Monday, August 29, 2005

Lotteries for Fun

In Oregon we have two major lotteries:  the state run Megabucks and the multi-state Powerball.  Each of these lotteries have big billboards across the city, showing you how much the prize money is currently. 

A curious statement caught my eye when I was driving by one of these monolith adds the other day.  It reads, "Lotteries are for entertainment purposes only, and should not be used as an investment."

What kind of ridiculous lawyer-inspired garbly-gook is this?  In our legally paranoid society we invent these statements to cover out butts that are obvious statements of denial.  Who's butt needs to be covered here?  I realize that some people find gambling in casinos, like cards or roulette, entertaining, but is there anyone out there who is under the deluded impression that people play the lottery just for fun?  Does anyone think that any less than 99% of ticket buyers do so for investment in a possible windfall?

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