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The lottery is one of the oldest forms of gambling, and it has had its share of problems over the years. Today, it raises about a percent of state budget revenue and is widely known to be regressive, taking a greater financial toll on lower-income citizens. But there’s also the question of whether it should be promoted by governments, especially in an age that is so polarized politically and incensed about gambling addiction.
State legislators who support lotteries cite a variety of reasons for doing so. They may believe that people are going to gamble anyway, so the state might as well capture some of that action for public purposes. Or they might believe that states are facing budget crises and need to enact a solution that does not enrage an anti-tax electorate.
State laws on lotteries are largely determined at the local level, which means that there is a great deal of variation in rules and perceptions about them across the country. Some states, like Alaska, for example, are open to gambling but have elected not to introduce a lottery because they fear it would compete with the local casino industry. Other states, such as Hawaii, are reluctant to encourage gambling because they fear it could hurt their tourism industries.