In the world of sports, lotteries determine draft picks for the NBA and other professional leagues. But lottery controversies have little to do with the relative merits of these picks; instead they focus on whether this form of gambling is good for society at all. The argument goes that a lottery promotes gambling, and, in doing so, has adverse social consequences for the poor, problem gamblers, and other vulnerable groups. It also undermines the integrity of other state institutions, such as public education.

Despite their negative social implications, state lotteries enjoy broad support among the general public. This support is especially strong when state government finances are tight, as they are now in the wake of recessions, rising unemployment, and declining economic prospects. Lotteries are marketed as a way for ordinary people to “get rich,” and their popularity has increased significantly in recent years.

As with all commercial products, a large proportion of the money invested in lottery tickets comes from low-income and minority neighborhoods. These areas are also the most heavily promoted by lottery ads, which are often aired during popular television shows. As a result, some critics have labeled lottery marketing as a form of “taxation on the stupid,” while others argue that low-income and minority communities need more sources of income other than taxation.

The casting of lots for material gain has a long history, including many cases in the Bible, but public lotteries first emerged in the fourteenth century in the Low Countries, where profits were used to finance town fortifications and charity for the poor. In America, lotteries became popular in the nineteen-sixties, as states sought ways to balance budget deficits without raising taxes or cutting services.