The official lottery, as practiced in many states, is a game that offers a small chance of winning big prizes, based on an unpredictable random drawing. Supporters say it is a low-cost revenue source, easy to administer and a painless alternative to raising taxes. Opponents charge that it is a scam that skirts taxation by collecting money from people who would not otherwise pay and encourages addictive gambling behavior, as well as other abuses.
Before the 1970s, state lotteries were little more than traditional raffles, with players purchasing tickets for a drawing in the future weeks or months. Then came innovations such as scratch-off tickets and a new class of games called instant games, which offered lower prize amounts but higher odds of winning. Lottery revenues soared as a result.
Lotteries have broad support among the general public. But they also develop extensive, specific constituencies—convenience store operators (who sell tickets); suppliers of the lottery’s products (heavy contributions by these companies to state political campaigns are often reported); teachers (in states in which proceeds are earmarked for education) and others (especially those whose job it is to promote the lotteries).
A large part of the popularity of the lottery lies in its ability to raise a relatively large sum of money, compared to other government funding sources. Lottery supporters emphasize this fact, saying that a lottery’s low cost and ease of administration make it an excellent revenue source in a time of fiscal stress.