Well, on average people who make $13,000 / year spend about 9% of their total income on lotteries. It skews higher for non-whites. For people who make 100k a y

Well, on average people who make $13,000 / year spend about 9% of their total income on lotteries. It skews higher for non-whites. For people who make 100k a year they spend about $300 a year on lotteries. Many states generate more revenue from lotteries than by taxes, so this is a regressive hidden tax effectively. States also tax ticket sales for lotteries at close to 40% so it's also the worst investment tax around. Lotteries are used by states to generate money from vulnerable poor populations and move that money back up to support other programs that wealthier folks enjoy. Here is an indepth article outlining more. Unfortunately some of the links are broken, but I will update you if I find the base research studies mentioned. http://www.alternet.org/hard-times-usa/disturbing-facts-about-state-lotteries-they-prey-poor-and-trash-economy-and-political http://www.alternet.org/hard-times-usa/disturbing-facts-abou...