Lottery is a form of gambling where people buy tickets for a chance to win big sums of money. They are usually run by state and federal governments. The winner is determined by a random drawing. Often, the winnings are taxed. Americans spend over $80 Billion on lottery tickets every year – that’s about $600 per household! This amount could be much better spent on building an emergency fund or paying down credit card debt.

While there’s certainly an inextricable human impulse to gamble, the real problem with Lottery is that it dangles a false promise of instant riches in an age of increasing inequality and limited social mobility. The reality is that most people do not win the Lottery and many who do find themselves worse off than before.

The odds of winning the Lottery are extremely low – statistically, you have a greater chance of being struck by lightning or becoming a billionaire than winning the Mega Millions or Powerball jackpots. However, Lottery advertising makes it seem like the odds are good – that everyone should buy a ticket because it’s your civic duty and you might win. Despite the fact that most people lose, the percentage of Lottery proceeds that go to education is very high.