Someone won the lottery again, and again it wasn’t me. This time I played Lotto 649 quick-pick, the first in months. And as the ticket printed, the image of all those who had shared this moment before me flashed through my mind; my family and friends, doctors and lawyers, Muskrat hockey players, maybe even a newly provincial appointed cabinet minister. As I picked up the ticket, my hand shook nervously, in sympathy for everyone else who as with myself, didn’t have much of a chance because of the immense odds of losing versus winning.
As I walked home from Kenny’s Store and while lost in thought, I wondered about two people I knew years ago who played the lottery frequently, Harry and Sophie. Ironically, after Sophie had left him for greener pastures, Harry won a substantial lottery prize. The win was bittersweet for Harry, as it meant he had won money but had lost his love, Sophie.
Every week millions of dollars are up for grabs in Canada’s various lotteries. While our jackpots will never get as high as America’s Mega Millions lottery does, they have approached the $500 million mark or so: Lotto Max draws are regularly about $50 million, nothing to sneeze at. Even if your dream came true and your numbers came up, what would you do with all that cash? A trip around the world, the biggest home on the block or a couple of Ferraris in the driveway! But even $50 million can run out so be cautious and plan wisely – or call me as your financial advisor.
I hadn’t known anyone that won big money until I bought a condo in Toronto circa 1980. The lady that lived directly above my unit won a cool million. We had shared a comfortable relationship over a few years. I waited until the next morning to go up one flight and congratulate her and as well to subtly mention to her how my bills had piled up. My so-called friend had fled in the middle of the night. Our relationship, I gathered, was a fair-weather one. Another friend of mine from the Valley had won a meagre 100 grand but by the time I got up there to visit, it was all spent! I don’t feel that even their luck can rub off on me!
Some people have lucky numbers that they play every week. Of course, if the numbers are so lucky, why don’t they win? The first Olympic Lottery Canada had three 3’s in it and occasionally when I do put money down, I always include the three’s. I suppose choosing your own numbers is a way of having control over something you actually have no control over at all. Stick with the quick pick! That’s the big problem with gambling – the probability is that you are going to lose no matter the what the strategy.
For a while, I switched to playing Texas Hold-em at the “Speakeasy on Clem”. If I had worn a shirt, rather than a pullover, I would have lost it too. Some say, “Gambling can become an addiction and cause you to loose money that you don’t have.” Tell me about it! I get even less respect on these poker nights. I like to be cautious when my turn to discard comes around but one player has to always say, “Stop holding up the game and play the hand you’re dealt.” Meanwhile he likely has an ace in the hole in his hand. It is said, “If you stay at the table long enough, the chips will come to you.” For me, I have neither the cash nor the years left to wait that long.
The lure of the lottery is: the hope, the chance, and the belief that someone has to be the next one to hit it lucky. Maybe I’ll buy another couple of tickets. Who knows? This might be my week. And if you don’t see this column next week, you’ll know what happened. I’ll be at the MGM Grand casino in Vegas looking for a big poker payout with a half-finished Cesar right beside me.
There’s just one thing standing in the way of me winning – the laws of probability.
On second thought, maybe I’ll wait until the jackpot gets bigger. If I’m going to throw my money away, I might as well wait for a super jackpot when my chances of losing are worth more.
