The Pros and Cons of Lottery Games
The casting of lots to make decisions or determine fates has a long record in human history, including several instances in the Bible. But lotteries as a means to gain money or goods for personal use are much more recent. The first public lotteries offering tickets with prize money were probably in the Low Countries during the 15th century. They were used to raise funds for town fortifications and to help the poor. But it is not clear whether this early version of a lottery was successful, and the idea was certainly not new when the English state lotteries were established in the 16th century.
A central argument for adopting a lottery is that it allows states to increase spending without raising taxes, or at least avoiding increases in traditional tax rates. This view is based on the assumption that the popularity of lottery games will increase as state government spending needs rise, and that people will be willing to pay a small amount of money for a chance at a substantial gain. It is an appealing argument, and it has worked in the past.
But critics point to the many costs that come with lotteries, including addictive gambling behavior, a regressive effect on lower-income groups and the promotion of illegal gambling. They also argue that lotteries do not really replace taxes, as they are only a temporary substitute for other sources of revenue. Moreover, studies show that state governments’ actual fiscal health has little to do with their adoption of a lottery.