Stars Lottery Tickets

[Guest]

If you really want to support a charitable cause, please consider donating directly to the charity rather than spending money on a lottery ticket. Unfortunately an average 75% of donations given through a lottery DO NOT go to the charity. It goes to prizes and lots to administration and advertising.
In worse cases, charities have even lost money because ticket sales did not pay for the prizes and costs of running the lottery. In 2011, a hospital foundation in BC lost 3.3 million running their lottery.

On the other hand a direct donation averages about 75% of funds actually reaching the charity. So a $100 lottery ticket may yield no more for a charity than a $33 dollar direct donation. For most people $33 is more affordable than $100.

Fortunately, Stars is one of the best supported lotteries so it usually sells out early thus cutting ad costs and therefore about 50% of money spent on Stars Lotto supports Stars. But still a direct donation would be better for Stars too. And a direct donation can be tax deductabile whereas a lotto purchase isn't.

This is somewhat dated but gives an idea of how little money charities make from lotteries.
https://www.charityintelligence.ca/images/2013_lottery_report_web2.pdf https://www.charityintelligence.ca/images/2013_lottery_report_web2.pdf

thats a real good point to make . We do both every year . It sure makes sense to just donate the way you put it !

[dmlfarmer]

thats a real good point to make . We do both every year . It sure makes sense to just donate the way you put it !

good for you Caseih, and THANK YOU for donating to any and all causes you support no matter if by direct donation or lottery. Any method of support of a good charity is acceptable.

It is a personal preference for me. I would rather see the maximum dollars I donate used for a charity so I donate directly. I also like the tax deduction. And given my luck, I won't win the lotto so I might as well just donate directly.

[farmaholic]

Good point dmlfarmer.