuan task of actually getting her to bed in the first place, which is something most of us are just going to have to accept is never going to happen.

biko

The problem is that poster A doesn't make their title meaningful so poster B doesn't understand a thread already exists when they look at AH front page.
The clickbait generation is here.

Kermit.de.frog

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zk6hZZ2d7kI

The Corinthian

Flippyfloppy wrote: »

And now when I get said presents my odds will be a whole 3,000,000:1 worse off. It just kinda stinks that they're making it more difficult and upping the price.

You say that like it realistically makes a difference.

Seriously, count to a million. You'll give up long before you get to 1,000 is my guess and a million is a thousand times that. And 8 million is eight times that again. And those were the 'better' odds.

Now ask yourself why you're playing - even every 3 months or so?

Really hope this stops people playing. Love a boycott I do!

No it won't. If you and others can't see how pointless playing odds of 8,000,000:1 are, what makes you think that odds of 11,000,000:1 will mean to people?

recyclebin

This thread title makes more sense. I approve.

longshanks

strelok wrote: »

this is the equivalent difference between emma watson cooking you a steak for breakfast the morning after instead of just throwing a quick coffee into you and horsing you out the door.

you still have to complete the ridiculously gargantuan task of actually getting her to bed in the first place, which is something most of us are just going to have to accept is never going to happen.

Speak for yourself chief.

Peregrine

Merged both threads. Please don't clickbait.

machiavellianme

The Corinthian wrote: »

You say that like it realistically makes a difference.

Seriously, count to a million. You'll give up long before you get to 1,000 is my guess and a million is a thousand times that. And 8 million is eight times that again. And those were the 'better' odds.

Now ask yourself why you're playing - even every 3 months or so?

No it won't. If you and others can't see how pointless playing odds of 8,000,000:1 are, what makes you think that odds of 11,000,000:1 will mean to people?

The extra cost per line might put them off though?

Eugene Norman

Higher odds work psychologically because you get more rollovers. With more rollovers you get higher prizes and if the odds are 11m-1 anyway the punt of a euro or four on a 20M jackpot sounds better than on a 2M jackpot.

seanaway

I stopped playing the NAtional Lottery years ago. The spread of winnings is grossly unfair. Play Euromillions. At least you can still win decent amouns without hitting all the numbers.

kneemos

Might be wrong ,but I think I heard something about the UK lottery dropping off dramatically in favour of Euromillions.

100,000 for six numbers when it used to be the jackpot will definitely alienate punters.

The UK have 49 numbers for a population of over 60 million (this has never changed since it launched in 1994). We'll have 47 numbers for a population of under 5 million? Doesn't make sense.

KungPao

More wasted money for addictive types who are already struggling financially.

There are folk out there who spend half their income on alcohol, fags, and bloody lottery tickets - they will just carry on throwing money down the jacks.

For me, as a once or twice a year player for the big draws, that's me done. I am not burning 4 euros for one miserable line.

To hell with that.

The Corinthian

machiavellianme wrote: »

The extra cost per line might put them off though?

True, though it's beyond me why this would make sense to them - burning a fiver is ok, but setting a tenner on fire is too far...

machiavellianme

Just go to the casino and put 3 euro on black every week. Double your money or go home with nothing.
Almost a one in two chance. The odds of a similar return from the lotto are a lot higher.

AndyBoBandy

Menas wrote: »

On the plus side there should be some bigger roll over jackpots.

So fewer people will win bigger sums of cash.

I'd rather a €10 million jackpot make 10 millionaires, as opposed to 1 €10 millionaire.

whiskeyman

Jesus, I'm sick of the whole gang professing 'tax on stupidity' lark.
If people want to spend 3 or 4 quid a week on a flutter, that gives them excitement of playing and a bit of escapism from their hum drum life and checking their numbers, let them!
It's not even the price of a pint FFS! So many people of us have odd or stupid spending habits that probably cost us a lot more than what some people flutter away on the lotto anyway!
Sure, there is an element of gambling that could be abused, but if it's within a sensible range it's fine.

EnergyPro

Flippyfloppy wrote:

The article says they will be able to give 100,000 for 5 numbers and the bonus. If I go to all the trouble of matching 5 numbers and the bonus id be wanting way more than 100,000!!

Yes that extra effort you put in to make sure you got 5 numbers and the bonus just isn't being rewarded. Crazy comment! Same logic applies saying the effort I put in to match two numbers should be rewarded by more than 100,000. Same "trouble" went to by the player!

Flippyfloppy

EnergyPro wrote: »

Yes that extra effort you put in to make sure you got 5 numbers and the bonus just isn't being rewarded. Crazy comment! Same logic applies saying the effort I put in to match two numbers should be rewarded by more than 100,000. Same "trouble" went to by the player!

I was joking...doesn't translate well here I see.

thomasj

frostyjacks wrote: »

Balls

You'll have more of them to look forward to now.

The Corinthian

machiavellianme wrote: »

The odds of a similar return from the lotto are a lot higher.

Lower.

whiskeyman wrote: »

Jesus, I'm sick of the whole gang professing 'tax on stupidity' lark.
If people want to spend 3 or 4 quid a week on a flutter, that gives them excitement of playing and a bit of escapism from their hum drum life and checking their numbers, let them!

Sure; if it gives you an adrenaline rush, then whatever floats your boat. But then don't complain that your odds of winning have gone from 8,000,000:1 to 11,000,000:1, as if that means something - other than something really, really stupid.

Hermy

The Corinthian wrote: »

If you and others can't see how pointless playing odds of 8,000,000:1 are...

That would suggest that no one ever wins.
But people do win so it's not pointless.

Bio Mech

Karsini wrote: »

The UK have 49 numbers for a population of over 60 million (this has never changed since it launched in 1994). We'll have 47 numbers for a population of under 5 million? Doesn't make sense.

Yes indeed your post doesn't make sense. What you think the number of balls is populations based? We should have 5 balls because our population is 5 million? That wouldn't work too well.

Should the euromillions have hundreds of balls?

KungPao

whiskeyman wrote: »

Jesus, I'm sick of the whole gang professing 'tax on stupidity' lark.
If people want to spend 3 or 4 quid a week on a flutter, that gives them excitement of playing and a bit of escapism from their hum drum life and checking their numbers, let them!
It's not even the price of a pint FFS! So many people of us have odd or stupid spending habits that probably cost us a lot more than what some people flutter away on the lotto anyway!
Sure, there is an element of gambling that could be abused, but if it's within a sensible range it's fine.

That's fair enough. Once you can afford it and take it easy.

You see some wallies doing 2 lines, twice a week (and more). Bang, 16 euros up in smoke while little Jonny's school trousers are up over his knees (slight exaggeration ) and he's having easy singles cheese sandwiches again for lunch.

But yeah, once everything is paid for in the household, go for it if it makes you happy.

Flippyfloppy

The Corinthian wrote: »

Lower.

Sure; if it gives you an adrenaline rush, then whatever floats your boat. But then don't complain that your odds of winning have gone from 8,000,000:1 to 11,000,000:1, as if that means something - other than something really, really stupid.

If you can't see how the odds being increased by 37.5% IS a lot worse and not the same, then I give up here.

Example: the millionaire draw has 300,000 tickets, and some people are happy to pay €20 for a ticket, because of the perceived better odds. So I don't see how anyone can agree with this company charging more now, for worse odds.

Bio Mech

Bio Mech wrote: »

Yes indeed your post doesn't make sense. What you think the number of balls is populations based? We should have 5 balls because our population is 5 million? That wouldn't work too well.

Should the euromillions have hundreds of balls?

Must people nitpick every single ****ing post I make?

volchitsa

The Corinthian wrote: »

True, though it's beyond me why this would make sense to them - burning a fiver is ok, but setting a tenner on fire is too far...

I remember reading about a study done into that some years ago - I think the original question was why lottery ticket sales flew up as one particular country's economy collapsed (I forget which country's - not Ireland).

Anyway, the conclusion was that especially for people at the bottom of the economic pile, with few resources and little chance to improve their situation, then the lottery could make a sort of financial sense.

Basically, they're "throwing away" a small amount of their income every week but even if they saved that sum it would never amount to enough to change their circumstances. So the fact that there's a chance, however tiny, of winning so much that their lives would be transformed, makes that sum of money spent every week into a sort of investment, indeed the only form of investment within their reach.

Presumably, though that wasn't the issue in the study, the cost has to be low enough not to cause further harm to the household's finances, otherwise it becomes just anther form of addictive behavior like gambling. So yes, increasing the cost will, at some point, reduce sales.

The Corinthian

Hermy wrote: »

That would suggest that no one ever wins.
But people do win so it's not pointless.

Yes, because it could be you. Because you're special. Just like everyone else.

Flippyfloppy wrote: »

If you can't see how the odds being increased by 37.5% IS a lot worse and not the same, then I give up here.

By all means give up, I'm not the one who can't grasp the math.

Oh, and the odds have been decreased by 27.3%.

Akrasia

Flippyfloppy wrote: »

If you can't see how the odds being increased by 37.5% IS a lot worse and not the same, then I give up here.

Example: the millionaire draw has 300,000 tickets, and some people are happy to pay €20 for a ticket, because of the perceived better odds. So I don't see how anyone can agree with this company charging more now, for worse odds.

The odds are worse. but they were so bad to start with that it actually makes no practical difference
At odds this bad, we need to improve them by orders of magnitude to justify playing the lottery

If people want a bit of excitement in their lives, maybe just ditch the national or euromillions lottery and play a local sports club lottery instead. Prizes are typically in the 10s of thousands of euros

Usually these are 4 ball games with numbers that go up to the low 30s
If you pick 4 numbers out of 31, the odds of you winning are closer to 31 thousand to one. Not great, but more than 2 orders of magnitude better than the national lottery, and the money goes to directly support facilities in your own community

Akrasia

Hermy wrote: »

That would suggest that no one ever wins.
But people do win so it's not pointless.

The odds of you winning the new national lottery are about the same as the odds of you dying in a plane crash. 11 million to one. The odds of being killed in a train crash are more than 20 times higher than winning the new lottery The odds of dying in a car crash are 200 times higher than winning the new lottery jackpot....

dark crystal

I play the Euromillions once or twice a month and only ever do the minimum two lines. Never play the National Lottery or scratchcards.

I've won my money back quite a few times, plus more the odd time. You get better value playing the Euromillions, as you have a much better chance of getting something back even if you only match two or so numbers. As I recall, it's three or more to win anything back on the Irish Lotto.

Nothing wrong with dreaming about hitting it really big for the princely sum of €4. It's less than the price of a pint ffs!

Akrasia

Bio Mech wrote: »

Yes indeed your post doesn't make sense. What you think the number of balls is populations based? We should have 5 balls because our population is 5 million? That wouldn't work too well.

Should the euromillions have hundreds of balls?

The rational for different numbers of balls for different populations is that if there are too many balls then nobody will ever win, and players might get discouraged (despite the massive rollover jackpots every week)

There's a reason why the one armed bandits in casinos make loud noises whenever someone wins. It encourages others to keep playing if they think there is a chance that they will win too.

TallGlass

So the government sold the lotto less than a year ago, an item that to my understanding was making the state money. So less than one year in, they have increased the price and made the odds worse.

My point? If they are going to sell these assets off at leased sell them to people who are not going to run it into the ground and cost the state money.

http://www.rte.ie/news/2015/0807/719698-national-lottery/

Flippyfloppy

The Corinthian wrote: »

Yes, because it could be you. Because you're special. Just like everyone else.

By all means give up, I'm not the one who can't grasp the math.

Oh, and the odds have been decreased by 27.3%.

Try again, I agree they have decreased but not by 27.3%. That would mean the odds were 11,000,000:1 in the first place

BattleCorp

At least people have the choice whether they do the Lotto or not.

What choice will people have if Irish Water is sold off?

BattleCorp

BattleCorp wrote: »

At least people have the choice whether they do the Lotto or not.

What choice will people have if Irish Water is sold off?

Mod

This thread is about the Lotto.

If you want to discuss Irish Water, you can do so in the thread in the Politics Cafe forum.

m5ex9oqjawdg2i

Flippyfloppy wrote: »

In a bid to pi$$ off and annoy people, National Lottery have decided to add another 2 pesky numbers to the drum, rising the odds of winning from 8,000,000:1 to 11,000,000:1.

http://www.rte.ie/news/2015/0807/719698-national-lottery/

AND they're upping the price of line from €3 to €4. What a bag of jerks.

Discuss.

I love the spin they put on it. "We are making the game more exciting by increasing the chances of a roll-over". Are you having a laugh?