Well, we got all suited up for the lottery at the tobacco store today. I really haven't allowed myself to get very excited about the lottery (the lottery begins tonight, for those of you who have been living in a cave), but I'm planning to compulsively gamble the last $8 of my paycheck on scratch-off tickets tonight. I have no moral qualms with the lottery nor do I feel that it's an injustice to the impoverished who will buy lottery tickets instead of the newest ceramic angel figurine at Wal-Mart. One reason that I am all about the lottery is because it's going to sell like a motherfucker and Wal-Mart won't be able to see one thin dime from it on their sales charts. For once, they're on the receiving end of a monetary ass-raping. I doubt they care too much, but it brings me great satisfaction to know that they can't weasel their way into that market.

Now on to the finer points...

For those of you 18+ or who have friends that are 18 and up, here's the first 4 scratch-off games starting at 12:01 AM

1. Tennessee Millionaire - $1; Top Prize: $1,000,000; Odds: 1 in 4
Match three dollar amounts and win up to $1,000. Match three “entry” symbols, then mail in the signed ticket to be entered in one of three grand prize drawings that will award three players $1 million each!

2. Lucky 7's - $1; Top Prize: $7,000; Odds: 1 in 4
Like "Tic Tac Toe", get 3 "7's" in a row and win the ticket's prize!

3. Tennessee Treasures - $2; Top Prize: 25,000; Odds: 1 in 4
Match any of your 10 numbers to any of the card's two numbers and win the corresponding prize!

4. $100,000 Jackpot - $5; Top Prize: $100,000; Odds: 1 in 3
Match any of your 15 numbers to any of the 4 given and win the ticket's prize!

In any reference to matching "your numbers" to the "card's numbers", both sets are already on the card. You do not pick any numbers. These games are only scratch-offs. The real deal starts in April with "Pick 3", the "Mega-Millions" and others where you pick your own digits.

(Edited by richarddawson at 7:50 pm on Jan. 19, 2004)

I wish I could get in on the scholarship money, but I can't.
I'm not much of an "impulse" shopper, so I doubt I'll ever play.

I'm mostly ignorant on the finer points of this lottery business, so will someone tell me if Tennessee will get Powerball? I might throw down some green when it gets really, really, ridiculously high...if we get it, that is.

We're getting the alternative called the "Mega-Millions." Georgia and a few other states have it as their "big" ticket. As far as I know, It's pretty much the same as the Powerball; and this way, Kentucky can't hate us too much, because people from TN will still play Powerball.

I think I will play the lottery from time to time, when I get the itch. I have tons of people in my family who play "Pick 3" on the low. That's what I'm waiting for!

Hell yeah!!! The lottery is my "ticket" out of this hell hole. I'm all about it and its massive payouts.

I'll stay away from any numbers-picking kinds of things, but I'm all about some scratch-n-wins, especially while the lotto is new. I don't care what Rebecca Paul & Co. say, they'll be front-loading this bitch with winners to crank up the hype and get their hooks in people, and hopefully I can cash in. Big money, come on now, gimme big money!

I totally agree! Unfortunately, I was merely the beneficiary of a $2 winner, two free tickets, and the loss of my remaining cash. Four of my tickets had two $1,000s on them, but that damn third one was elusive. I think I'm going to play it one ticket at a time from now on. It was fun to splurge on the opening night, though.

See, my strategy is, (and I'm not sure if this is the best, but it's what i came up with through my own crappy logic,) if the odds are 1:3 to win, I buy 4 and almost always get something.

I woke up this morning to the new Tennessee Lottery jingle on WLAC. It's pretty gay, not that there's anything wrong with that. It did get me out of bed in an attempt to get away from the jingle.

I only gamble in the game of love.

Considering my luck there, I'm avoiding the lottery like the plague.

Yeah man, that was also my logic. Yes, you do win, but unfortunately, it's going to almost always be a free ticket or $2, which is less than the money you spent on your tickets. I think I'm going to buy one $5 ticket on payday every week and that will be that. I hope...

I played $10 worth of tickets today - 2 "Tennessee Millionaires" and 4 "Tennessee Treasures." I won a total of $4. I'll probably keep hitting it hard this first week. I think I like "Tennessee Treasures" the best so far.

i won $2 and 3 free tickets off of $8 today. i'll go collect after work today.

I played $1 worth of Tennessee Millionaire. Now I'm just a Tennessee guy with one less dollar.

i'm breaking down

i'm addicted to the lottery.

i need help.

Cold turkey. It's the only way, trust me. I've already been there.

won $50 yesterday. now i can go buy more wine.

I have bought three Lucky 7 tickets, and last night I won another ticket. I am only $2 in the red, and like to make believe that my new free ticket contains fabulous cash and prizes.

The lottery is a tax on people who are bad at math.

I don't think I could ever be addicted to the lottery, I tried the $1 ones I can't remember the name of them, but I didn't win anything... BUt as I found out this weekend my mama, one of my cousin's and my grandma are all addicted to the lottery lol They have no sense!

i'm fucked.

Still haven't played, but all those who are are making my line for cigarrettes and gas that much longer. Not that I'm complaining.

I will complain. It's really annoying sometimes.

(Edited by richarddawson at 8:20 pm on Feb. 3, 2004)

i'm not gonna play until the highest prize is over a million dollars.

You could say that about any form of organized gambling. I don't mind dropping a dollar here and there that (in theory) goes to schools, or some other respectable cause. As far as "math" goes, it's no different than dropping an extra dollar into a slot machine in Vegas, only that money goes to build more hotels. I'm down with my Tennessee Millionaire game, though I am 0/4 so far.

Dude, you need to switch to Lucky 7's. On average, they pay-out a lot better than TN Millionaire. Seriously.