SNET Internet : Features : Survey : Powerball

The lure of an almost unimaginable payoff is what sparks a lottery ticket buying frenzy, according to this week's survey results. Fully 42 percent of respondents say the only time they buy tickets is when the jackpot swells, as it did this past week in the multi-state Powerball drawing.

The results:

When the lottery jackpots go into the stratosphere, how do you react?

I buy more tickets! - 391 (12%)
That's the only time I buy - 1,406 (42%)
Business as usual - 632 (19%)
I don't buy lottery tickets - 905 (27%)

Your comments:

"Being a retail worker myself, I have seen the hype over the last $11 million jackpot which put people into a buying frenzy for Powerball tickets. Many wanted a shortcut to easy street by winning that coveted jackpot. Now there will be no hype since the jackpot is now $1million." M.G., Meriden

"I do not normally play the lottery. I used to play all of the time. I worked in a store that had a machine so I bought the same numbers every week. By doing that I used to win on a regular basis, but it never out weighed the money I spent to play. I only purchased around $20 a week. Now I purchase no more than 5 quick picks when I play, and only a big jackpot. The odds are not great, but like the add says " YOU CAN'T WIN IF YOU DON'T PLAY" So I play the big jackpots." L.J.N., East Haddam

"It's like a tax we pay for having fun. Yes, I guess it is fun and exciting from time to time but I'd rather pay my bills and keep my money. The plain truth is the odds don't get any better if you were to buy just one ticket or ten you still have one in on billion chance of winning. Money can't buy anything just more bills anyway!" G.L., Guilford

"What a major pain when you live on the New York-Connecticut border as we do. Can't get out of the driveway, can't get into our favorite gas stations, 7-11, even the grocery store without a fight. Takes an hour to get to the nearest highway entrance." S.S.H., No Town

"I dont know what i would do with all that money." Joe, Lisbon

Previous survey results are available.