Also, if you do some digging around, you'd find that when BC does finally win a jackpot, it's usually a small (compared to Ontario and Quebec) or shared win usually under $3.5mil. and many of these are never claimed or won by people in the Gaming industry. Just recently, in April 2010 a 67yr old CEO of Great Canadian Casinos won the 6/6 for $4.3million. He is not the first and prob won't be the last. I remember reading about other CEOs who won in the past and even a famous hong kong actress who at the time was the wife of another CEO at Great Canadian Casinos/businessman. This actress reportedly collected $17mill for the win in Canada but had also won another $30mil in a HongKong Lottery prior to this. All a coincidence?

I don't think it is rigged.

[rant]

First, as someone already pointed out, the lottery commission (OLG) takes their money right off the top and the prize pool just gets bigger if the prize is not won.

Secondly, I can't think of any reason for the OLG to manipulate the draws -- what do they gain? If they were manipulating things, I think you would see a whole lot more draws with no winners so that the jackpot builds up to larger amounts. Ticket sales are always stimulated by a big jackpot so their take would be larger.

Third, this has been going on for 28 years and no one has talked??? If they are paying them off not to say anything there would be a bunch of millionaires working for the OLG.

Fourth, the OLG is composed of public servants. They don't have the imagination to run this kind of scam!!!

The reason your friend hasn't won is that winning the lotto is HARD

If he has a scientific background he should understand that the odds are 1 in 13,983,816.

[rant off]

That 1 in 14 million bit is mickey mouse stuff as any lotto software can tell you that but in fact you are wrong. The odds are only 1 in 13,983,816 if a person buy 1 single line in their entire life and never play the 6/49 ever again. If a person buys more than 1 line or plays many draws, the overall odds of hitting that 6/6 are greatly reduced in much the same way as the 3-line $5 LottoMAX ticket.

Just because a rich thief does not need to steal does not mean he won't steal! All your other points are similar in nature with arguments in the online poker RIGGED/NOT RIGGED debate that defend the offshore poker companies. They are design to mislead and misdirect the ignorant and uninformed and stop people from asking questions. As to why you believe what you believe, only you will truly know but I respect your opinion. It is your right to disagree with me and believe that the Lottery is totally random and fair. Each of us have to make up our own minds and choose the things we want to believe. Me?, I'm just posting my experiences and facts base on what I know.

I know absolutely nothing about BC vs. Ontario demographics.

here in California I've read that many people complain that the big winners usually come from the Los Angeles area...a huge sprawling county, inland region having many low income areas, densely populated with people much more likely to be reaching for the lotto dream.

cya,
blitzed

This would be an interesting point to discuss on another thread, do you reduce your odds over your lifetime play? Or are the odds reset for each game? Me, I'm no statistical whiz.

As for the rest, this is a big world and there is room for all kinds of opinions. I guess we are going to have to agree to disagree.

California has a huge cash problem right now if I'm not mistaken, but why LA specifically? Are those multi-state lotteries or is it just for Californians that LA always win?