D.C. Lottery players face unique predicament
Lottery games were never about instant gratification and those who purchase tickets on a weekly basis know that the profits are elusive. Small prizes are still within reach, but winning jackpots remains a bridge too far for most of them, yet they accept this as a fact of life. What they find more difficult to accept is the idea of purchasing tickets for the D.C. Lottery, knowing that in the unlikely case that they win, they will have to wait indefinitely before cashing in their prizes.
Unintended consequences of the government shutdown
When the two major parties failed to reach an agreement at the end of September, it became obvious that the government will shut down indefinitely until an agreement would be reached. With the nation in turmoil, only essential services were kept going and it comes as no surprise that the D.C. Lottery was nowhere to be found on that list. At a first glance, it might seem reasonable to exclude a game of luck from a priority list, but a closer look will review the fallacy.
D.C. Lottery generates a total of $250 million every year and out of that, a massive $70 million is collected by the government, which uses to pay for safety and health services. When you put things this way, it becomes obvious that suspending the lottery altogether would be a mistake, and treating the customers in this manner is not only unjust but also disgraceful. Legislators couldn’t be bothered about what they probably regarded as a minor nuisance among bigger problems, but it would’ve been much easier to simply include the lottery among the essential services.
You can play and win but not collect
Those who thought that the government shutdown won’t affect the D.C. Lottery were clearly wrong, but so were those who assume that just because the payouts are no longer made, the purchase of tickets is also suspended. Apparently, the vendors are conducting business unabated, yet their shops are full of banners and announcements telling customers that no payouts will be made. This paradox had a deterring effect on many D.C. lottery players, but there were plenty who accepted this situation and kept playing.
Their attitude is fairly easy to understand because one of the main catalysts for why people purchase tickets on a weekly basis is that they don’t want to miss out on a rare opportunity. The prospect of winning a life-changing amount is what guides their actions and since they don’t seek immediate gratification, they can accept delays. It is fairly obvious that the government shutdown is temporary and costly as it is, it will eventually come to an end. Those who win a D.C. Lottery prize meanwhile will collect it at some point in the future, just not yet.
