The National Lottery

abouttobebanned · 16-12-2009 10:42AM #1

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 · 16-12-2009 10:52AM

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 · 16-12-2009 10:54AM

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 · 16-12-2009 10:59AM

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

abouttobebanned · 16-12-2009 11:00AM

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

Wazdakka · 16-12-2009 11:01AM

Confab wrote: »

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

FYP

AnonoBoy · 16-12-2009 11:23AM

abouttobebanned wrote: »

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

Oh dear, wrong again.

abouttobebanned · 16-12-2009 11:25AM

dunno why I bother with this fuckin forum

Jet Black · 16-12-2009 11:26AM

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 · 16-12-2009 11:31AM

abouttobebanned wrote: »

dunno why I bother with this fuckin forum

Just press the "Don't post" button.

Wazdakka · 16-12-2009 11:33AM

That_Guy wrote: »

Just press the "Don't post" button.

Help.. I can't find it.

Mark200 · 16-12-2009 11:38AM

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 · 16-12-2009 11:38AM

Wazdakka wrote: »

Help.. I can't find it.

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

abouttobebanned · 16-12-2009 11:39AM

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 · 16-12-2009 11:40AM

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 · 16-12-2009 11:40AM

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 · 16-12-2009 11:42AM

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 · 16-12-2009 11:44AM

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 · 16-12-2009 11:44AM

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 · 16-12-2009 11:44AM

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 · 16-12-2009 11:44AM

abouttobebanned wrote: »

dunno why I bother with this fuckin forum

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

OldGoat · 16-12-2009 11:46AM

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 · 16-12-2009 11:50AM

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 · 16-12-2009 11:51AM

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 · 16-12-2009 11:56AM

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

Kiera · 16-12-2009 11:58AM

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 · 16-12-2009 12:01PM

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 · 16-12-2009 12:03PM

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 · 16-12-2009 12:30PM

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 · 16-12-2009 12:35PM

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 · 16-12-2009 12:37PM

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!

The National Lottery

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