Sometimes when I pass by provision shops especially on a weekend, I am always amused to see the long lines where people queue to buy numbers. And some people religiously spend hundreds and even thousands every month just to buy numbers, yet they never seem to win as the probability is just too low.
I have never bought any form of numbers, four-digit, six-digit, or whatever. I do not like to queue for long to get something which is totally useless to me, save for the small chance of making a windfall.
If it is so easy to make a windfall in the first place, there will be lots more rich people in the world. Besides, I think becoming rich by striving gives one a better perspective than becoming rich by being the lucky one to strike the first prize at a lottery.
My parents do not buy any numbers, except for the once in a blue moon indulgence where they feel like trying their luck. Needless to say they have never won any, and they do not believe in throwing their money away for things like these, so they have probably only bought lottery once or twice.
I am not against people buying numbers as it is all an individual’s choice. Personally I will not buy as I rather spend my money more productively on other things. But for those who complain about already struggling and trying to make ends meet, is it still a wise thing to do to buy numbers? Will it not make more sense to use whatever money they have to feed their family or save up more?
Of course everyone hopes to get rich by making a windfall. And no matter how small a chance, they are still willing to see if they can become the lucky one. But is it too addictive and wasteful if they buy every week, often spending hundreds per week? If the amount of money is accumulated in a year, they would have quite a hefty sum put away, and it will probably even be more than anything they have ever won.
It is definitely not illegal to buy lottery, otherwise there will not be so many Singapore Pools outlets around. It is illegal only if people buy from private or illegal bookies. In fact, buying lottery is so legalized that the evening papers and news radio (somehow why is it only the Chinese radio and newspapers, never the English ones?) will report the daily winning numbers. So during that time, people will tune in to the radio and either shriek with delight or tear their tickets in disgust.
I guess this is just the local heartlanders’ hobby. Which is probably why only the Chinese papers and radio shows report on the winning lottery tickets. People associate those who buy numbers as those uncouth uneducated people just out to make a windfall, and assume that those English-educated ones will have a bit more “class” to even be seen at any lottery outlets. Not really true actually.
Still, it is an addictive habit, like playing mahjong. As long as there is a teeny weeny chance of winning, people will keep buying, which is why Singapore Pools have such a tremendous amount of revenue per year. But for me, I will think the time and money spent can be put to better and more productive use.
I have never bought any form of numbers, four-digit, six-digit, or whatever. I do not like to queue for long to get something which is totally useless to me, save for the small chance of making a windfall.
If it is so easy to make a windfall in the first place, there will be lots more rich people in the world. Besides, I think becoming rich by striving gives one a better perspective than becoming rich by being the lucky one to strike the first prize at a lottery.
My parents do not buy any numbers, except for the once in a blue moon indulgence where they feel like trying their luck. Needless to say they have never won any, and they do not believe in throwing their money away for things like these, so they have probably only bought lottery once or twice.
I am not against people buying numbers as it is all an individual’s choice. Personally I will not buy as I rather spend my money more productively on other things. But for those who complain about already struggling and trying to make ends meet, is it still a wise thing to do to buy numbers? Will it not make more sense to use whatever money they have to feed their family or save up more?
Of course everyone hopes to get rich by making a windfall. And no matter how small a chance, they are still willing to see if they can become the lucky one. But is it too addictive and wasteful if they buy every week, often spending hundreds per week? If the amount of money is accumulated in a year, they would have quite a hefty sum put away, and it will probably even be more than anything they have ever won.
It is definitely not illegal to buy lottery, otherwise there will not be so many Singapore Pools outlets around. It is illegal only if people buy from private or illegal bookies. In fact, buying lottery is so legalized that the evening papers and news radio (somehow why is it only the Chinese radio and newspapers, never the English ones?) will report the daily winning numbers. So during that time, people will tune in to the radio and either shriek with delight or tear their tickets in disgust.
I guess this is just the local heartlanders’ hobby. Which is probably why only the Chinese papers and radio shows report on the winning lottery tickets. People associate those who buy numbers as those uncouth uneducated people just out to make a windfall, and assume that those English-educated ones will have a bit more “class” to even be seen at any lottery outlets. Not really true actually.
Still, it is an addictive habit, like playing mahjong. As long as there is a teeny weeny chance of winning, people will keep buying, which is why Singapore Pools have such a tremendous amount of revenue per year. But for me, I will think the time and money spent can be put to better and more productive use.
6 comments:
Yup.. i do buy US lotto.. once a week for 1 dollar each time :P
can't help it to try out my luck for the Mega multi million stuff (i think this week jackpot is USD 83M) :P
But i do limit to 1 dollar each time (i reckon there's no point to buy more since the odds is 1 in over 42Million) otherwise my wife would start to nag at me :P
you got it wrong. english radio shows and newspapers also report on the winning lottery numbers.
check out sunday times. they print the numbers in a small box on the last page. FM 93.8 also reports on lottery numbers. quite regularly in fact, but of course, you must listen to it to notice.
just hope you know.
yep..english radios and newspapers do report the numbers as well..while i feel there is no wrong in buying lottery, there is a difference in trying your luck and getting obsessed..so why is it legalised when it's such a fine line to toe? the answer is probably in the income it generates for the government..why else would they always make so much noise about smoking being unhealthy and still allowing so many new brands into the country? ok, so banning it totally will be harmful as well..but surely something can be done to minimise the volume brought in and to stop more new brands from breaking into the market..instead they make smoking "cool" and keep raising prices which seriously speaking after looking at my friends, does not help a single bit..it just makes people poorer..
so is lottery good or bad? depends on which side of the fence you are standing on i guess..ask those who have won before and they will tell you without a doubt "of course!"..and even those who have never won before may tell you that it's just a matter of time..all those talk about curbing illegal gambling because it is bad is just superficial..no point taking away one channel and then offering a few more others through singapore pools rite?
life cannot be lived solely waiting for luck to come..and lottery is all about that really..i mean, singapore students are getting smarter and yet no one can calculate the next set of Toto numbers! so i say, buy lottery if you're feeling lucky..but if you don't win, it isn't the end of the world..luck may just find you somewhere else!
Gus : A dollar a week is ok I guess, at least you limit yourself to that amount.
Anon : Then I must not have noticed the section in the papers then. Anyway I do not specially look out for the winning numbers, which explains why I miss that section.
Addy : Totally agree. Things that are considered "not desirable" to the general public are still legalised because of the high revenue. And the curbingn thing is all just talk. No one will really curb because it's a booming business so to speak.
doh! bummer.. i didn't win the 84M jackpot.. someone win it in Palmdale (dunno where the heck is that)...
I guess i have to continue working for living then :P
But.. there's always the next time heh :P
Gus : Best of luck then! Do treat your family to a great time if you ever do win!
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