The money that a lottery generates often comes from a shifting of revenue. Instead of buying clothes, magazines, or other goods, people use their money to purchase lottery tickets. Poor areas, in particular, lose sales revenue that provides money for schools and other local services. The fluctuation of sales from year to year makes the lottery an unreliable source of funds, too unreliable for state policymakers to make budgeting decisions about education. Despite politicians' claims, a lottery will not increase funds for education.
Studies show that non-lottery states spend more per capita on education than lottery states.
After the novelty wears off and sales begin to decline, states must constantly create new games and ad campaigns to keep players interested. For example, the strategy behind Ohio's advertising plan for its lottery is to schedule heavier media play of ads on the days each month when government benefits, payroll, and social security payments are released. But I didn't. I guess I could have put some money aside. But I didn't.