Spending $30,000 a Year on Lottery Tickets

While doorman turned million-dollar lottery winner Richie Randazzo has become a bit despicable to some, there's one person who really hates him. Or at least Randazzo's dumb luck: Building superintendent Ray Otero, who worked across the street from Randazzo, tells the NY Times he spent $30,000 last year on the lottery, which clearly means he should have won the big payday, not Randazzo who spent in the two-digits on tickets per week. Otero, who spends hundreds on lottery tickets each week, said, “When I heard he won, I got so mad — I said to myself, ‘I can’t believe it.' I spend all that money and the [unprintable fellow] wins? It’s wrong. I mean, I’m happy for him. But it really isn’t fair.” Related: Here's the Wiki entry on Gamblers Anonymous.

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By Jen Chung in News on August 22, 2008 8:51 AM

Comments [rss]

NannyState

"30,000" would be a very good lottery win for just about anybody. Otero needs to just stop and count his earnings and leave the winnings to some other dope.

ed_Extinct

Ray, you're a fucking moron!

Spirit of 76

[14] Same here. If the jackpot is over $100 million or so, it's worth a buck or two, but I'm not stupid enough to throw away more than that. An infinitesimal chance is still better than no chance at all, as long as it's cheap.

Snoopy

Maybe the doorman should move his job location across the street to the lucky address and see if that helps his fortune turn around.

Toby von Meistersinger

The scratchoff tickets have only one real winner - the lottery. The outlay to prizes ratio is really skewed in the lottery's favor.

I'll buy a Mega Millions ticket or two if the jackpot is absurdly high, just for fun, but I'll skip some other vice like candy or a cupcake to do it. It is sort of like going down to the OTB and betting $2 on the Triple Crown races - something done not very often.

What I don't understand is the people who have these laundry lists of numbers they play the regular lottery daily. That seems really obsessive.

Mr Mel

The saddest sight of all: a working stiff, standing outside a lottery vendor scratching the figures off a handful of lottery cards. The immediacy is a sign of absolute addiction. It is truly a tax on the poor.

Rocknrope

Sorry to break it to you all, but building superintendents are NOT poor. They're not raking in the bucks, but most belong to a UNION, live rent free, and get paid a very decent salary. I know a super who makes 80 grand, lives rent free, and has a contract that keeps him around until its up in 3 years. And this is in Brooklyn, no less.

nator

Dude,

Time to call 1-800-GAMBLER

I'll give you 8 to 1 that it works.

JacqueMehoff

those scratch offs are a tease. they get you with small winnings to keep you playing.

One hears of thefts of these tickets, I wonder if any of them actually paid off?

RDR105

Stop hating!

drewo

That puts my questionable spending habits into perspective.

TK

The rich get richer and the poor stay poor. Another example of how poverty is a habit for some and an excuse for many.

schadenfreudian mensch

@The Man Bat

With or without the year end tips from the tenants?

The Man Bat

How much money do doormen make?

Nick S

well put, SP.

bxbrian

oh my god he spent my salary on f*cking lotto.

SP

proving once again that the lottery is a voluntary tax on stupidity.

famdoc

I'm sure it has been noted before, but the lottery preys on those least able to afford to buy tickets.

Games involving scratching off covered numbers and similar gimmicks appear to preferentially attract the poor and those with the potential for gambling addiction.