How to Win Lotteries, Sweepstakes, and Contests in the 21st Century (eBook)

ALTHOUGH YOU MAY BE NEW to lotteries, sweepstakes,and contests, rest assured they go back thousands and thousands of years. It seems that right after mankind invented money, he invented games of chance to win. The word 'lot' (as in lottery) dates back to the time of the Old Testament, where it was used to describe an object that's used in a game of chance. The Lord even told Moses to divide land among Israelites 'by lot.' The ancient Romans and Egyptians also used lots for gaming, as did the Greeks.

By the sixteenth century, something similiar to the lottery we know today had already developed in Europe. Queen Elizabeth was such a fan of the lottery (and the money it put into her bank account) that she started alottery in England in 1566. Even our own forefathers in colonial America authorized lotteries to help build churches, schools, and bridges. Not only are lotteries as old as civilization, they also occur in every corner of the globe. There are lotteries in Africa, South America, and several Asian countries. And as democracy begins to flourish in Eastern Europe, more and more lotteries have begun there as well.

Alexander Hamilton's feelings about the lottery still hold true today, even for contests and sweepstakes: 'Everybody, almost, can and will be willing to hazard a trifling sum for the chance of considerable gain.' That's what this book is about: taking a small chance with the hope of winning amazing benefits.

A Relaxing Hobby

Before continuing with the idea of winning prizes-the main point of this book-let's quickly return to the attitude you should take as a lottery, sweepstakes, and contest entrant. Once again, you should think of it as a hobby. Sure, it may be difficult at times to separate yourself from your fantasies. There's nothing wrong with that. Entering lotteries, sweepstakes, and contests, like any other hobby, is something to be enjoyed in your free time. You should relish the tension of waiting until the winnersare announced. Go right ahead and fantasize about the day when you become a winner, quit your job, and move to a tropical island. You should dream of sitting down behind the wheel of that Ferrari you always wanted. I myself would buy a 50-foot sailboat with as many accessories as I could think of and head straight to Bora Bora. A friend of mind wants nothing more than to open his own hardware store in a pretty mountain town and sell nuts and bolts to the locals. What's your dream?

I believe that entering sweepstakes and contestshas been widely overlooked as a means of unwindingfrom the stresses and strains of everyday life. I findthat sitting down in front of the television after along day at the office, and taking a little time to fill out entry forms, decorate envelopes, and think of new ways of winning can be quite therapeutic. You should enjoy the process of entering sweepstakes and contests and not just its rewards. If you can do that, then you'll never be a loser. Your life will be enriched by spending your free time doing something you find truly entertaining. Being a lottery, sweepstakes, and contest entrant is much like watching sporting events on TV: While we often hope for a certain outcome, most of the joy actually comes from simply watching the event. Of course, some people are even able to turn their hobby into a profession, winning so manysweepstakes and contests that they can quit their regularjobs and devote all their time to entering such promotions. These folks are able to win with surprisingconsistency, earning houses, cars, money, and other prizes.