Lottery Myths Busted

1. If you buy your ticket at the start of the week you are more likely to be dead from a lightning strike than winning on the lotto.

This myth is completely untrue for all those popular lotteries that are played in North America , the UK and Europe. For instance in a 1997 article in Public Gaming International magazine Iowa Lottery Commissioner Dr. Ed Stanek (his doctorate is in physics) debunked this belief successfully.

In the USA in 1996 ninety-one unfortunate people were struck by lightning and died as a result. In contrast well over one thousand people won over a million on lottery draws while four and a half thousand won over, or at least, one-hundred thousand dollars!

This doesn't include all those smaller prize wins of ten thousand dollars and more!


2. The lottery is just a form of tax.
Paying taxes is not a choice. It is compulsory. You must pay tax to the government or you will pay back with time incarcerated.  Lotteries on the contrary are voluntary and they are usually owned by private companies who make a profit from them.


3. Lottery companies advertise to the poor.

For  company to be profitable, including lottery companies, they must target potential customers who can buy their products. Targeting poor people who cannot afford to buy your product is not good business sense!

Lottery winners have come from all financial backgrounds including people who were already millionaires!


4. The lottery only benefits a small number of people - the winners!

Although this is one of the most popular myths about lottos it is by far the easiest to bust.

Most lotteries make donations to charities on a regular basis. For example the National Lottery (UK lotto) is involved in many charity projects and national business creation projects. It also invests heavily in growing business with the whole of the UK.

Retailers who sell lottery tickets get a commission on the sale. Lotteries create jobs. Many different types of jobs are created because of the lottery even ones that may not be apparent at first glance. The filter effect in employment due to the lottery goes well beyond the lottery company.

At the end of the day the lotto is also a game and games bring enjoyment. Is it worth a buck or two to enjoy the experience?


5. The lottery promotes compulsive gambling and is responsible for creating more gamblers.

If you have ever had any involvement with some who gambles frequently more than they should then you will know that they have certain addictive personality traits. Almost all addictions have their foundations in mental, emotional and physical causes.

In-depth studies on addiction and gambling have uncovered that the lottery, whether present or absent, has no real tangible effect on a compulsive gambler's behaviour. A compulsive gamblers will most likely seek something more thrilling than a mere lottery bet and is more often than not attracted to more risky enterprises.