what is your opinion on state run lotteries?

Question

im writing a short paper and i would like some more backround information. thanks! -ry

Answer 1

A state lottery is a revenue source that extracts a great deal of money from the people who can least afford it. It is sort of a tax on stupidity.

Answer 2

its a tax for the people who are bad at math. on the pick 3 drawing my state has a 50% advantage. There are 1000 possible 3 digit combos (000-999) but if u pick the right one u only get 500$ for every 1$ u bet. This means that theoretically every 1$ risked on this game, the state is making .50$. They justify it by saying the $$ goes to help old people, but old people are the worst lottery players, they play more often. The lottery is basically a license to steal. Also, some states require you to pay tax on the big jackpot winnings. So when some1 wins 200 million, a third of that goes to the fed gov. plus in some states some goes 2 the state gov.

Answer 3

I agree with Susan, the poster above. It is a tax on those who can least afford it.

Think about it - do the rich play the lottery? Some members of the middle class may play as an occasional, inexpensive diversion, but the vast majority of people who play the lottery are poor.

This is not to say, however, that the poor are stupid or unable to comprehend the overwhelming odds they're up against. It is merely that the poor are in a more economically desperate position.

It also has to do with differing socio-economic value systems. But since this is a homework assignment, I'll let you do the rest of the research. Good luck.

Answer 4

State-run lotteries are shameful. As others have said, they are a tax on stupidity. But they are worse than that. They are a way for politicians and bureaucrats to get their hands on even more money, with no legislative oversight of the pursestrings. States even stoop as low as to heavily advertise their lotteries, while barring private companies from running competing lotteries.

Gambling is recognized as immoral by every major moral code: the Jews' natural law, Christianity, the Koran, etc. Gamblers prey on the weak minded: those who can't control their impulses.

Originally, state-run lotteries "preyed" on immigrant communities, especially Italians. Italians had a tradition of playing a daily number, which was illegal in most areas of the US, though the gambling laws were generally unenforced. Certain states decided it was something they could cash in on. Now, the lottery is no longer an ethnic thing - everyone is encouraged to play by lottery advertising.

Any politician who goes out of his or her way to increase the amount of money they have control over is acting against the public weal, is probably corrupt or at least corruptable, and is shortchanging future generations for a short-term gain. Politicians should be wracking their brains to find ways to reduce the size of government and increase the efficiency with which the state is run, not looking for ways to increase the scope of government. State lotteries are immoral not only because it's generally acknowleged that states shouldn't be complicit in gambling, but because they enable greedy politicians to get their hands on even more money. As government grows, we all suffer.

Answer 5

Why would you let the state run anything? Most of the people they appoint to their commissions have no clue about the position.

Answer 6

I think it's taking money from the people who need it and giving it to the government. It's just like another tax. Only good thing about it is. Only optimist and stupid people fall for it.