The Virginia Lottery Quandry
As you drive by the Lottery billboard, there usually is a big number hanging up there that says something like the current lottery jackpot is 50 MILLION. Not surprisingly, while driving by at 55mph, I rarely notice the fine print at the bottom of the billboard that says something like "chances of winning 1 in 276 million". The odds may even indicate higher than that.
When I walk into a store that sells lottery tickets, I usually see someone buying a ticket. On occasion, I will ask if they realize the odds in winning. Usually, the response is something like, "Well, someone has to win, why can't it be me". I admit, I have even purchased on occasion. I usually ask the clerk to make sure to give me the winning ticket. They look at me with a smirk and holler "next" and reach for the gallon of milk that the customer behind me is purchasing.
All this probably sounds familiar. However, it was just recently revealed in a lawsuit filed in Virginia, that apparently the Virginia Lottery had sold tickets to certain contests, even after the large prizes had been given away. The Virginian Pilot and other papers have reported that a Washington and Lee Law Professor has brought suit against the Lottery relating to fraud in the sale of scratch off tickets.(article) The article details the specifics of the suit in setting forth that the lottery gained almost 85 million in sales, on tickets sold where the main prize had already been given away. He seeks reimbursement for those who purchased those tickets. The lottery spokesperson, Paula Otto, acknowledged that there was a "chance" that tickets had been sold after the prizes had been given away.
Otto's choice of words made me smile. I have not heard any reaction from the Governor's office but I am guessing that this will impact appointments to the lottery. It also reminds me of the Alex Karras story regarding gambling. He admitted betting on his team, the Detroit Lions, and was banned from football for one year. The next year he came back and went to the middle of the field as one of the Lion captains . There, he historically told the ref that he had to refuse to call the coin flip at the start of the game. He said to the ref, "I'm sorry sir, I'm not permitted to gamble". Maybe his advice would serve us well in regard to the Lottery.
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Posted by: lottery | July 22, 2008 at 12:06 AM