The Sun'll Come Up Tomorrow...maybe

'Zero' chance lottery tickets stun some players - CNN.com

Are we really going here?

Look, the usefulness of probability in making decisions shouldn't blind us to the most salient fact about it: it's imaginary. Every situation has exactly one outcome. When you buy a ticket, whether a scratchoff or one with a drawing, it's already been determined whether you've won or not. It makes no material difference whether the prize is awarded while people are still buying or afterwards--the outcomes are not going to change--the sole difference is psychological. The dope in this article had every chance to buy the winning ticket! He waited too long, and it had already been sold. Had it been a Mega Millions ticket, sold to the guy in front of him in line, he wouldn't think to complain.

Would it be fairer to stop the sales of scratchoffs instantly after someone wins the top prize, therefore not getting the full benefit of ticket sales for every prize, possibly resulting in a net loss? No, consumers are just going to have to live with the knowledge that they are throwing their money away on the lottery. In fact, they'd be better off if they started to dwell on this fact.