Have you ever fantasized about winning the lottery? That moment of disbelief as you match the numbers, the rush of excitement, and the dreams of a carefree future? It's a common daydream, but for some, it turns into a real-life nightmare.
Our latest podcast episode dives deep into the history of the lottery, the addiction it can spur, and the so-called curse that seems to follow the winners. From the ancient origins of lotteries in China to the modern-day Powerball, we explore how this seemingly innocent game of chance has evolved into a complex system intertwined with our society's fabric.
But it's not all history and facts. We share jaw-dropping stories of lottery winners whose lives took tragic turns post-jackpot. Imagine winning millions only to find yourself bankrupt, or worse, targeted by those you thought you could trust. It's a stark reminder that money can't buy happiness—and sometimes, it can even bring forth disaster.
As we dissect the tales of those who won big, we also discuss the psychological impact of sudden wealth and the pressures that come with it. The societal implications are vast, from family dynamics to mental health issues, and we're not afraid to tackle them head-on.
So, before you go out and buy your next lottery ticket, pause and give our episode a listen. It might just change your perspective on what it means to "win" in life. Tune in now, and join the conversation about the true cost of a lottery win.
Listen to our latest episode at www.therealistvisionary.com and join us on this eye-opening journey through the highs and lows of the lottery life.
The Origin of Lucky
Winning the lottery is often associated with being lucky. But there is no such thing as luck. There is only divine order & purpose. So there are only blessings/favors & curses from Yah.
Luck is from satan and or other deities (many hindu & buddist deities)
Luck - defined in the dictionary as:
The chance happening of fortunate or adverse events; fortune: They met one day out of pure luck.
Good fortune or prosperity; success: We wish you luck.
One's personal fate or lot
Lottery etymology- from Italian lotteria, from lotto "lot, portion, share,"
There are many deities associated luck. One being
Fortuna – Roman Goddess of Chance- https://www.britannica.com/topic/Fortuna-Roman-goddess
Fortuna is the Goddess of chance or lot, who was worshipped extensively throughout Italy. Her symbol is the Wheel of Fortune and she is often depicted wearing a blindfold to ensure she is unbiased on who she bestows luck to.
Luck and Lucifer
There are theorist that believe the word “luck” was derived from “Lucifer.”
“The word luck was borrowed from Middle Dutch or Low German…It seems to have been first popularized as a gambling term.” https://www.etymonline.com/word/luck
Lucifer is Old English derived from Latin “lux” or light and ferre “to bear; carry.” The use of Lucifer as an epithet for Satan comes a passage in Isaiah 14:12, which refers to a king of Babylon who was compared to the morning star. https://www.etymonline.com/search?q=lucifer
Claiming luck is claiming everything is by chance and that nothing happens for a reason. Essentially doing this rejects The Most High's covering over your life and allows for satan and fall angels to run rampant in your life.
The History of the Lottery
The lottery has been around for over 2,000 years.
According to historians, we can trace the first lottery to China. The Western Han Dynasty was the first to organize the “white pigeon game.” The closest thing to compare to it today would be keno. The specific name comes from the way of delivering results. Chinese attached papers with results to white pigeons and delivered them to distant locations. The reports even indicate that a portion of the profit helped to build the Great Wall of China, which is a symbol of this country even today.
The Ancient Greeks didn’t organize lottery for citizens.
However, they used a random system to pick their leaders! They believe this was true democracy since there was no room for corruption and rigging. They designed a device called kleroterion. It involved using a stone slab with tokens for citizens who want to participate. The winners would get the privilege to work in the city council.
There’s evidence that shows that lotteries were popular in Ancient Rome. The first ones to play these games were the members of the elite. They organized dinner parties where visitors could participate in special draws. The lucky winners received gifts from the host. Many believe that these lotteries had a high chance of being rigged, so the prizes go to the influential guests or someone close to the hosts!
The citizens of Rome could participate in lotteries during the rule of Cesar Augustus. Octavian used loot won from the wars as prizes for the lottery. A portion of the money acquired this way was reinvested to rebuild and expand Rome.
Venice, Rome, and Florence were among the cities that started organizing lotteries. The governments saw this as a simple method of collecting money to fund road building and other public projects. Some lot-based games were even schemes organized by individuals. The rewards varied from cash to properties and merchandise like jewels and carpets.
It was Queen Elizabeth who first organized a national lottery in 1569. She had the same idea of collecting money for the “interest of the public.” A single ticket for the Queen’s lottery cost ten shillings, which were expensive. The prizes included linens, tapestries, plates, and cash. There were 10,000 rewards distributed, and the Queen picked the winning balls herself!
King Louis XVI understood the potential of lotteries. He banned all other forms and started a national lotto.
From 1776 to the French Revolution, lotteries were organized regularly. The trend continued after the Revolution, but France stopped all lotto games in 1836. The reason was that it exploited those with low incomes. The national lottery returned in the 1930s.
The Lotteries Arrive in the United States
The first US lottery occurred in 1655. It involved a competition where you had to be the closest to the number of bibles sold in New York. You could also find them in other colonies, such as Massachusetts. The Continental Congress organized a lottery in 1776 to raise funds for the Revolution.
In fact, the Jamestown colony was partially financed by private lotteries in the 1600s.
In early America, lotteries were widespread and commonly used as a way to raise funds for projects like building wharves or paving roads.
You can track the modern lottery in the US to 1964. The game involved guessing the results of a horse race. It only took a decade for the New Jersey Lottery to implement a game with computerized numbers.
The United States is a home to the biggest lotteries of today’s time. Those are US Powerball and MegaMillions. They offer a generous jackpot fund and exciting two-drum concepts. That makes them popular beyond the US and continental borders.
The Curse of the Lottery
Some lottery winners have experienced bankruptcy, divorce, prison time and have even been murdered. Here are examples of some:
William Bud Post. Post won Pennsylvania's $16.2 million jackpot in 1988, the Beaver County Times reported. This was the start of a series of unfortunate events for Post. His ex-girlfriend sued him for a share of the winnings and won, and his brother hired a hitman in an effort to inherit part of the cash. Other relatives spent months demanding money. Within a month of winning, Post filed for bankruptcy and had $1 million in debt.
Janite Lee. The St. Louis Post Dispatch reported Janite Lee, an immigrant from South Korea, worked in a wig shop before she won $18 million in the Illinois Lottery in 1993. Lee was set to receive an annual payout of $620,000 and took the opportunity to buy a million-dollar home for her family. But she later sold her rights to her annual checks for a lump-sum amount. Ten years later at 60, Lee filed for bankruptcy and was left with $2.5 million in debt.
Abraham Shakespeare. In 2006, Shakespeare won $30 million in a Florida lottery, and three years later he was murdered. The 47-year-old was shot twice in the chest by DeeDee Moore, who befriended Shakespeare after his lottery win, according to ABC News. Moore was found guilty of first-degree murder in 2012.
Denise Rossi. In 1997, Rossi won $1.3 million in the California lottery and immediately filed for divorce from her husband, People reported. Two years later, Rossi's husband discovered she won the lottery and took her to court. He sued Rossi for not disclosing her winnings in the divorce, and the judge awarded him every cent.
Jack Whittaker. Before winning $315 million in West Virginia in 2002, Whittaker was already a millionaire, according to TIME. Just four years later, the then-construction company president claimed he went broke. Tragedies swarmed his life. His granddaughter and daughter died soon after from drug overdoses. Then Whittaker was robbed of $545,000 while sitting in his car at a strip club.
Billie Bob Harrell Jr. After winning $31 million in the Texas lottery, Billie Bob, thought he had it all. Struggling to support his wife and teenage children on his Home Depot salary, the winnings seemed a blessing to Harrell. In 1997, he and his wife celebrated in their living room after finding out they had won the jackpot. Two years later, unable to take the pressure of constantly lending money to friends and lamenting the strained relationships in his family, Harrell shot and killed himself in a bedroom at his Kingwood, Texas, home.
Jeffrey Dampier. Hailing from Chicago, Ill., Jeffrey Dampier was the lucky winner of a $20 million prize from his home state's lottery in 1996. He reportedly spent most of his earnings on those around him, even sending 38 members of his family on a seven-day Carribbean cruise. His sharing didn't stop there: He also bought houses and cars for his parents and siblings, but not everyone showed their appreciation. In 2005, Victoria Jackson, Dampier's sister-in-law, kidnapped and murdered him, leaving his body in his truck.
Lottery Rituals
Fortuna gas station sold $15 million winning SuperLotto Plus ticket
There was one ticket sold with all six numbers in Wednesday evening’s SuperLotto Plus drawing. Fortuna California. https://www.times-standard.com/2023/09/07/fortuna-gas-station-sold-15-million-winning-superlotto-plus-ticket/
Fortuna is the roman deity.
Vaccine Lottery-
Back in 2021, Missouri launches $10K vaccine lottery to boost shots A vaccine incentive program that includes $10,000 prizes for 900 lottery winners. Winners were drawn every two weeks beginning Aug. 13 2021 and ending Oct. 8 2021 . Previously vaccinated and newly vaccinated adults and children were eligible.
https://www.kansascity.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/toriano-porter/article254238903.html
There is price to winning a lottery ticket. Do you believe the game is rooted in evil origin or is it simply a game of chance?