In this day and age of Instagram and reality TV, winning the lottery has become a way to achieve instant fame. While some people play for fun, many believe that the jackpots of mega-millions and billions are their only chance at a better life. In fact, they often make this irrational decision to spend their hard-earned money on tickets even though the odds of winning are extremely low. Some people do win, however. In a recent Huffington Post article, a couple in their 60s made millions of dollars playing the Lottery over the course of nine years. The big problem here is that their lives probably didn’t get much better once they won the prize. The truth is that lottery winners typically spend most of their prize on other things, such as luxury cars and houses, a new home or a vacation. The remainder goes to the lottery operator and to other expenses related to running the lottery.
Most states have lotteries in order to raise money for a variety of public purposes. Initially, they were designed to be a painless form of taxation that would allow state governments to expand their social safety nets without having to impose onerous tax increases or cuts on lower-income households. Lottery proceeds also were considered a useful source of funds to support research and development in science and technology.
Over time, states have come to rely more on the revenue from Lottery than on general revenues to fund their programs and services. As a result, most states have little in the way of a comprehensive policy on gambling and a limited ability to influence the activities of private enterprises that operate lotteries. Instead, public officials usually are left with a series of piecemeal policy decisions that are influenced by the particular needs of their specific constituencies, such as convenience store operators (who tend to support lotteries); lottery suppliers (whose executives make heavy contributions to state political campaigns); teachers (in those states where Lottery proceeds are earmarked for education) and state legislators (who quickly become accustomed to the additional revenue).
Ultimately, the success of Lottery depends on its appeal as an escape from an unfair and stifling system of societal hierarchies. That is why the huge jackpots, inflated by publicity and advertising, are such powerful draws. Super-sized jackpots encourage people to spend more money to buy tickets, resulting in higher sales and a larger pool of prizes. Those extra dollars also can make the jackpot seem more enticing to potential bettors, especially when the top prize is carried over to the next drawing.
In a time when inequality and economic mobility are at historic highs, it is important to consider the role of Lottery in society. While it may provide some individuals with a quick shot at fame and fortune, the lottery is a dangerous form of gambling that can also cause severe financial problems. Moreover, it is unwise to rely on Lottery revenue to fund the most pressing societal needs.
