Texas Lottery Chronicles- Dallas Cowboys

I received a $5 scratch-off lottery ticket titled "Trim the Tree" as a stocking stuffer this Christmas and it got me to wondering how bad an investment a lottery ticket really is. On the back of the ticket it states that my odds are 1:3.83, and that includes break-even prizes.

Doesn't sound too promising.

As part of my experiment, I have decided to keep a running total of wins and losses, plus my total dollar investment and net results. Similar to what I do with my sports betting.

As you may recall, my initial attempt to win a little coin from the state was a failure. The "Trim the Tree" $5 scratch-off didn't hit, so I'm down five buckos.

Since it's Super Bowl week, I decided to purchase a "Dallas Cowboys" $5 scratch off for two reasons. First, I figure it will be one of the few times that the words "Cowboys" and "Super Bowl" will be mentioned in the same sentence and two, since the Cowboys were 8-8 the last three years, I fully expect to win $5 on this ticket. Break even- like the Cowboys :)

Cash prizes on the ticket range from $5 to $100,000, plus there are other non-cash prizes such as a draft day pass that allows you to sit in the "War Room" with Jerry Jones as he screws up another draft. I'd rather suffer thru a root canal.

The ticket has five numbers across the top that are "Winning Numbers." If one of your 20 numbers match, you win that prize. Should a football symbol appear, you win that prize. If a "TD" symbol appears, you win all 20 prizes. Wouldn't that be nice.

Let's get started, shall we?

As you can see below, we have revealed the five "Winning Numbers" which have been anything but for the first half of the ticket. Hopefully, it'll be a second half ticket :)

Well, the third quarter was more of the same.

After the last five numbers are cleared, it appears we have a total loser for the second week in a row.

Hopefully, next week will be better.

Tickets                        2
Winners                      0
Investment             $10.00
Winnings                  $0
Net                        ($10.00)