These are the 10 most awkward questions people have about the lottery, and #7 is the worst
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Asking questions about the lottery is quite common, as people are often curious about the details and what goes on in games of chance.
Here are some of the more little-known and awkward questions that people have been known to ask about the lottery:
Do Lottery Winners Get Special Security?
The sudden wealth of lottery winners often makes them targets for criminals, including kidnappers.
This risk is heightened by their newfound public visibility, especially after winning large jackpots that are widely publicized.
As a result, many big lottery winners choose to hire personal security services to safeguard themselves and their families.
This security is not typically provided by the lottery organization but is an individual choice made by the winners to protect their safety and privacy.
Do Many Winners Go Bankrupt?
Surprisingly, a large number of lottery winners find themselves with financial problems within a few years of their win.
According to the CFP Board of Standards, about one-third of lottery winners eventually file for bankruptcy, often within 3-5 years after winning.
This rate is higher than that of the average American and is often attributed to reckless or uninformed financial decisions, such as overspending or poor investment choices.
Sudden wealth can lead to financial mismanagement, especially for those not used to handling large amounts of money.
Are There Secret Winners We Don’t Know About?
Yes. But the ability to remain anonymous after winning the lottery varies by state in the U.S. As of now, only 18 states allow winners to keep their identities private.
This anonymity can be crucial for personal safety and privacy reasons.
In states where anonymity is not allowed, winners' names and sometimes other details become public records, exposing them to unwanted attention or risks.
Can Lottery Officials Play and Win?
To ensure fairness and maintain public trust in lottery games, employees of lottery organizations, their immediate families, and employees of lottery suppliers are usually barred from buying tickets.
This policy depends on the country or state, but is generally made to prevent any conflicts of interest and to uphold the integrity of the lottery system.
The rules are in place to reassure the public that the lottery is conducted impartially and without insider influence.
Has Anyone Ever Rigged the Lottery?
The Hot Lotto fraud scandal of 2005, involving Eddie Raymond Tipton, is a high-profile instance of lottery rigging.
Tipton, who was the information security director of the Multi-State Lottery Association, manipulated the random number generator used in the lottery.
This scandal, which came to light in 2017, highlighted the potential vulnerabilities in the lottery system and led to significant security changes to ensure the integrity of lottery drawings.
What Bizarre Purchases Have Lottery Winners Made?
Michael Carroll bought a race track for demolition derbies.
John and Linda Kutey donated to build a waterpark.
Bob Erb donated to "420 Day" for marijuana legalization.
Jonathan Vargas launched a female wrestling show.
Sarah Cockings funded breast augmentations.
Louise White named a trust after her favourite dessert, rainbow sherbet.
Charlie Lagarde used winnings to study photography.
Janite Lee donated to the Democratic Party and went bankrupt.
George and Beryl Keates shared their winnings with family.
Vivian Nicholson spent lavishly on luxury items and travel.
What Happens if a Lottery Winner Dies Suddenly?
If a lottery winner opts for a lump sum and then passes away, that amount becomes part of their estate, inheritable by family or a designated beneficiary.
In the case of annuity payments, any remaining payouts are directed to the winner's estate.
Lotteries typically allow winners to name a beneficiary for these circumstances.
This ensures that the winnings are appropriately distributed according to the winner's wishes or, in the absence of a specified beneficiary, according to estate laws.
Do Psychics Win More Often?
Psychics cannot predict lottery results as they say the numbers are generated by computers or machines, which lack human energy or a soul for psychics to read.
Therefore, there's no scientific basis to suggest that psychics can predict winning lottery numbers better than random chance.
Some psychics may have a strong sense of a win or encourage purchasing a ticket, but they cannot predict exact numbers.
A case in point is Ocean Kinge, a British woman who set up a lottery syndicate in 2010 claiming her psychic powers predicted a win.
Are Winners Happier After Winning?
Studies on lottery winners' happiness have shown mixed results. A study from 1978 found that lottery winners were no happier than non-winners and took less pleasure from mundane events.
However, a 2006 study of Britons who won medium-sized prizes showed improved mental health two years after winning.
Additionally, a 2015 study found increased happiness but also higher rates of drinking and smoking among winners.
So happiness might be more about how you spend your money, with charitable spending linked to greater happiness.
What Are the Odds of Winning Twice?
The odds of winning a lottery like Lotto 6/49 are approximately one in 13,983,816 for each ticket. This number already indicates the extremely slim chance of winning even once.
According to Camelot, the operator of the UK National Lottery, the odds of winning the lottery twice are a staggering 283 billion to one.
An American TV show, "The Lottery Changed My Life," suggests slightly more favorable odds at 419 million to one.
Jason Brown, a professor of mathematics and statistics at Dalhousie University, calculated the chance of winning the jackpot twice in seven years as about four in 10 billion.
He also humorously noted that if someone bought 100 tickets every week, it would take approximately 1,804 years for there to be a 50/50 chance of winning the big jackpot twice.
