Pros and Cons of the Lottery

Five, eighteen, twenty-two, thirty-three, thirty-nine and forty-four are six of the sixty numbers Americans choose from daily when playing the Powerball. “Lottery is defined as a gambling game or method of raising money, as for some public chartable purpose, in which a large number of tickets are sold and a drawing is held for certain prizes (dictionary.com).” The lottery takes money from thousands of American every year. Last year alone, more than 65 billion dollars was spent in lottery ticket sales. For the forty-four states and the District of Columbus it affords many opportunities for statewide improvements to be made. The lottery is investment for every state because it ensures ample funds that can be used to support their citizens.

Many people are not in favor of the lottery because they have valid concerns. Some believe the lottery leads to gambling problems for its participants. Most people who play are on welfare or poor and uneducated. The students are really not benefiting from the money their parents spend on the lottery tickets. Others believe it is hurting the economy and taking away funds that could be put elsewhere such as groceries and clothing. However, they may fail to realize the perks to those who win big or even small.

Statewide projects are funded with lottery money. For instance, schools can be updated with all the latest and greatest technology because the state has the funds to distribute to them. The state of Oregon allocates 57% of its profits to funding education. The state of Florida has put more than 3.9 billion dollars since 2010 in renovation and new construction of schools. Essentially, citizens are improving their state’s education system, which affect their child and thousands of others. The...

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...who do not win and choose to play continuously. For this reason states are implementing ways to help them improve their situation.

Chances of winning can be 1 in 150 million but one has to overlook that. Lottery is beneficial to the winners as well as those who do not win. The lottery helps relieve states of increasing taxes. People with children are help because their children receive a better education through high school, which leads to more scholarship opportunities. Some states allocate money to stop gambling, which has increased development because of the lottery. More people in the job market, more teachers in the education system, and more roadway construction increases profits for the economy. If a person shall oppose they can make the decision not to play. The lottery should be instituted because it increases funding that benefits citizens of the state.