Life is Funny

I read a statistic which said that out of 100% of tickets sold, 96% of them win less than $3,000. Now most of us do not buy a scratch and win ticket to only win $5 or $10. We want a chance at a big prize.

Furthermore, how many times do you spend $3 on a scratch ‘n win ticket, and it says “congratulations! You win $3″

Shouldn’t it say “congratulations! You win nothing. You get your money back”.

I really don’t think that “free ticket wins” or where you win exactly the cost of the ticket back, should be considered part of the winning odds printed on the back of the ticket.

Pull tabs are equally discusting. I don’t know if your local bar or pub has pull tab tickets, but here, they come in a 16 lb package, with 3,600 tickets in them.

On the front of the 50 cent pull tab it advertises:

3 winners of $100
3 winners of $75
4 winners of $25
8 winners of $10
25 winners of $2
100 winners of $1

Well, let’s add that up.. Out of 3,600 tickets there will be 143 winning tickets totalling $935

But if you bought the whole bag, it would cost you $1,800.

Now naturally no one wants to win $1, nor $2, nor $10. Everyone is out to win a minimum of $25 on a 50 cent pull tab ticket — thats the reason you play.

In that case, out of 3,600 tickets, there are only 10 real winners that mean anything.

3,590 tickets are sold, and 10 walk away with a real prize.

Doesn’t sound so fun to play anymore does it?

If someone announced a huge gathering of people, got on a Microphone and said to a crowd of 3,600 people “attention please. I would like everyone to dig in their pockets, and give me 50 cents. I guarantee that 10 of you will walk away with a prize of $25 or more”

Guess what? The crowd would disperse, and people would walk away cursing and laughing … “what a joke”

BUT THE REAL JOKE IS:

This is what goes on everyday, in the hundreds of bars around in this province. Bags of 3,600 tickets are dropped off at each bar, they get sold, and only 10 people per bag actually win anything worthwhile.

No one likes to do the math — but if you do, it’s a very scarey situation out there.

Be aware and forewarned!