The US Lottery is a Lie

Why the Government Loves the Lottery

Seeing the billion dollar jackpots pop up all over the news had me wondering: why does the government run the lottery and what do they do with all that money?

About:
Johnny Harris is an Emmy-winning independent journalist and contributor to the New York Times. Based in Washington, DC, Harris reports on interesting trends and stories domestically and around the globe, publishing to his audience of over 3.5 million on Youtube. Harris produced and hosted the twice Emmy-nominated series Borders for Vox Media. His visual style blends motion graphics with cinematic videography to create content that explains complex issues in relatable ways.

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[rylandnunn]

Here in Florida, some of the money raised by the lottery is used for scholarships. I once heard someone say: "The lottery is low-income people sending middle-income people to college." That has stuck with me ever since.

[VibhorWase]

No matter who wins the lottery, the govt always wins the jackpot

[jonathankeller]

The best way I ever heard someone describe the lottery was as a tax on hope...

[chiefkyle]

government: we will put you in prison if you gamble!
also government: we run this gambling scam if you want to play.

[davidmcdonald]

For a college course, I wanted to investigate how Pennsylvania allocated its lottery funds "to benefit seniors, " as the ads put it. I contacted the state revenue service to request some data, and I was pretty much treated like a terrorist. Everyone I spoke to was evasive at best, but usually downright rude. "Why did I want it, " was the usual retort to the request; often they wanted my phone number for a callback. Finally, I received by mail a single sheet document with columns of numbers but without any context as to time periods covered and so on, much less where the money went. Years later I discovered that funds were used to supplement seniors' prescription costs, but eligibility was stringent with high deductibles AFTER Medicare D plans. Terrific video!

[froogleislive]

You know whats even more hilarious, these people would get upset if you took the lottery away. I used to work at an AMPM when I was 17, we had regulars that would buy tickets. I would ask them if they knew what their odds were, they said yes. One guy told me he knew for a fact he'd never win but the euphoria he got from daydreaming about winning was worth the money. That to me sounded crazy at the time but as an adult now, I can see its allure lol

[mikea.]

The worst part is if you tell people who buy the lottery regularly that its the government's way of taxing them, they go into denial mode... and usually these are the same folks that hate the government or think they're so smart that they're not paying actual taxes to the government... I always say the government is the one having the last laugh.

[javathehunt]

Have a friend that lost a million on the lottery because they had all 5 numbers (not including the power ball) but not in the right order… 2 weeks later, they learned that you don’t need them in order, just the correct numbers, but they threw the ticket away immediately.
Their face went ghost pale when they heard it, I saw it happen and it broke my heart for them

[rileyconnor]

I work at a bar, and I see the same people come in to exclusively play the video lottery. They rotate between a few other spots to avoid some embarrassment, but I know a good chunk of their money goes into those machines.

The saddest part is seeing their gambling slow down, they hit, and the cycle starts all over again.

[paradonym]

Johnny: "we have to make lottery tickets a business expense"
Team: "okay"

[CeeJayLerod]

I wouldn't even say it's a case of lack of education, but rather a case of exploiting desperation. I know I spent the most on the lottery when I was about to lose my own house. I knew that the chances were almost impossible that I would win, but it was like I was hoping for a miracle to change my situation. A miracle I could opt into. That 5$ I was spending on the ticket wasn't going to get me out of my situation, even if I saved it, but even it was unlikely, it could resolve everything if I had won.

So yeah, I think reframing it from "uneducated" to "desperate" would change a few perspectives.

[maiastela]

I used to work part time at a supermarket, and people coming to buy/check their lottery tickets were the WORST clients. A couple even called me stupid for not understanding their weird lottery jargon… yeah, because I’m not the one spending hundreds on that… rightttt

[Baby-obyf]

Here in the Philippines, part of the lottery money goes to helping people with their medical bills. People line up to ask for financial aid every day. As a cancer patient, it has been immensely helpful for me.

[hiddehohmann]

In The Netherlands this was actually criticised in the news a couple of years ago. Now the government passed laws to make their lotteries less attractive, by having limited commercials without celebrities and the lottery stands should be less prominent sight in stores.

[DenverMetroAudits]

That hit hard at the end. “We just need to call it what it is, the lottery is a tax on the poor.” Deep 😢

[brenda]

In the small town I live in I see the lowest income people spend the most money on scratch offs.

[CP-ocnz]

my father was a brave worker and he spent a good part of these wages on lottery and horse races, today he is over 70 years old, has never won a single faith and lives in social housing, it is one of my best life lessons 😊

[Myrrhkuri]

my biggest issue with lottery is in my state its been said since i was kid (now in my 50s) that lottery money was like a 50/50 with the winners and the money raised "supposedly going to help schools and roads" so if there is a 10 million jackpot theres 10 million for schools and roads..so why the hell is the state always needing money for schools and why are the roads always needing money for repair?? been billions raised in my lifetime.

[paulnolan]

In Australia we don't pay tax on lottery or any form of gambling wins, only pay tax on work earnings

[TheEclecticDyslexic]

Just a note about better help (your sponsor). They have been giving away patient data to social media companies. IE they are giving your medical information to Facebook so they can advertise to you based on your private medical data. (Targeting you specifically knowing you have some diagnosed disorder) Don't use them, the company is shady AF.