Lottery is a form of gambling in which players buy tickets for a draw and win prizes if the numbers on their ticket match those randomly selected. It has a long history in human society, but modern lotteries were first introduced in the US after World War II, when states hoped they could expand their social safety net without imposing burdensome taxes on middle and working class people.
These games are wildly popular, but they’re also controversial. Some critics say they encourage compulsive gamblers and that the state’s decision to offer them is misguided; they argue that governments should not subsidize gambling. Others are more critical of lottery advertising, which they say is often deceptive and exaggerates the odds of winning. And they point to evidence that lotteries disproportionately attract low-income people, who spend proportionally more money on them relative to their incomes.
I’ve talked to a number of people who play the lottery, and their stories are fascinating. They tend to be people who buy one ticket a week, spending $50 or $100 a pop. They often come from suburban communities and describe themselves as ‘average folks’ who are simply hoping for the big break. Their experiences and motivations contrast sharply with the assumptions of a lot of commentators, which is that these are irrational people who have been duped and don’t know how bad the odds are. That’s not really the case, though. The truth is that these people have a real need to feel like they’re pulling their own weight in this meritocratic world.