When you talk to people who play the lottery, they’re often surprisingly candid about why they do it. They won’t admit it, but I think they believe that their small sliver of hope that somebody has to win eventually is worth the money and effort that they put into playing.
State lotteries are big business in America, with Americans spending about $100 billion a year on tickets. But they’re not without their problems. In the beginning, they were largely successful because they tapped into an increasing sense of economic inequality, coupled with a growing materialism asserting that anyone could become rich if they tried hard enough.
The popularity of lotteries also grew around the same time as popular anti-tax movements. In addition, the 1830s saw a rise in moral sensibilities, including religious distaste for gambling and a newfound fear of corruption that pushed many toward prohibition and other forms of social movement that were to come.
In terms of public policy, state lotteries have a unique dynamic that reflects the larger structure of how government works. The decision to adopt a lottery is typically made piecemeal and incrementally, and authority is split between different branches of the government with little or no overall view. Politicians tend to see a lottery as an easy way to raise tax dollars without having to face the voters or legislators who might oppose them.
The message that state lotteries rely on is one of specific benefit to the public. The idea that you’re doing a good deed for the state by purchasing a ticket is a powerful one, and it’s a huge part of why they remain popular.