Luck of the Draw: True-Life Tales of Lottery Winners and Losers

by Chris Gudgeon, Barbara Stewart (Editor)

Money. Gobs of it. In the blink of an eye - or the drop of a ball? it's all yours. Everyone dreams about striking it rich by winning a lottery. We all feverishly line up to purchase our tickets, and watch TV or scan the newspapers to see if we have won, even though the odds are better that we will be struck by lightning. Still, we perservere, because no matter what else happens this week, you can be sure that someone, somewhere, will win the big one. Lotteries are an unparalleled popular phenomenon. But what happens after the winners are revealed, and the checks have been issued? How does winning a lottery change one's life? "Luck of the Draw" profiles past winners of big lotteries, and how their windfall impacted their lives, mostly for the better, but interestingly sometimes for the worse, such was the case of a Florida widow who won $5 million in 1984; three years later, she lost her mansion and fancy cars, and owed the IRS $500,000 for back taxes. Eventually she was arrested for trying to hire a contract killer to take out her daughter-in-law, whom she blamed for her lottery misfortune. The book also depicts the past, present and future of lotteries in North America and the world over, and includes a special chapter on the revived phenomenon of big-time TV game show winners. Who wants to be a millionaire? Seemingly, everyone. In a country where eighty percent of adults have played a lottery, creating a multi-billion dollar industry, "Luck of the Draw" is an insightful inside look at lotteries, its winners, and its losers.

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography Memoir

175 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2000

About the author

CHRIS GUDGEON is an author, screenwriter, and the creator/producer of the hit television series "Ghost Trackers." He has contributed to dozens of publications ranging from MAD and The National Lampoon to Today's Parent. He has written thirteen books, including An Unfinished Conversation: The Life and Music of Stan Rogers; Consider the Fish; and the hilarious You're Not as Good as You Think You Are: A Demotivational Guide. Chris Gudgeon has also worked for Mattel Interactive, Disney's Creative Wonders, and he has developed websites for television shows. He lives in Victoria, B.C., with his three sons.

Reviews

[Claudia · Rating 3 out of 5]

What would you do if you won 'gobs' of money? Pay off your mortgage and buy another home? A vacation home? Get that dream car for you and every member of your family? Donate some? Invest some? Party non-stop? Quit your job? Travel the world? The author has talked to many of the winners of the lottery - mostly Canadian and all from before the publication date of 2001.

These are the days before the REALLY BIG jackpots where the largest one $363 million was won by 2 tickets in Illinois and Indiana from The Big Game (its name was changed to MegaMillions in 2002). Where winning a million was a big deal and being careful meant the winnings could last for quite some time. Or would be gone far too quickly by those who weren't more careful in their spending and in their generosity.

Gudgeon gives lots of advice - including some basic sample agreements that could be used for friends as well as the large groups of co-workers - while also taking a look at sports betting, casinos, scratch-off tickets, VLT (video lottery terminals) and what the future might yield. Well, the future is here and the internet allows gamblers to play virtual games which are legal in only a few locations in the United States and Canada.

Far too many people think that the 'big win' is just around the corner - just one more ticket, just one more hand of cards, just one more pull of the lever of a slot machine - and all their money problems will be solved. Reading this book - or one updated with even more recent histories - should almost be required reading for any lottery winner beyond a half million as a precautionary tale. Might make them think a moment or two, make a decision that may save their winnings for a longer period of time - - or they'll think that their situation is different and so will be the results.

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