Is This Proof That The Lottery Is A Tax On The Stupid?
This story from the BBC says it all. Someone bought a lottery ticket and then failed to claim a multi-million prize.
That makes them doubly stupid in my book.
All the lottery does is encourages more people to waste money they don’t have.
If you want to give a little to charity through the lottery, you are probably better to give it directly to a suitable charity.
I do gamble occasionally, but only where some degree of knowledge or mental skill is involved.
The Anonymous Widower 
I agree completely. I have seen mums who are clearly not well off at all spend all their child benefit on scratch cards in the post office as soon as they pick it up, and any win they get, buying more cards. Then they complain they cant afford a healthy diet for their kids!
Comment by Liz P | December 5, 2012 |
Another thing is that it is too easy to buy a scratch card or lottery ticket. If you insisted on some thought in the filling in, it might slow peoples’ spend rate.
One way to discourage people might be to tax lottery winnings, like they do in some countries.
Comment by AnonW | December 5, 2012 |
I think they should probably scrap it! Not much gets to the charities in reality. And given the things that do get funding, I dont think so much of social care/education etc should be funded by an oversized raffle!
Comment by Liz P | December 5, 2012 |