What you seem to be missing is that it's only a tax on voluntary participation. Like smoking, gambling, purchasing anybotger form of entertainment. It's not a r

What you seem to be missing is that it's only a tax on voluntary participation. Like smoking, gambling, purchasing anybotger form of entertainment. It's not a regressive tax in the way you're portraying it but rather a consumption tax. Sure, the poor are more likely to play but I think your argument is on more solid ground if you flip it and suggest the lotteries shouldn't be taxed. At least not like they are. The problem after all is not that people play lotteries but that so much of it is taken in taxes.