nigelcg

Getting back to the issue, how about a national lottery every Christmas?

I play the Massachusetts lottery by subscription, it is the only US Lottery that allows subscribers to participate across the US.

American lotteries are run by states and usually you have to live in that state to play. A national US lottery every year would be very successful.

scot47

Just what the USA needs - more gambling ! Aren't there enough lotteries already ?

nigelcg

Most US lotteries, unlike lotteries around the world, have ignored the advance of technology. They don't offer games online, as most lotteries do. If they don't adapt , people will play overseas lotteries, such as the Spanish lottery.

Nutmegger

There seems to be a new state lottery game being pushed each week. And the only people I ever see buying the tickets in the grocery store or gas station look as if they could find far better uses for the money.

username.exe

How about an international version for the DV program?

$50 per ticket, six numbers gets you a GC. Five numbers and a powerball gets you an H1b application.

scrubbedexpat091

Which states don't let you buy a ticket in person without living in that state? Just curious as the states I am familiar with don't care where you live as long as you bought the ticket while in the state.



Best of my knowledge it's federal law hindering state lotteries from expanding online outside of their state due to anti-gambling laws on the books on the federal level.

scrubbedexpat091

True, but then sometimes one of those who probably shouldn't have been buying one do win. We have a homeless guy in Vancouver who recently won 25k on a game. Lottery isn't letting him claim though as being homeless he has no ID but media and others are helping him obtain ID..

Pulaski

There are four national US lottery drawings every week, two each for the two national lotteries. One or other of them rolls up to a gross prize of US$200million or more, sometimes much more, several times a year. ..... Why do we need a Special "Christmas" lottery? ..... I voted "no" because it's unnecessary.

Rete

Right. So hard to appreciate getting zilch for your contribution to a government agency ;-)

Rete

Why in heaven's name would I want to participate in a lottery that does not benefit my state? If I were to win, I would have to pay state tax to the state I live in as well as to the state that held the lottery.

Besides, there is a "general" lottery which is played by a number of states across the US. Why do you need one just for Christmas?

Rete

That'll teach me to read all the posts before typing my own.

Pulaski

Utter twaddle. Many lotteries around the world use US technology, including the British lottery which has a US lottery operator as a partner, and technology provider. ..... The US laws on gambling, including on-line gambling, severely restrict the way that lotteries can operate in the US, as compared to lotteries in other countries. Also bear in mind that some states prohibit gambling, and almost all US states prohibit on-line gambling.

Oh, and BTW gambling on-line on overseas lotteries is illegal for US citizens and residents.

kimilseung

I just wish I could put a tenner on the Grand National once a year, by popping in to the bookies. Maybe even a fiver on the first goal scorer in the cup final. Let me have a small bet , before expanding lotteries.

nigelcg

I was talking about playing online, not the technology that lotteries use to operate the game.

Nutmegger

I've always found "playing" to be such an unfortunate euphemism for wagering.