Charitable Gift Giving

It seems that just about everything in life that used to be done with paper has been “digitized” into an app by now. Instead of paper maps we use Google Maps or Apple Maps. Instead of printed airline tickets we have e-tickets. Instead of printed books we have e-books.

But when we play the Lotto, we still go to the local grocery store and buy those scratch-off tickets. Until now, that is.

Lucky Day is an app that lets you play scratch-off games, slot machines, and lotto right from your cell phone. And unlike simulation games, you can actually win free money. Granted we’re talking only a few dollars here and there (albeit you do have a chance to win a jackpot of up to $25,000), but considering the price you pay to download the game (free) and the price to collect tokens to use to play the game (free), it’s not a bad way to get your gambling itch scratched.

While it sounds like a scam, it’s really a brilliant business idea. When you use any app that has adds, from Candy Crush to Farmville to Angry Birds, each time you view an ad the app publisher gets a little money. That’s why app publishing has become a huge business, and why you see Super Bowl ads for cheap little iOS and Android games.

If I’m interpreting the business model of this company correctly, they’re basically set up to make some money from ads, but also to pass some of it back to their users. The more users the app has, the more the pool of money they’ll make for themselves AND be able to pass back to users. It’s a brilliant scheme and as long as they don’t get too greedy, one that will make them very rich and keep their users entertained.

And here’s something cool. From now until the end of November, all winners who on Lucky Day playing the scratch-off games, lotto games, or slot machines will have the option to donate their winnings to The Movember Foundation.

You’ve probably heard of the Movember Foundation if you know a family, friend, or co-worker who’s grown a moustache in the month of November. It’s a great charity that focuses on health issues specific to men, such as prostate cancer, testicular cancer, mental health, and physical inactivity.

You can download the app here.