What are the odds that I find a winning lottery ticket on the side of the road? I'm thinking they are about the same odds as actually winning the lottery, so there is no point in playing.
2006-11-30 08:31:31 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Games & Recreation ➔ Gambling
You might check out the book "True Odds: How Risk Affects Your Everyday Life", by James Walsh. I have linked to the Amazon page on it in the sources section.
2006-11-30 08:35:44 · answer #1 · answered by Richard H 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Actually, they're much worse. You multiply the odds of finding ANY lottery ticket on the side of the road (let's say 1 in 100 for every mile you walk looking for them) by the odds of winning any given lottery (42 ball lottery, 6 numbers = 1/42 * 1/41 * ... 1/37 = 1 in 3,776,965,920 ) so your chances range from 1 in 377 million to 1 in 3.7 million depending on how many miles you walk.
Of course, I haven't factored in that MOST winning tickets are cashed in (I think only 1 major prize has ever been left unclaimed), and your odds drop again, to 1 in the billions.
2006-11-30 08:38:19 · answer #2 · answered by jbtascam 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, that is faux logic.
The odds of a ticket being a winner is over 100 million to one. The odds of someone buying that ticket, losing it, and you finding it is clearly far worse.
Sure, there is no real chance of winning. But there is almost no chance of becoming a professional athlete, but look how many times you see kids pushed into excessive sporting ventures in school, just to see if they can get some college scholarship and become a pro.
I just don't see the point of your question. If you think the lottery is for suckers, don't play.
2006-11-30 14:57:35 · answer #3 · answered by ZCT 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Lottery odds are rare, but anyway you can have fun for the game.
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2006-12-03 11:05:13 · answer #4 · answered by Roye 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You are more likely to be hit by lightening than winning the lottery.
2006-11-30 08:34:58 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
no you'd have a better chance of turning to solid gold then wining
2006-11-30 08:34:10 · answer #6 · answered by greendaydude55 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋