The government shouldn't be in the gambling business at all, neither this nor state lotteries. It creates a perverse incentive where the government starts prom

The government shouldn't be in the gambling business at all, neither this nor state lotteries. It creates a perverse incentive where the government starts promoting gambling instead of what they should be doing: promoting services to help gambling addicts recover. I'm absolutely sick of seeing billboards promoting the lottery as a sound investment, and not only that but suggesting terrible ways people could waste all their winnings instead of putting it away and being financially responsible. It's sickening. And yes, I know the argument about state lotteries outcompeting "numbers games" run by organized crime. I don't buy this argument, I don't think we're getting any net gain for society. Having connections to organized crime to participate in their gambling schemes is far less accessible than buying lotto tickets at any gas station in the country. This casual accessibility sucks far more people into gambling addictions..