TICKETS TO SALVATION

Grand Lotto bettors resort to Lucky Picks

abs-cbnNEWS.com

Posted at 04/30/2011 11:58 PM | Updated as of 05/01/2011 8:38 PM

MANILA, Philippines - No one won the P158 million Grand Lotto jackpot on Saturday, the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) said.

The winning numbers, in any order, are: 24-25-48-34-03-23. 

 Interest in the Grand Lotto has risen again as the jackpot keeps rising.
Many bettors have resorted to Lucky Picks (LP)--machine-generated numbers--the same strategy used by the winner of the biggest lotto prize in Philippine history.
In December 2010, a balikbayan won more than P741 million after correctly guessing the Grand Lotto winning numbers via a Lucky Pick

REACTION The Lotto fever is everywhere. Throughout the country, betting at lotteries become a usual habit. When the prizes soars high amounting to millions, people become eager to bet more. This phenomena is the usual scene at betting outlets and the craze is not only in the ou region but all over the country.

What then is the motivating factor why Filipinos are hooked to lotteries ? Is it their desire to just engage in gambling as a habit or their wishful dream to become rich instantly?

Obviously, the desire to solve financial problems is the number one factor that leads people to bet on lotteries. The lotto seems to be their salvation from privation and the solution of their many financial set backs. Most people want to solve these problems and lotto seems to be the great solution. That is the reason why people flock to betting outlets especially when the prizes are in millions.

Lotto in someways could be a big help in the government's project in eradicating poverty, some percentage of the tickets you bought will be going to charities and the remaining will be rendered to the improvement of public utilities and infrastructures. But does it improves your life financially? Probably yes, if you win! But in my own opinion lottery only gives hope, it does not resolve your financial drawbacks because the more you are hooked in it , a lot of 20 pesos will be gone in your pocket, and if you lose you will end up having no money and will have a lot of financial burden because your budget in adhering your basic necessities have been already diminished until such time there will be nothing left for you. But due to the present economic status of our country where there is always an increase in the market prices and there's no increase in the compensation of workers, people are now sacrificing their tummies just to have a chance of being an instant millionaire.

Lotteries or any form of gambling is a big “no no” for a student like me, because students still asked money from their parents, they don't have any source of income yet. Engaging in gambling can disrupt students plans in the future, there will be a lot of consequences if a student like me engage into gambling. First, increasing preoccupation with gambling. Second, restlessness or irritability when attempting to stop. Lastly, loss of control that is manifested by the continuation of gambling in spite of mounting negative consequences. Problem in gambling causes disruptions in psychological social, and educational areas of life. It can result in poor concentration, low grades, absenteeism, and social and behavior problems in school. If you think Lotteries can make your life better, think twice, it has only 50/50 chances of winning, it doesn't give you the assurance that you will become a wealthy man instanly.