In the United States, people spend billions of dollars each year on lottery tickets. Many believe that winning the lottery will change their lives. The reality is that lottery winnings are often spent on luxury items and debt. This is a form of gambling that has negative effects on society. It also encourages covetousness, which is against the bible. It is important for Christians to remember that God forbids covetousness.
Lotteries are state-run games in which numbers or symbols are drawn for prizes. Historically, they have been used to raise funds for public works projects. In the seventeenth century, colonial America relied heavily on them for financing roads, canals, bridges, and schools. During the French and Indian War, lotteries raised money to finance local militias and towns’ fortifications.
While these public works projects are beneficial, there is a danger in using the lottery to fund them. As Cohen writes, the “promise of free money” may lure many people into playing the game who would not otherwise gamble. This leads to compulsive gambling and a vicious cycle of losses that can destroy families and entire communities. It can also lead to drug addiction, mental illness, and domestic violence. In addition, it can lead to the exploitation of the poor and minorities.
The lottery’s modern incarnation dates back to the nineteen-thirties, when growing awareness of the big profits in gambling collided with a state funding crisis. As populations soared and inflation accelerated, the economic prosperity that had financed state programs like education and elder care began to fade. Many states were unable to balance their budgets without raising taxes or cutting services, both of which were highly unpopular with voters.
State lotteries were one way to increase revenue and keep taxes low. The first lotteries were sold as a silver bullet for state finances. As Cohen points out, these claims rang hollow. A lottery can’t float a state’s entire budget, and the money it generates is regressive: It hits low-income players hardest. Scratch-offs and daily numbers games skew toward the poor, with 60 to 65 percent of all lottery sales being scratch tickets or money-back games.
In addition, most of the largest jackpots have been won by wealthy people. This is because wealthy people spend far less of their income on lottery tickets. In fact, according to a recent study by consumer financial company Bankrate, players making more than fifty thousand dollars per year on average spend one percent of their income on them; while those who make less than thirty thousand spend thirteen percent. It is important for Christians to recognize the dangers of the lottery and realize that it’s a form of gambling that can have serious consequences on the health of a family. In addition, the lottery promotes covetousness and false hope. It’s time for Americans to wake up and stop spending their hard-earned dollars on this regressive game. They should instead invest it in savings and emergency funds.
