Powerball billions: Did you, would you venture a chance?

[righteousdude2]

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2016/01/10/powerball-jackpot-winning-numbers/78587362/

How many of you purchased a ticket to this weeks Powerball drawing for a chance at winning a quick billion dollars? Sure you may say games of chance are a sin, or that you'd never waste the two-dollars on Satan's game of luck; but being honest, did you buy your ticket for a chance to own a little piece of paradise in this lifetime?

I promise not to turn you into the deacons or your pastor for being honest. So, did you buy at least one ticket. And am I the only one that thinks this is nothing short of insanity?

 

[HAMel]

I'd buy a ticket. Why not? I know of a Baptist Orphanage in Virginia that is in need of three "new" 12 passenger vans, new carpet, new furniture and I'd love to be empowered in such a way as to provide them with their needs. Yes indeed, I'd buy a ticket. Just think of the good that could be done for the Lord.

 

[Rolfe]

Lotteries are a waste of money.

 

[Salty]

I wonder if George Muller would have bought a ticket?

 

[annsni]

We don't purchase tickets but my daughter works at the grocery store in customer service and she sells them. Every once in a while there is a mistake and they end up having tickets print out (random numbers picked by the computer) that the customer doesn't want. In the last drawing, my daughter was able to sell 9 of the 10 misprints so she just went ahead and put $2 into her drawer to make it even and she wouldn't be short. My guess is today will be CRAZY there with ticket sales and she will again possibly have a ticket by default.

 

[Zaac]

Some folks think buying sodas is a waste of money. Other than the odds of getting a return on your money, there essentially is no difference in investing a dollar in a Powerball ticket than there is investing a dollar in the stock market.

One is stigmatized by certain people. The other isn't.

 

[thjplgvp]

I would not purchase one but if you purchased one for me and gave it to me I would certainly check to see if it was the winner.

Honestly I have enough trouble with warnings of scripture in my present financial situation let alone adding the responsibilities of great wealth. To those who can enjoy great wealth and still walk by faith I salute them and wish them God's best.

Ps whisper for my address

thjplgvp

 

[preachinjesus]

If it goes unclaimed this time around, why not donate the money to pay for healthcare for all children in the United States? Or something of worth, like infrastructure. Rebuild a couple of bridges.

I don't play the lotto.

 

[Rob_BW]

If it goes unclaimed this time around, why not donate the money to pay for healthcare for all children in the United States? Or something of worth, like infrastructure. Rebuild a couple of bridges.

I don't play the lotto.

Unclaimed or un-won?

 

[Aaron]

Some folks think buying sodas is a waste of money. Other than the odds of getting a return on your money, there essentially is no difference in investing a dollar in a Powerball ticket than there is investing a dollar in the stock market.

One is stigmatized by certain people. The other isn't.

There is a difference between investment and merely gambling. I dropped four dollars on two tickets last night. 2 billion for four dollars I probably would have spent on snacks is an acceptable risk.

(Yes, I will tithe it if I win. I will tithe it to the Salvation Army, then probably donate the rest to Ted Cruz's campaign.)

 

[Scarlett O.]

Some folks think buying sodas is a waste of money. Other than the odds of getting a return on your money, there essentially is no difference in investing a dollar in a Powerball ticket than there is investing a dollar in the stock market.

One is stigmatized by certain people. The other isn't.

Well, I think there is a big difference in playing the lottery and investing in the stock market.

I don't buy lottery tickets for two reasons. [1] The people I see buying them are poor and need to be buying milk and diapers for their children. They are expecting something for nothing and the lottery many times ends of ruining people. [2] The odds of winning are so grossly against you that - to me - it's a fool's wager.

However, I'm not in the "lottery is a sin" camp.

I DO put money in the stock market and have for years. It's investing in the ownership of a company. Yes, there is a certain risk, but if one is sharp or allows company/advisor such as Horace Mann or other to do the choosing based on the risk YOU want, a tidy sum can be made as the companies grow and succeed and yes, it takes a long time. There's no overnight explosion of money to be made when playing wisely. That's why it's called an investment.

 

[Zaac]

There is a difference between investment and merely gambling. I dropped four dollars on two tickets last night. 2 billion for four dollars I probably would have spent on snacks is an acceptable risk.

(Yes, I will tithe it if I win. I will tithe it to the Salvation Army, then probably donate the rest to Ted Cruz's campaign.)

But that's what I mean Aaron. I'm not talking about folks consumed by the lottery and scratch-offs and taking 100s of dollars a day to play lottery games.

I'm talking about the person who plays a dollar every week on a ticket or who may decide to play when it becomes a certain amount.

There's no difference in that type of playing and investing in the stock market.

 

[Zaac]

Well, I think there is a big difference in playing the lottery and investing in the stock market.

I don't buy lottery tickets for two reasons. [1] The people I see buying them are poor and need to be buying milk and diapers for their children. They are expecting something for nothing and the lottery many times ends of ruining people. [2] The odds of winning are so grossly against you that - to me - it's a fool's wager.

And this is why I said one is stigmatized and the other isn't. You're generalizing about who you think is buying lottery tickets, and it ain't just poor people.

It may be a fool's wager. But playing $1 for a lottery ticket vs investing $1 in the stock market is a crap roll no matter how you look it. Everything about investing in the stock market is a gamble

However, I'm not in the "lottery is a sin" camp.

I DO put money in the stock market and have for years. It's investing in the ownership of a company. Yes, there is a certain risk, but if one is sharp or allows company/advisor such as Horace Mann or other to do the choosing based on the risk YOU want, a tidy sum can be made as the companies grow and succeed and yes, it takes a long time. There's no overnight explosion of money to be made when playing wisely. That's why it's called an investment.

There's all types of high risk investments where folks expect to see a very quick ROI. I know an angel investor who does this with house flippers.He'll take a risk on you if you can give him reason to believe you can give him back his money with a substantial return in a very short period of time.

Binary options are essentially a gamble. So is day trading.

Investing money on the CHANCE that you'll receive more money is gambling. Some investments are a lot less chancing than others but you're still taking a gamble that may lose you money.

 

[Aaron]

But that's what I mean Aaron. I'm not talking about folks consumed by the lottery and scratch-offs and taking 100s of dollars a day to play lottery games.

I'm talking about the person who plays a dollar every week on a ticket or who may decide to play when it becomes a certain amount.

There's no difference in that type of playing and investing in the stock market.

Yes, there is a difference, because there is a reasonable expectation of a return on one's investment for every investor. At the same time, the company has capital to manufacture goods and hire people, and grow. Just imagine a company's stock value who said, invest, and once our stock has reached a certain price, we will liquidate the company and transfer all the money to the ones lucky enough to have guessed some numbers.

There is a huge difference, a huge disconnect. They aren't even the same. In one, the risk of loss is marginal. In the other, you're sure to lose.

 

[Zaac]

Yes, there is a difference, because there is a reasonable expectation of a return on one's investment for every investor. At the same time, the company has capital to manufacture goods and hire people, and grow. Just imagine a company's stock value who said, invest, and once our stock has reached a certain price, we will liquidate the company and transfer all the money to the ones lucky enough to have guessed some numbers.

There is a huge difference, a huge disconnect. They aren't even the same. In one, the risk of loss is marginal. In the other, you're sure to lose.

If you were sure to lose, the current jackpot wouldn't be where it is as people know that a dollar doesn't necessarily win them the jackpot, but according to the lottery site, they have much better odds of winning something.

And investing $1 in a Powerball ticket could have netted $4, 7, 100, 50,000, or 1 million outside of the jackpot dependent upon how many numbers you got right.

That $4 back is a much better return on a dollar than what you'll get with the stock market.

 

[Aaron]

I'm out 400 pennies. Not one number the same. Not one.

 

[JonC]

I'm out 400 pennies. Not one number the same. Not one.

I won the lottery!!! Netted $1.

 

[Rob_BW]

One of my employees won $100.00.

 

[Crabtownboy]

If you were sure to lose, the current jackpot wouldn't be where it is as people know that a dollar doesn't necessarily win them the jackpot, but according to the lottery site, they have much better odds of winning something.

And investing $1 in a Powerball ticket could have netted $4, 7, 100, 50,000, or 1 million outside of the jackpot dependent upon how many numbers you got right.

That $4 back is a much better return on a dollar than what you'll get with the stock market.

All depends on the stock you pick. The odds are better in the market, especially if you do your homework.

 

[Rolfe]

This is what I think the difference is between investing and gambling:

An investment in the market is a bet that I expect to win.

A gamble is a bet that I hope that I do not lose.

My opinion only.