Public Policy and the Lottery
In the United States, state governments control most lotteries. They have exclusive rights to offer them, and they use their profits to fund government programs. Despite widespread public acceptance of the lottery, critics charge that many lotteries are deceptive, commonly presenting misleading information about the odds of winning (prize amounts are often paid in equal annual installments over 20 years, with inflation and taxes dramatically eroding the value); dangling the prospect of instant wealth in an era of inequality and limited social mobility (as a result, lottery players tend to be older, middle-aged, and male); and limiting participation by requiring identification for purchases.
Traditionally, state lotteries were little more than traditional raffles. Participants bought tickets for future drawing dates, typically weeks or months in the future. But innovations in the 1970s, such as the introduction of scratch-off tickets, made them much more like instant games. This allowed a lottery to generate revenue more quickly by selling tickets with lower prize amounts and higher odds of winning. This boosted sales and enabled the lottery to sustain its growth by continually introducing new games to keep people interested.
Most lottery games involve a draw of numbers or symbols, and winners are selected by matching the winning numbers or symbols in a random selection. The odds of winning vary according to the game, but in general, the more numbers or symbols matched, the greater the prize amount. The winnings are usually paid in cash, although in some cases they may be used to purchase goods or services. Lottery organizers also take a percentage of the total pool for administrative costs and promotion.
The development of a state lottery involves a classic case of fragmented public policy: decision-making authority is divided between the legislative and executive branches, and specialized interests such as convenience store operators and suppliers (heavy contributions from lottery supplies are often reported in state political campaigns) have disproportionate influence. The public policy that emerges is typically piecemeal, and the general welfare is rarely taken into account.
In addition, state lotteries promote themselves in ways that appeal to specific constituencies. Typical promotions include television and radio commercials and billboards that advertise the size of their prizes. The fact that these advertisements are targeted at specific groups has important consequences for the lottery’s social equity and sustainability. Studies have found that the majority of lottery players are middle-aged, married men from suburban neighborhoods. They also tend to be high school-educated and from families with incomes above the national average. This demographic is especially attractive to advertisers, who are able to reach a very large audience for relatively little cost. The same demographics are not represented in low-income areas, and the number of poor people playing the lottery is disproportionately small. This has implications for the legitimacy of the lottery’s mission to promote economic opportunity. It is also a serious obstacle to the lottery’s ability to meet its goal of providing education resources for low-income children.