There are some people who play the lottery and overindulge in tickets just a little bit. Now, most people who buy lottery tickets are not expecting to win the lottery and become rich. They know that that is pretty much a long shot.
Lottery players are not playing the lottery expecting to win; they are actually buying hope, living a fantasy that maybe their numbers will come up and maybe their lives will change forever. It’s the fun and hope that players really look forward to.
But, some people find that they not only like playing the lottery, but they feel that they need to play the lottery. A lot. Sometimes more than their budget allows. At that point, all sorts of nasty things can happen. People can get out of control, and the actual impulse to play the lottery and impulse to win the jackpot can become an obsession.
This out-of-control overindulgence can be caused by many factors, like poverty and low income to psychological and behavioural issues. Regardless of the cause, there are many ways for these types of players to return to a healthier and more controlled lottery playing experience.
How to Know When You're Playing Too Much
The most important way is to understand that, yes, you can’t win if you don’t have a ticket, but having a million tickets doesn’t necessarily guarantee you will win, either. And many jackpot winners have struck gold having only purchased one ticket. If you have one ticket, you have a chance. So, if someone may be or has been overindulgent when purchasing lottery tickets, how can they control it?
One way that might help is to realize that the chances of winning the jackpot are low. With odds set at several million to one, it’s arguable that you have a better chance of being hit by lightning. But people do actually win the jackpot, so it’s not out of the question that any player could potentially win. The expectation that one is going to win is the problem. So, changing the attitude that one is going win to one might win could help.
A Healthy Number of Tickets
Purchasing more than one ticket does not necessarily double, or massively increase, your chances of hitting the jackpot. Complicated formulas combine odds and payout calculations with the number of total tickets purchased for a draw to show that tens of thousands of tickets need to be purchased for a player to have actually doubled their chances of winning a prize.
Players don’t buy multiple tickets to improve their odds, they buy multiple tickets to make playing the lottery more fun, or see what prizes they might win-not just the jackpot. So, spending a large amount of money on every draw to get as many tickets as possible isn’t a feasible approach to winning. Understanding this will help to keep overindulgence in check.
If you or someone you know purchases too many lottery tickets, remember that the average number of tickets that are purchased for a lottery draw are three to five. One to three tickets per draw is enough to give you a chance at winning any prize, including the jackpot, without overspending and dipping into rent or grocery money. Lottery purchases should be part of a household budget and incorporated into the entertainment category. This way, you can still have fun playing the lottery but not at the risk of going hungry - in essence having your cake and eating it, too.
Next Steps
Sometimes, problem gambling and its treatment is not as straightforward as reminding yourself of the above information.
If you are growing concerned about how often you or someone you know is playing the lottery – or overindulging in any kind of gambling – we recommend getting in touch with an organization, like the NCPG or RGC, who will provide you with non-judgmental assistance and advice about your situation.