In America, state lotteries raise billions of dollars each year from people who buy tickets in hopes of winning a prize. Despite the odds against winning, these games remain popular and a major source of revenue for many states. However, there are a number of issues that are raised about lottery: how it promotes gambling, its effect on low income communities and problem gamblers, as well as its overall regressive nature and impact on taxpayers. In this article, I explore some of these criticisms of lottery and ask whether it is an appropriate function of government to take up such a practice.
A lotteries involves drawing lots to determine who will receive a prize. This is a form of decision-making that has a long history and can be traced back to the Old Testament and ancient Roman emperors, who used the casting of lots to distribute slaves and property among their followers during Saturnalian feasts. In modern times, private lotteries are often used for promotional purposes in which a product or service is awarded to a random selection of participants. Public lotteries are also common in the United States and were originally conceived as a means of obtaining “voluntary taxes” for the construction of colleges such as Harvard, Dartmouth, Yale, King’s College (now Columbia), Union, and William and Mary.
While there is an inherent societal and human impulse to gamble, this alone does not explain why so many Americans play the lottery. I believe the answer lies in the messaging and promotion of the lottery. Lotteries rely on two main messages: first, they emphasize that playing the lottery is fun. Second, they stress that it is a way to support your state and society.