Dream if you will, play if you must, but do so responsibly

Admit it, you've dreamed of winning millions of dollars, maybe even dropped down a few bucks for a lottery ticket from time to time.

Local outlets didn't seem to be overly crowded this morning with people buying tickets in hopes of winning today's Mega Millions lottery drawing, which hit $586 million on its way to a possible billion-dollar payoff if no one wins in the next couple of weeks.

Southwest Nebraska and the rest of the state will sell plenty of tickets, but most of us won't put much hope in actually hitting the big one.

It's fun to dream big, but the truth is, buying a ticket increases your chance of winning by only an infinitesimal amount.

Cleveland.com offered the following perspectives on the chances of winning the Mega Millions lottery, which are 1 in 259 million:

* Chances of dying from a bee sting: 1 in 6.1 million.

* Chance you will die from being struck by lightning: 1 in 3 million.

* Chance of having conjoined twins: 1 in 200,000.

* The chance of an amateur golfer making a hole in one on a par-3 hole is about 1 in 12,500.

* The chance of turning the trick on consecutive par-3 holes: 1 in about 156 million.

* The chance of hitting a deer with a vehicle in Hawaii, the state where State Farm says deer-vehicle collisions are least likely, is 1 in 6,267.

* The chance of being struck by lightning over an 80-year lifetime: 1 in 10,000.

* Chance of drowning and other beach-related fatalities: 1 in 2 million.

* Chance of being attacked by a shark: 1 in 11.5 million.

There's nothing wrong with buying a few lottery tickets if it's looked upon as entertainment and doesn't rob the family budget of money needed for housing, food or clothing.

And, you may find solace in the fact that part of the state lottery proceeds go to things like the Education Innovation Fund, Nebraska Opportunity Grant Fund, Nebraska Environmental Trust Fund, Nebraska State Fair Support and Improvement Fund, and, naturally, the Compulsive Gamblers Assistance Fund. Nearly half a billion dollars have gone to such causes since the lottery began in 1993, under then-Gov. Ben Nelson.

But the truth is, if you're spending a few dollars a week on lotteries or scratch tickets, that translates into a few hundred dollars a year that, if you start soon enough, could make you a millionaire by the time you retire. Even the riskiest picks in the stock market are more likely to pay off than a lottery ticket.

So dream if you will, and play the lottery if you must, but if gambling of any kind is a problem for you, a friend or family member, call the Compulsive Gambling Help Line, 800-GAMBLER (426-2537); it's supported by proceeds from your lottery tickets.