The casting of lots for making decisions and determining fates has a long record in human history (including several instances in the Bible). Lotteries are a modern form of raising money, usually by selling tickets for a chance to win a large sum of money. They are widely accepted in many countries as a painless way to raise funds for a variety of purposes, and they often enjoy broad public support. In this era of anti-tax sentiment, lotteries may appeal to people who do not want to pay higher taxes and are skeptical of government spending.<\/p>\n
Whether they believe their chances of winning are low, high, or somewhere in between, most people play the lottery to experience the thrill of anticipation as they watch the numbers come up. Then, they find out if their luck held and they won! But why do people continue to buy lottery tickets when they know that winning is so unlikely? A recent article in Psychology Today by Leaf Van Boven, a professor of psychology at the University of Colorado, sheds some light on this question.<\/p>\n
Most state lotteries have followed similar paths: the legislature legislates a monopoly for itself; establishes a public corporation or agency to run it; begins operations with a small number of relatively simple games; and, due to constant pressure for additional revenues, progressively expands its offerings, particularly by adding new games. This expansion is often a response to criticism of the lottery, such as allegations that it encourages compulsive gambling and has regressive effects on lower-income people.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"