The chance of winning a piece of the largest prize total in Lotto MAX history had last-minute ticket buyers hitting up convenience stores across Windsor, Essex County and the rest of the country on Friday.
But would they have been so eager if they realized just how slim their chances were?
“This is not my quote, but I’ve heard it said: Lottery tickets are a tax on those people that don’t know mathematics,” said Dr. Myron Hlynka, a math and statistics professor at the University of Windsor.
“I don’t buy lottery tickets. I’m paying enough taxes.”
Friday night’s Lotto MAX draw boasted the most prize money the game has ever offered: $100 million, comprised of a $50-million jackpot and 50 $1-million individual prizes.
Even as the sales deadline approached (6 p.m. Pacific / 9 p.m. Eastern), hopeful players continued to fork over their cash for the mere possibility of overnight riches.
But not Hlynka.
According to his calculations — and the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation’s own admission — the numerical probability of winning the $50-million jackpot was a paltry one in 28,633,528.
That’s one shot against more than 28.6 million.
In contrast, Hlynka pointed out that the probability of being struck by lightning is frequently reported as one in 576,000.
So you were about 49 times more likely to be electrocuted from the sky on Friday night than you were to win the jackpot.
“And it’s much more likely that you’ll be in a traffic accident on your way to either buy your lottery ticket or redeem your lottery ticket,” Hlynka added.
Indeed, Hlynka said a negative return should be expected in light of such odds. “The way I figure it out, I lose money by buying lottery tickets.”
But Hlynka knows none of that will dissuade loyal Windsor lottery players when the next monstrous jackpot comes around.
“I’m not a psychologist, but I think people play for the excitement, the camaraderie … the nice conversation,” Hlynka said.
“I’ve known people that actually claim this is the way they donate money,” he added with a laugh.
And there’s no arguing against those who’ve won at least something playing the lottery — even if it wasn’t the $50-million grand prize.
The Star has compiled a list of 91 lottery winners in our area since the beginning of May, with prize payouts ranging from $1,000 to $649,000.
No matter your reasons for buying lottery tickets, Hlynka offers two parting words of advice: “Good luck.”
Lotto Fever: Are you buying a ticket or taking a pass? | Windsor Star
---------------------------------------------
Source: Record Lotto MAX prize attracts ticket buyers — or are they suckers? | Windsor Star
