Lottery Tickets.
By vikingswest
@Vikingswest1 (6305)
United States
March 25, 2022 3:51pm CST
I rarely buy lottery tickets. I buy scratch-off tickets even less often.
I got a surprise check in the mail recently. Extra money that I wasn't expecting.
I needed to get gas for the lawnmower so I went to the local Chevron. I needed to get some cash too so I used the ATM in the store. I usually get cashback at the market when I need money and rarely use ATM's because of the transaction fees.
Right next to the ATM sits a scratch-off lotto machine.
Impulsively and for no real reason, I put ten dollars into the machine and purchased two five dollar scratch-offs.
I drove home and put the tickets on the desk.
I went outside and started moving things out of the way and flattening mole hills so I could cut the grass.
It began to rain so I came back in.
I noticed that one of the scratch-offs was missing.
My wife had played the ticket and said she won five dollars.
I thought if I was lucky enough to win five dollars too, we could break even. So I began uncovering the prizes.
The first two squares I scratched revealed 400 dollar prize amounts. One more like that would win me that amount.
As I continued uncovering the amounts, none of them matched but I had uncovered two five dollar prizes.
I was down to the last space to scratch.
I said that I will wait until later to uncover it.
That must have triggered my wife because she said that she was going to uncover it if I didn't.
I told her to go ahead.
That last space revealed a 400 dollar prize, giving me the three needed to win that prize.
I am 395 dollars richer. Yay.
Do you play the lotto?
Do you pick numbers for a drawing or do you play the scratch off tickets too?
Maybe both?
For those that play, what is the largest prize that you've won?
16 people like this
14 responses
@DaddyEvil (137142)
• United States
25 Mar 22
You CHEATED! Or something like that... 
Congrats! Nope. I wouldn't win so don't play.2 people like this
@Vikingswest1 (6305)
• United States
25 Mar 22
It stopped raining but I don't feel like cutting grass now, so yes, I cheated myself out of exercise and a freshly cut lawn lol.
I guess I could pay someone to cut grass and still be ahead lol.
2 people like this
@Vikingswest1 (6305)
• United States
25 Mar 22
@DaddyEvil
Hahah I can cut the grass in about 30 minutes but it takes twice that long to use the weed trimmer for edging and to do the ditch.
2 people like this
@much2say (53944)
• Los Angeles, California
25 Mar 22
Wow 
- you actually won a nice amount! I don't play any of that anymore . . . but long ago we used to get the scratch off ones (the fun seems to last longer than just picking numbers 
). I don't think I've won anything more than $10 (altogether 
).
- you actually won a nice amount! I don't play any of that anymore . . . but long ago we used to get the scratch off ones (the fun seems to last longer than just picking numbers ). I don't think I've won anything more than $10 (altogether ).2 people like this
@much2say (53944)
• Los Angeles, California
26 Mar 22
@Vikingswest1 
Isn't that funny? We do whatever it takes to stretch out the anticipation of winning to make that lottery ticket spending so worth it 
. I wonder how much it costs to actually become a lottery gazillionaire .
Isn't that funny? We do whatever it takes to stretch out the anticipation of winning to make that lottery ticket spending so worth it . I wonder how much it costs to actually become a lottery gazillionaire .1 person likes this
@Vikingswest1 (6305)
• United States
26 Mar 22
@much2say
I have a cousin back in Minnesota that played scratch offs.
He went in on his Birthday and won 80k on a ticket. The next year on his Birthday, we won another 80k.
Within two years, he spent every penny and was broke again.
For every success story, there are millions of fail stories.
1 person likes this
@Vikingswest1 (6305)
• United States
25 Mar 22
Once in a while, I will buy a quick pick and leave the ticket in my wallet for weeks without checking the numbers. That way, I feel that I could be a winner for much longer lol.
I think if I added up all the money I put down for lottos against my winnings, I'd still be in the red.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (459538)
• Switzerland
27 Mar 22
@Vikingswest1 To be honest I have no idea how many Lotto games we have, I only play the SwissLotto, that I suppose is similar to your regular Lotto.
1 person likes this
@Vikingswest1 (6305)
• United States
27 Mar 22
@LadyDuck
I DID win one lottery. It was the Sciocco Lottery.
It pays a million dollars.
A dollar a year for a million years.
So, I have that going for me.
1 person likes this
@Vikingswest1 (6305)
• United States
26 Mar 22
Thank you. It was a very nice surprise.
How many Lotto games do you have there?
There is Powerball, Mega Millions and the regular Lotto here. Maybe more. I wish you continued luck with those numbers.
1 person likes this
@Vikingswest1 (6305)
• United States
26 Mar 22
Hahahah.
I think people can be a lucky gem. Take my wife...
Please.
1 person likes this
@Vikingswest1 (6305)
• United States
26 Mar 22
@sol_cee
I kind of stepped away for a break. I found myself wanting to respond negatively to too many discussions.
I hope I'm over that now.
You always bring a smile to my face. Thank you for that.
1 person likes this
@kobesbuddy (74830)
• East Tawas, Michigan
25 Mar 22
I've won $5 and $10, a couple times. Now, I don't ever buy lottery tickets.
1 person likes this
@Vikingswest1 (6305)
• United States
25 Mar 22
If that scratch-off machine wasn't right next to the ATM, I probably wouldn't have spent anything on lotto.
Overall, I have still lost more than I've won.
1 person likes this
@Vikingswest1 (6305)
• United States
25 Mar 22
@kobesbuddy
Just like gambling in Casinos. It's rare to find a person that has won more than they have lost.
1 person likes this
@kobesbuddy (74830)
• East Tawas, Michigan
25 Mar 22
@Vikingswest1 I figured out on paper, I'd spent $60 in tickets. All in all I'd won two $5s and a $10. So, I was out $40, I don't think this was very smart.
1 person likes this
@Vikingswest1 (6305)
• United States
25 Mar 22
It was a nice surprise because I rarely play and winning more than I spent is even more rare.
I am giving the money to the local food bank.
In 2005, I was in a bad place and needed the help for several months. I always said I would make that up one day and I just decided that today is that day.
1 person likes this
@Vikingswest1 (6305)
• United States
25 Mar 22
@CarolDM
This month alone, I have been blessed with 2600 dollars that I wasn't expecting. I can clearly remember how tough things were back then. If it weren't for that food bank, it would have meant real trouble here.
It's only fair to pay back the place that helped me so much so that they can help others in a bad place.
1 person likes this
@CarolDM (203451)
• Nashville, Tennessee
25 Mar 22
@Vikingswest1 That was a nice surprise. How kind to donate the money.
1 person likes this
@rsa101 (37969)
• Philippines
28 Mar 22
@Vikingswest1 Oh wow that is good then I guess it will return back to you in some other ways. I think that is the ideal way to spend money that was given to you freely.
1 person likes this
@Vikingswest1 (6305)
• United States
28 Mar 22
@rsa101
The truth is, back in 2006, I was having a tough stretch and the local food bank really helped me get by. I gave them the money so they could help others too.
1 person likes this
@Vikingswest1 (6305)
• United States
28 Mar 22
Why thank you. Every cent went for a good cause. I gave it to people that needed it more than I do.
1 person likes this
@vandana7 (98996)
• India
26 Mar 22
Wow..that is the only reason America is worth visiting. LOL Kidding. Good for you, and I am truly happy for you. When I was young, I used to buy them once in a year or twice in a year. But then, I realized ..if I got a huge amount, collection would be risky proposition. So I refrain from such activities.
1 person likes this
@vandana7 (98996)
• India
26 Mar 22
@Vikingswest1 Wow. I admire you. Hope the chain continues. :)
1 person likes this
@Vikingswest1 (6305)
• United States
26 Mar 22
I got my cash right at the store where I purchased the winning ticket.
Larger amounts need to be collected elsewhere and are subject to taxes but small amounts are paid out instantly.
I gave it away already.
I went through a horrible stretch back in 2005-06 and got help from a local food bank. They saved my butt and got me through a really tough time. I donated all the winnings to them today.
1 person likes this
@Vikingswest1 (6305)
• United States
26 Mar 22
@vandana7
I hope so too. It felt really good to give back.
@Vikingswest1 (6305)
• United States
26 Mar 22
It was a nice win. I have bought two one dollar lotto drawing picks and these two scratch offs this year. I'm batting .500. Time to quit, right?
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (95854)
• Marion, Ohio
26 Mar 22
@Vikingswest1 Keep going until you start to lose
1 person likes this
@1creekgirl (40638)
• United States
26 Mar 22
Congrats! I never play just because I never win and I'd rather go shopping, but my husband buys a few scratch offs and usually breaks even in the long run. He did win $1400 one time on one card which was exciting.
1 person likes this
@Vikingswest1 (6305)
• United States
26 Mar 22
It WAS fun to win. Same feeling as finding gold.
Except it doesn't cost as much to look for gold.
1 person likes this
@Vikingswest1 (6305)
• United States
26 Mar 22
@JudyEv
What a fun time that must have been!
Do you still play bingo or buy Lotto tickets?
1 person likes this
@Vikingswest1 (6305)
• United States
26 Mar 22
What a fun time it must have been winning that much on bingo.
I used to play but the top prize was never more than 50 bucks. I never won the top prize.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (326258)
• Rockingham, Australia
26 Mar 22
@Vikingswest1 The pool had been jackpotting each day for about three weeks. I only piayed about three times but certainly struck lucky.
1 person likes this
@Vikingswest1 (6305)
• United States
25 Mar 22
It was fun to see a winning ticket. I was already surprised with unexpected cash this month and I think these winnings need to go to a place that helped me out during a bad stretch.
I will visit them tomorrow.
1 person likes this
@AmandaRipsam (46)
• Otsego, Michigan
27 Mar 22
I have never bought a lotto ticket. I want to just haven't ever gotten around to it.
1 person likes this
@Vikingswest1 (6305)
• United States
28 Mar 22
I rarely play scratch offs, it's usually Lotto and only a few dollars worth. I just got cash out and thought what the heck.
@Vikingswest1 (6305)
• United States
28 Mar 22
Thank you. I may start playing a dollar a week since I was so lucky.
1 person likes this
@Vikingswest1 (6305)
• United States
28 Mar 22
@MrDenata
Thanks! I hope I win more than I spend hahah.
1 person likes this
