This holiday season you might want to slip some lottery tickets into Christmas cards, tuck them into stockings hanging by … wherever you hang stockings in Florida, or use them as a Hanukkah gift for friends and relatives that’s quick and easy and inexpensive and fun and could potentially pay off their mortgage.
But the Florida Lottery would like to remind everyone that lottery tickets are only intended for adults 18 and older.
“As we embrace the season of giving, our priority is to ensure that the fun of our games is enjoyed responsibly by all,” Florida Lottery Secretary John F. Davis said in a release Thursday. “Supporting the Gift Responsibly campaign highlights our ongoing commitment to keeping the excitement of our games safe and enjoyable by reminding everyone that our games should only be played by, or given to, adults.”
It’s also not a good idea to buy lottery tickets for people with gambling addictions. That includes yourself.
Here’s how to play and keep it fun.
First and foremost, understand that the odds are very much against you. The odds of winning big in Mega Millions or the Powerball are similar to successfully guessing the location of one specific vehicle somewhere in the entire U.S., including Alaska and Hawaii. Except they’re actually slightly worse than that.
The odds of winning something aren’t as bad, of course. Overall, the odds of winning at least a couple of bucks are:
The odds of winning a prize in a scratch-off game are considerably better, averaging anywhere from 1 in 2-point-something to 1 in 6. But that still means there are many more chances to buy a ticket and not win anything at all.
The fun of buying a lottery ticket is the chance you might win, and the fantasies you can spin of what you’ll do with your newfound truckload of wealth. But the Florida Lottery offers some tips on how to stay grounded.
“Gambling Addiction is Real,” the Florida Lottery says on its Play Responsibly page. “We want our games to remain fun for our players at all times. But we recognize that over-playing can happen.
“If you or a loved one is struggling with a gambling addiction, we encourage you to seek help by contacting one of the organizations below.”