Let’s be honest—playing the lottery feels like harmless fun. A couple of bucks for a shot at financial freedom, right?
But here’s the problem: it’s not harmless when people actually believe it’s a strategy to build wealth.
It’s not. It never was. In fact, I’d argue that playing the lottery is just a tax on people who don’t understand maths.
As someone who’s spent decades teaching Australians how to achieve financial independence through property and smart money habits, it pains me to see people throw away their dreams chasing scratchies and Powerball fantasies.
Tip: Believe it or not...You’re more likely to be crushed by a vending machine than win the lotto!
So let’s have a bit of fun and reality-check this.
The Odds Are Wildly Against You
You know the odds of winning the Powerball jackpot in Australia? 1 in 134,490,400.
Let me repeat that. One in 134 million.
You are literally more likely to do just about anything else in life—including some things that sound like plot points in a bad movie—than win the lottery.
Here Are 20 Things That Are More Likely Than Winning the Lottery
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Being struck by lightning - Odds are about 1 in 1.6 million in your lifetime. It’s rare—but still nearly 100 times more likely than winning Powerball.
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Becoming a billionaire - According to Forbes, your odds are about 1 in 409,000. You’re over 300 times more likely to become a billionaire than win the lottery.
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Dying in a plane crash - About 1 in 11 million. Still more likely than winning.
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Getting attacked by a shark in Australia - Around 1 in 3.7 million. (So yes, go ahead and swim at Bondi, you’ve still got a better shot than winning lotto.)
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Crushed by a vending machine - Around 1 in 112 million. Silly? Sure. But still a higher probability.
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Becoming a movie star - The odds? About 1 in 1.5 million. In other words, Hollywood is more accessible than your dream lotto lifestyle.
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Bowling a perfect 300 game - About 1 in 11,500 for regular league bowlers.
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Becoming an astronaut - NASA accepts about 1 in 12,000 applicants. Start training!
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Dating a supermodel - Depending on how you define it (and your charm), studies suggest it’s around 1 in 88,000.
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Being dealt a royal flush in poker - 1 in 649,740. Vegas is calling.
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Having identical quadruplets - About 1 in 15 million. Not impossible.
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Writing a New York Times bestseller - About 1 in 220,000 if you finish your book. Better odds than lotto!
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Finding a four-leaf clover on your first try - 1 in 10,000.
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Becoming Prime Minister of Australia - Around 1 in 8.9 million. Even that’s more achievable.
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Getting hit by a meteorite - 1 in 74 million.
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Winning an Olympic gold medal - 1 in 662,000 (if you train full-time from a young age).
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Solving a Rubik’s Cube blindfolded - 1 in 50 for serious cubers. Still easier than picking the winning numbers.
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Becoming a professional AFL player - Roughly 1 in 89,000.
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Being born with 11 fingers or toes - Happens to about 1 in 500 babies. No ticket required!
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Living past 100 - Around 1 in 5,000. Better start eating your veggies.
But Michael, What If I Win?
Yes, someone eventually does win. That’s how the system keeps running.
But here’s the catch: most lottery winners lose their money anyway.
A 2010 study from the National Endowment for Financial Education in the US found that 70% of people who suddenly receive a windfall - like lottery winners- lose it within a few years.
Why?
Because money doesn’t make you financially free. Financial literacy, discipline, and smart investing do.
What You Should Be Doing Instead
If you’re hoping for a better financial future, don’t rely on a system designed to take your money.
Instead:
- Educate yourself about finance and the psychology of money
- Spend less than you earn and save the balance
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Create a strategic wealth plan—this is what we do at Metropole for our clients
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Invest in assets that grow in value (like residential property)
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Surround yourself with good advisors, not lucky tickets
So, Is the Lottery Really Just a Tax?
Yes. And here’s the kicker: it’s a tax on those who can least afford it.
Lower-income earners are statistically more likely to buy lotto tickets, hoping for a miracle. That’s heartbreaking.
But wealth isn’t built on miracles. It’s built on mindset, strategy, and time.
Final Thoughts
There’s nothing wrong with a bit of fun.
If you want to throw a few bucks at a Powerball ticket every now and then, go for it. Just treat it as entertainment, not a wealth plan.
But if you’re serious about becoming financially independent, forget the lotto. It’s time to stop hoping—and start planning.
Because while you may never win the lottery, you can absolutely build a life that feels like you did.
