The Risks of Playing the Lottery
Whether they are playing for money or a chance to improve their lives, millions of Americans play lottery every week. This activity contributes billions to state coffers and fuels an insatiable appetite for winning big. However, the odds of winning are very low, and people should consider the risks before spending their money.
The first lotteries were organized by governments to raise money for public projects. The Continental Congress held a lottery to raise funds for the American Revolution, and Alexander Hamilton wrote that “people are willing to hazard trifling sums for a considerable gain, and would rather risk a little to win a great deal than a great deal to lose a little.” Private lotteries were also common in England and America, with prizes ranging from goods and services to units in a subsidized housing block or kindergarten placements.
Most lotteries are run by states, and the state government’s primary argument for adopting a lottery is that it will help to fund public projects without raising taxes or cutting other programs. This is a convincing argument, and it is especially persuasive in periods of economic stress when politicians are arguing that a lottery will provide painless revenue.
But research shows that the popularity of lotteries does not depend on a state’s objective fiscal situation. In fact, lotteries have gained wide popularity even when states are in good financial health, and the primary reason seems to be that voters want their governments to spend more money.