In 2021, Americans spent about $100 billion on lottery tickets, making it the most popular form of gambling in the country. States promote the games as a way to raise revenue for schools, public works projects, and other purposes, but just how much of that money actually helps people is open to debate. And the way that money is distributed also merits scrutiny.
The practice of making decisions or determining fates by drawing lots is long and varied, including several instances in the Bible. But the lottery, as a method of raising funds for material gain, has more recent origins. It was first used in 1776 to help finance the American Revolution, and it became increasingly common as a means of selling goods or land. By the mid-1800s, public lotteries were widespread throughout the United States and England. In addition, private lotteries flourished.
State lotteries are run as business enterprises, focusing on maximizing revenues through advertising and expansion into new types of games. That commercial focus raises a host of concerns, including the risk of compulsive gambling and the regressive impact on lower-income groups. But the bigger issue is that lotteries are running at cross-purposes with the broader public interest.