PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — As Powerball fever once again grips the region, some people are asking just how much — if at all — the lottery benefits lower-income Pennsylvanians.
The Powerball jackpot has reached $700 million. Meanwhile, one winning million-dollar ticket sold in Montgomery County is perilously close to expiring.
Most of us, however, won’t be winners. Edward O’Brien says he believes lotteries hurt people living in poverty. “I think that the odds of winning are extremely small, and I also feel as if it takes advantage of the poor and elderly people,” he said, adding that he never buys tickets.
Andy buys lottery tickets now and again. However, he’s aware it is a form of gambling, which can become habit-forming. “I do feel like it’s a tax on the poor,” he said.
The odds of winning the Powerball jackpot are 1 in 292.2 million. Statisticians say people are more likely to be struck by lightning in their lifetimes (1 in 15,300) or die from bee stings (1 in 54,516).
“Say you spend $20, but you’re only taking $300 or $400 a month in,” said O’Brien. “That’s a huge percentage of the money that you’re giving.”
But some people do win — including the holder of a million-dollar ticket sold at a Plymouth Meeting gas station last February. They have yet to claim their winnings, and have until Feb. 4 to so.