Whether you’re a die-hard fan of the Powerball, Mega Millions, or other big lottery games, the fact remains that you’re not very likely to win the lottery. In fact, statistically speaking, you’re more likely to die of a bee sting than you are to win the lottery.
Dutch state-owned Staatsloterij is the oldest running lottery
Founded in 1726, the Dutch state-owned Staatsloterij is the oldest continuously running lottery system in the world. The word lottery comes from the Dutch noun “lot” meaning fate or chance. The lottery was established to help the poor and provide funds to the treasury of Holland.
The first recorded lotteries were in the Low Countries in the 15th century. These lottery games raised funds for town walls, fortifications, and helping the poor. In fact, the records of Bruges and Ghent indicate that lotteries were held as early as 1445.
Powerball
Whether you are playing the lottery for fun or a serious venture, you will probably have come across the term Powerball. Powerball is an American lottery game that is offered by 45 states and the District of Columbia. It costs $2 to play and has nine prize tiers. Depending on where you live, your prize might be worth millions of dollars.
Powerball is a very popular lottery game in the United States. You can purchase tickets at participating retail outlets and online. You can also watch the drawings live on television.
Mega Millions
Founded in 1996, the Mega Millions lottery is a multi-state lottery game with a jackpot of up to $747 million. The jackpot is the third largest lottery prize in the US.
The Mega Millions jackpot starts with a base prize of $40 million and grows gradually each week. Mega Millions tickets are sold in 45 states and the District of Columbia. The jackpot can grow to astronomical amounts, but the chances of winning are modest.
Office lottery pools
Organizing an office lottery pool can be a fun way to boost camaraderie among colleagues. But, in addition to creating a lot of buzz, the practice can also lead to problems.
Organizers should make sure to follow all laws and regulations for their state. This includes checking with their human resources department to make sure that the pool is legal. Government employees, for instance, should be aware that conducting a lottery on government property is a violation of federal regulations.
Statistically speaking, you’re more likely to die from a bee sting than win the lottery
Despite the fact that winning the lottery isn’t in your best interests, statistics suggest you are a lot more likely to die of a heart attack than you are to win the lottery. Statistically speaking, you are ten times more likely to die of a heart attack in the course of a single day than you are to win the lottery.
Unlike the lottery, you will likely not die on a flight to New York. The odds of dying aren’t too shabby. The odds of winning the Powerball are 1 in 146,107,962 and the odds of winning the Mega Millions are 1 in 175,711,536.