Originally posted on 05/19/2013:

I assume this thread was created tongue in cheek.

It'd be very -EV even with no taxes. When you include taxes and splitting of prizes (even if you get lucky and win), you're basically trading a dollar for four dimes.

Lotteries wind up being a complete disaster, even for many of the winners, who gain the athlete's mindset and burn through all the money in a couple of years, rather than investing.