Point of order: The probability that appears in lottery odds is not the same as the probability that appears in quantum mechanics. One is an expression of our ignorance about the detailed kinematics of tumbling balls in a sphere; the other arises from the evolution of the wave function. It is not obvious that one-in-a-million lottery odds translates directly to an amplitude with magnitude 0.001 for winning the lottery. (And then there's the issue of complex interference.) It may be the case, but you cannot just point at the MWI and notice that both kinds of probability are referred to by the same word.
Entirely true. This is why I asked, elsewhere in this thread, about possible ways of introducing the 'correct' form of randomness, which was answered with several quantum-based random number generators to use as coin-flip decision-makers.
I haven't been able to find the source of the idea, but I've recently been reminded of:
This is, of course, based on the Multiple Worlds Interpretation: if the lottery has one-in-a-million odds, then for every million timelines in which you buy a lottery ticket, in one timeline you'll win it. There's a certain amount of friction - it's not a perfect wealth transfer - based on the lottery's odds. But, looked at from this perspective, the question of "should I buy a lottery ticket?" seems like it might be slightly more complicated than "it's a tax on idiots".
But I'm reminded of my current .sig: "Then again, I could be wrong." And even if this is, in fact, a valid viewpoint, it brings up further questions, such as: how can the friction be minimized, and the efficiency of the transfer be maximized? Does deliberately introducing randomness at any point in the process ensure that at least some of your MWI-selves gain a benefit, as opposed to buying a ticket after the numbers have been chosen but before they've been revealed?
How interesting can this idea be made to be?