comment: >
  
  Alexa play Bruno Mars
context: They really need to update the three digit signs if this is going to happen more often. >
  
  They changed the odds to get these huge jackpots. It seems to work drawing people in. >
  
  Yep, added a second extra to the powerball not long ago too. >
  
  Seems like this will be commonplace after they changed the algorithm for choosing winning numbers >
  
  And as interest rates rise. >
  
  A lot of money being pumped through this thing. A billion dollar winner just a few weeks ago. >
  
  The timeline worked out is was fresh in everyone's minds so lots of tickets were probably "stocking stuffers".
  But every time it gets big, lots of people buy their first ticket.  Some people always just keep buying it, because they find out they like delayed result gambling. >
  
  I enjoy buying a ticket occasionally, I just never remember to do it unless I see a reference to a big jackpot when I'm near a gas station.  I think it's a fun way to spend $2 you don't need.  It's a terrible way to spend $100 that you do need. >
  
  If it gets really big then I’ll buy 1 ticket.  For $2 I can get days worth of entertainment by thinking of how my life will change with a win. Realistically I know I won’t win but the escape from reality is nice. >
  
  I rarely buy a ticket because I almost never have $2 but you are absolutely right. It’s like a days worth of daydreaming. >
  
  Honestly, that's the fun part. I'm terrified of what would happen if I won, I'm pretty sure someone in my family would murder me if they found out I had any kind of money. >
  
  Here is what you should do when (if*) you do win the lottery! >
  
  Elon Musk is rumoured to be buying 5 billion dollars worth of tickets >
  
  He's using the Twitter severance that wasn't paid out, rumors suggest...  /s >
  
  This article saves me having to check my numbers >
  
  Still check in case of smaller prizes. >
  
  From a $20 purchase of 10 draws, not one number. No Mega ball and not one of those numbers.
  Someone said that a guarantee win is 1 in 25 (tickets) which means you will likely dump $50 for possible $2 - $5.  
  Personally, I'd rather buy scratch off tickets and have better odds at $10K or more jackpots then the 300 million or more to one odds of these "stupid taxes". >
  
  Finally worth playing >
  
  Prize 10 million: nah, too small.
  1.1 billion: sigh, I guess now I'll play. >
  
  Sigh.   *unzips*   (wallet) >
  
  The media loves to provide free advertising for this state-funded gambling bullshit >
  
  I think yall just hate on the lotto because you havent won. 
  Like, we are adults, if someone wants to spend $2 to possibly win a billion, who cares. >
  
  My question is really why does the media pump out so many stories about it >
  
  People love reading about money & dreaming about money. >
  
  I bet the guy that wins is gonna buy so much Carl's Jr. >
  
  Someone's making a lot of money from this crap... And it's not the players >
  
  It's the state and federal governments. Which isn't really a bad thing. >
  
  Don’t lottery profits go to funding Education or social programs or something? >
  
  Sort of. The money goes in, but there’s not a mandate that the budget to the schools from other tax revenue sources is left unchanged, so that money tends to get allocated elsewhere, leaving education programs underfunded. >
  
  Depends on the state, but yes, a LOT of them don't actually earmark the funds... and the Feds borrowed from Social Security (a very much ear marked fund) back in the 90s to balance the federal budget, so it's not like ear marks will ACTUALLY stop them from just spending it wherever. >
  
  Something truly gruesome about the lottery, which has been described before as 'selling a dream' and players readily admit they don't expect to win, but 'it's nice to feel like I might win a billion for a few days.'
  Nobody acknowledges the truth - it's a game designed that keeps poor people from questioning why they participate a system that keeps them miserable and desperate. In the Depression, it was about 'playing the number' and organized crime predicted that the state would eventually find a way to monetize it. Well they have, and it keeps the little people in their place while profiting off their hope. Disgusting. >
  
  Here we fucking go again. Not falling for this bullshit this time around. >
  
  Insane that it already hit a billion again. >
  
  It didn't.  That was Powerball >
  
  On the news for the previous drawing, when it was 940 million, your take home in New York State would be about 240 million. The allure of lotto tickets is strong, but you are largely just giving extra money the government. Even if you win, they win more. >
  
  The advertised jackpot is for the yearly payout option, which includes interest over time.  The actual cash jackpot is about half that (depending on current interest rates). And the taxes are about half of that.  So if you're getting the cash payout instead of the annuity, you can expect your 'take home' will be about a quarter of the advertised value. >
  
  it's my birthday today, should I get a ticket >
  
  Fuck yes. >
  
  So how do I buy a ticket? >
  
  C'mon, that's barely Kilo Millions. Get it up to 1 Trillion!