Although Lottery opponents generally base their objections on moral or religious grounds, proponents argue for economic benefits, including education. The report describes the distribution of tickets by zip code, and shows that the wealthiest players make up approximately 20% of all purchasers. However, there are several caveats to this conclusion. This article explores some of them. In this article, we’ll examine why lotteries aren’t targeting poor people.
Lottery opponents base objections on religious or moral reasons
Opponents of lottery legislation in Oklahoma have a mixed record, with some supporting and others opposing the initiative. In their favor, polls show a majority of voters approve of the lottery. Opponents, however, cite religious and moral objections as their basis for their opposition. For instance, a bachelor opposing abortion laws might have a reasonable objection to a state-run lottery.
Lottery proponents advocate for economic benefits to education
Many advocates of lottery reform argue that the lottery would benefit education in a variety of ways. First, it can help fill seats at top-quality, highly competitive schools. It could also broaden the educational choices for parents. But this approach isn’t without criticism. For starters, it relies on a faulty assumption: that all students are of a similar background and need equal educational opportunities. This approach would result in a similar educational outcome for children from low-income or upper-middle class families, but ineffective for the other 97 percent.
Many states have used lottery funds for special education projects. Despite this, some critics question whether these dollars will actually help education. Some states pool lottery funds with other sources to finance public schools. This strategy may not be as beneficial to education as advocates claim. In other states, lottery funds represent only a small fraction of overall K-12 education financing, but it can be an effective way to boost education spending.
Heaviest lottery players define as those in the top 20% of purchasers
Heaviest lottery players are not necessarily poor, under-educated, or desperate. According to studies in different jurisdictions, the top 20% of purchasers make up 71% of total sales. Further, heavy lottery players are not necessarily poor and have little formal education. Rather, they spend a higher percentage of their incomes on lottery tickets than the general population. Nonetheless, it is important to note that lottery spending by poor people is not disproportionate to their wealth.