Alaska doesn't hold lotteries but Oregon, where I am from, does. I found a good use for lottery tickets down there: On someone's birthday I bought five or ten (depending on how close I was to the person) tickets and gave them. I have no idea how often or whether anyone lucked out but at least it gave them the thrill of anticipation.

Hmmmm. I just realized that those were NOT lottery tickets. Lotteries are, indeed, held in Oregon but these were instant-scrape off tickets one bought at machines, either with numbers one entered oneself or let the machine do it.