In a small town in the state of Vermont, a man called Mr. Summers manages the local lottery. He is an authority figure in the village and carries out an ancient ritual every year to choose one of its men to be stoned to death. The story Shirley Jackson wrote about this in her book “The Lottery” is a testament to the oblivion and barbarism that is still prevalent in many villages.
In the United States, state lotteries are now found in 37 states and Washington, DC. The modern revival of lotteries began with New Hampshire in 1964, and since then, each new state lottery has followed a similar pattern: the legislature legislates a monopoly; establishes a state agency or public corporation to run the lottery; begins operations with a modest number of relatively simple games; and progressively expands the scope and complexity of its offerings due to pressure for additional revenues.
Unlike other gambling ventures, which depend on compulsive behavior and the hope of striking it rich, state lotteries are generally considered safe to play by the vast majority of people. However, studies have shown that those with low incomes participate in the lottery at disproportionately lower levels than those from middle- and upper-income neighborhoods. As a result, some critics argue that lotteries are essentially a hidden tax on those least able to afford it. Moreover, studies show that most lotteries tend to be addictive and can quickly consume the income of those who play them.