Re: The Wages of Sin is Death?

[twayburn@juno.com (Thomas L Wayburn)]

On Tue, 29 Jul 1997 10:49:43 brian whatcott <inet@intellisys.net> writes:
> At 10:55 7/29/97 EDT, you wrote:
> >
> ...
> >    Since I have so much trouble with probability, I decided to solve 
> a
> > big problem a couple of years ago.   I computed an algorithm to 
> estimate
> > the expected value of a Texas State Lottery Ticket.  Of course, it 
> never
> > is worth a buck.    But, amusingly, without leaving my apartment I
> > discovered two or three ways in which the State cheats.  So, you can 
> find
> > out things by doing math!  ...
> > Regards to all and especially to the players / Tom
> It was a while ago.
> I went to work as a system designer of a distributed network
> of ticket selling machines - concerts, theater-seats, all that stuff.
>
> It happened that the engineering outfit's main line was state 
> lotteries
> (Syntech International).
>
> Texas, as an anti-gambling state, properly chose to run that company 
> out of
> Dallas, and out of state. Oh, they left us innocuous ticket-sellers
> in-place - but the Devil's Cohorts got their marching orders.
>
> I recall the boss's advice quite clearly - as the state takes about 
> 50%,
> always head for Reno - there is no racket that takes a larger cut.
>
> That was then, and this is now.
> Texas sells lottery tickets from every outlet.
> Southland decided that 7-11 stores could manage quite well without
> automated ticket sales, so that system went down the tubes.
>
> And Texans benefit by better educational grants - perhaps.
>
> Regards
> brian whatcott <inet@intellisys.net>
> Altus OK
OK, I'll talk; I'll sing; I'll spill the beans.  

1)  They don't pay to the next winner the time value of the money on the
rolled-over money.
2)  They tamper with the (published) expected prize value systematically
to improve the looks of the bet, although I wonder who notices.  Perhaps
pros.
3)  Perhaps something else.  I would have to read the eight pages.  In
any case, the lottery is a nasty business.

Yes, I write papers and leave them in a box for five or ten years until
the topic is no longer relevant.   But, I don't have to publish or
perish.   I publish two or three papers a year in itty-bitty presses.   I
have a mess of stuff on the Internet - not about physics.  You can search
under Wayburn, but not Thomas Wayburn.  You'll get every Thomas who ever
was.
But, if you do look at what I write, you should indemnify me from hatred
and  / or harassment just because you don't agree.    Damn it, I want
immunity.