A competition based on chance in which numbered tickets are sold and prizes are awarded to the holders of the winning numbers. The lottery is popular with the general public as well as with specific constituencies, including convenience store operators (lottery games are usually placed near checkout lines); lottery suppliers (heavy contributions to state political campaigns are often reported); teachers (in those states in which lotteries are earmarked for education); and state legislators (who quickly become accustomed to the extra revenue).
Lottery advertisements present it as a harmless pastime and a way of fantasizing about wealth at a cost of a couple bucks. But critics argue that lottery advertising is deceptive, promoting unrealistic odds of winning; inflating the value of money won (lotto jackpots are paid in annual installments over decades, with inflation and taxes dramatically eroding the current value); and portraying it as a harmless “recreational activity” that doesn’t require the same level of commitment as other activities such as sports or movies.
Lottery critics also charge that earmarking lottery revenues for a particular program (such as education) is misleading because the appropriations are simply reduced by the amount of the lottery proceeds, leaving them available to the legislature for any purpose it chooses. And they point to studies showing that those with the lowest incomes are disproportionately the largest share of lottery players, raising concerns about a hidden tax on those least able to afford it.