I have recently read an interesting essay on this topic, but it was already explained it to me a few years ago.
The thesis would consist that, although the probability of winning classical lotteries is near zero (typically between 0.0000007% in the case of Euromillions and 0.000003% in the case of national lotteries), people is willing to pay an excessive overprice because they are buying the right to dream about the possibility of winning.
Although there are extreme cases that get addicted to lotteries, this is quite uncommon if I'm not wrong, because, if you are not paying for the probability but for the possibility, a bet of 1 USD is enough to buy said possibility.
On the other hand, national lotteries are known to be "taxes on ignorance of mathematics", but if these revenues financed public expenses that revert to the common good: would you agree to pay systematically 1 USD more in your annual taxes as something that ensures the right to dream of a dear life of every taxpayer?
We participate in the lottery with everyone's dream. But lucky people are not necessarily rewarded, only lottery games are rewarded. You paid money to buy lottery make your dreams come true don't hurt anyone's dreams. Every person should keep separate money for winning lottery.
I have seen many people who are not happy about winning the lottery because of the hassle of paying taxes. Yet people come forward to these ads and spend a dollar to change their fortunes to win the dream.
Although everyone has the right to hope for something better, could the lottery's continued popularity contribute to an unhealthy preoccupation with rapid gratification? A society that has devalued effort and perseverance in favor of luck. You recommend dedicating a certain sum of money specifically to the lottery. But why not save up for something concrete, like a future adventure or a contingency fund?
Taxes, what a pain! This seems like a textbook example of "
champagne problems," don't you think? It's like griping about the brightness of the sun on a tropical paradise.
You're doing better than most people if you can complain about lottery taxes.
Well, in fact, both of you are right. Educated people is expected to reserve a percentage of the prize to pay the corresponding taxes, so, although annoying, it is still a good deal!
But lottery doesn't reward education but simple chance, and there are many stories about people who spent too much as soon as they got their money, to the extent of making them insolvent for life due to penalties no one could pay in a lifetime.
This is not the only hassle when you win the lottery. It is reported that the initial joy of becoming rich doesn't last forever and, as soon as you get used to your new lifestyle, happiness levels go back to the initial point or lower. Some comedy dramas have depicted it in fiction, but studies support since long time ago that it happens in real life.
1