What Probability and Forrest Gump Teach Us About State Lotteries and Other

What Probability and Forrest Gump Teach Us About State Lotteries and Other Forms of Gambling

Date: 2025-02-28

Time: 3 PM - 5 PM

Speaker: Ron Wasserstein (Executive Director of the American Statistical Association)

Location: MET 315 (Medical Education and Telemedicine Building, UCSD Medical School Campus)

Abstract: Abstract: "Life is like a box of chocolates" - but unlike Forrest Gump's uncertainties, the mathematics of gambling offers clear insights into our odds of winning. In this engaging presentation, Ron Wasserstein, Executive Director of the American Statistical Association, reveals the fascinating psychology and probability behind gambling, from state lotteries to other games of chance. Through an interactive demonstration simulating a lottery, attendees will discover why our intuition often fails us when assessing astronomical odds, and why that "one-in-a-million" chance might be even more remote than we imagine. Understanding these principles of probability helps us make more informed decisions about all forms of gambling and perhaps other risky financial choices. Join us for an illuminating exploration of how numbers can help us navigate the complex world of chance and human decision-making.

Host or Publisher American Statistical Association - San Diego