> I can't remember the last time I saw an ad for the lottery on TV, let alone something as ridiculous as the one from Illinois they show in the article. I wonde

> I can't remember the last time I saw an ad for the lottery on TV, let alone something as ridiculous as the one from Illinois they show in the article. I wonder how much of the problem would be fixed by fixing this, rather than doing away with state lotteries altogether? Here in Germany (and Europe I think) they have to be super honest about it. The ads actually do say the chances are something in the ballpark of 1 in 100 million. Smallprint of course. I believe they still make lots of cash. A few lines down OP says: > For example, in Ohio’s marketing plans for its SuperLotto game, it stated that advertisements should coincide with the receipt of “Government benefits, payroll and Social Security payments.” This is what freaks me out the most.