[wavefunction]

>Sigh. The lottery is a tax on stupidity.

This sentiment has been trotted out before but if I get $1 worth of entertainment from a lottery ticket then it's not a tax on anything. Most people don't expect to win the lottery but the thought of "what if" is worth the money they pay. And the money seems to go to good causes in most states so I can't see how anyone could criticize playing the lottery unless you're doing it with money you can't afford to lose. This is all supported by very simple economic principles, as well. You might as well say a $6 Starbucks coffee is a tax on stupidity.

[dTal]

"Stupidity" (innumeracy, really) is a prerequisite for finding the lottery entertaining. The thought of "what if" is predicated on the idea that buying a lottery ticket meaningfully increases your chances of winning. You may as well fantasize about finding a bag of money in the street; it's cheaper and the expected returns are better. And as for "money you can afford to lose" - there's no threshold where money stops being money. Buying one lottery ticket is just as fallacious as buying a thousand; the only difference is the magnitude of the error.

On the other hand, if you do find the lottery entertaining - despite how irrational it is to do so - no amount of lecturing or calling you innumerate will change your mind. So you may as well buy the damn lottery ticket :)

[bsder]

> I can't see how anyone could criticize playing the lottery unless you're doing it with money you can't afford to lose.

This is the majority of lottery players, you know?

You don't get $400 million jackpots by rich people playing.

You get $400 million jackpots by fleecing a lot of poor people.