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A comment on How the Powerball rules were tweaked to make the game an even bigger ripoff. Parent comment

Re:How the Powerball rules were tweaked to make the game an ... by JoeAltmaier on Wednesday January 13, 2016 @11:35AM (#10895512)
Recent article posted here in HN shows that fantasy sports are not a game of skill, since a very few people win all the money (millions) and everybody else loses. Because those few have written software to game the leagues. So essentially just a money pit.
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:How the Powerball rules were tweaked to make the game an ... by reverend_gonzo on Wednesday January 13, 2016 @11:41AM (#10895558)
What?

If very few people win all the money, it is most definitely a game of skill and not a game of chance,

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Re:How the Powerball rules were tweaked to make the game an ... by Spooky23 on Wednesday January 13, 2016 @02:06PM (#10896639)
It's a zero sum game, so the applicability of your skill is relative to the other players. The average bettor understands the mechanics of the bet and has an intuitive understanding of what he is betting on. The 25th percentile bettor is clueless or worse (I like green, go Jets!) and is operating a reverse ATM.

Look at horse racing. At an off-season harness track where the purse is low and horses all suck, the professional handicapper loses a lot of his edge, as you never know when one horse is going to have a great day.

At the Belmont/Preakness/Travers/Kentucky Derby, a pro has a huge edge, as they generally can call the winner with precision -- the pros are betting on the finishing order via exacta bets. The crowd tries to picks the winning horse, and in the event of a win, makes a lousy $0.50 on a $2 bet :)

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:How the Powerball rules were tweaked to make the game an ... by Domenic_S on Wednesday January 13, 2016 @03:22PM (#10897188)
It's negative-sum, because of the rake.
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Re:How the Powerball rules were tweaked to make the game an ... by JoeAltmaier on Wednesday January 13, 2016 @01:02PM (#10896171)
...or the game is essentially fixed, so that your skill is irrelevant.
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Re:How the Powerball rules were tweaked to make the game an ... by waterlesscloud on Wednesday January 13, 2016 @11:38AM (#10895536)
I'm curious how you arrive at the conclusion that using software to help you win a game means it's not a game of skill.

That's like the definition of self-contradiction.

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:How the Powerball rules were tweaked to make the game an ... by JoeAltmaier on Wednesday January 13, 2016 @01:02PM (#10896173)
Your skill is irrelevant against the automated betting bots.
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:How the Powerball rules were tweaked to make the game an ... by thugthrasher on Wednesday January 13, 2016 @02:25PM (#10896768)
Only because their skill is much higher than mine. That makes it a game of skill, just one in which the top percent is MUCH better than most.
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Re:How the Powerball rules were tweaked to make the game an ... by AaronM on Wednesday January 13, 2016 @03:49PM (#10897378)
That's not entirely true.

They game the system by automating lineups that allow them to play multiple games a day.

[ Parent | on HN ]