Ohio governor offers residents chance to win $1 million in lottery effort to boost COVID vaccination rate

Nicholas Sherman
Just the News
Thu, 13 May 2021 08:18 UTC

© Justin Merriman/Getty Images

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine

Republican Gov. Mike DeWine is offering residents a chance to win $1 million as part of an effort to incentivize them to get a COVID vaccine.

The name of those who have received one of two shots will be put into a lottery, and five winners will be picked, staring May 26. The winnings will come from federal coronavirus relief funds, according to Politico.

Comment: What? Aren't these RELIEF funds to be equitably distributed?

"I know that some may say, 'DeWine, you're crazy! This million-dollar drawing idea of yours is a waste of money, but truly, the real waste at this point in the pandemic - when the vaccine is readily available to anyone who wants it - is a life lost to COVID-19."

Participants must be 18 or older.

Comment: They should be stipulating that for the vaccine.

DeWine also announced a drawing for 12- to 17-year-old vaccinated Ohio residents to win a full, four-year scholarship to a public university in the state, Politico also reports.

Comment: So how desperate are they? Dangling a lottery is a very low bar for many, a compulsion exploited via the combination of gambler's delusion and cognitive entrapment. Some see right through this ploy and offer constructive options for the money: