ABSTRACT
This chapter highlights the types of National Lottery games that the women of the research played, the frequency of play and the amount of money gambled. It argues that although the women were aware of the negative connotations traditionally associated with gambling, they adopted the National Lottery as an important part of their leisure lives. Gambling has often been understood as a temporary escape from the everyday struggles and frustrations experienced by the working class and the poor. The chapter explores routines of National Lottery play, but have over-looked the relevance of scratchcard play. It uses scratchcard play to refer to the National Lottery Instants game. Budgeting was a major part of the women's lives and being a successful budgeter meant for the women being selfless and caring properly for their families which they saw to be synonymous with femininity. The women were primarily responsible for financial budgeting and managing.
