The lottery....

[Loosehead]

Further to an answer that I gave in another question, do you think the lottery has effectively become a voluntary tax on the poor? Discuss.

[Chillum]

I hate questions that end with "discuss" put's me right off answering, but anyway. The lottery is obviously a tax on the daft, but it's no bad thing to have a bit of daftness about you, although I'd rather see it run as some kind of nationalised affair, an honest tax with a bit of fun and a chance of riches. I do it about once every month or two (a fiver a time). I reckon it's a good barometer of positive thought...or it could be absolute desperation.

[Hammer]

I understand your point, but it's not really a tax, since half the cash goes back as prizes and the other half goes to 'good causes'. Correct me if I'm wrong, but The treasury dont get hold of any of it.

[THFCUK]

i think the lottery is now fixed because you have to buy your ticket before 7.30pm or is it 7.00pm and it used to be drawn at 8.00pm.  but now it's not drawn till after 9.00pm later some nights. so i think that they look up 6 balls no one has chose and make it a roll over 8 out of 10 times its been a roll over (i think to get more ppl interested in it)  I have never know so many roll overs. 

[WoWo]

"Correct me if I'm wrong, but The treasury dont get hold of any of it."
OK I will. 12% goes in Tax.

http://lottery.merseyworld.com/Sales_index.html

[Loosehead]

It could also be argued that some of the money that goes to "good causes" would otherwise have to come from the treasury. Obviously not all of it, I mean the finance of Peruvian ginea pig farmers is strictly the pervue of the lottery grant mob!