The idea of casting lots to determine fates and the distribution of property has a long record in human history, including several instances in the Bible. But the modern lottery, whose prizes can reach astronomical proportions, is a much more recent invention. Its origins are in the mid-16th century. The word “lottery” is thought to have been derived from Middle Dutch loterie, which in turn was probably a calque of Middle French loterie, or perhaps even Middle English loterie, all meaning the action of drawing lots.
State governments promote the lottery as a good way to raise money for public services. But the truth is that it’s regressive. Moreover, the money people spend on tickets is a lot better spent on emergency funds or paying off credit card debt. Americans spend over $80 billion a year on the lottery.
People buy lottery tickets mainly because they like to gamble. They’re also drawn to the possibility of a big jackpot that would put them in the upper class for a little while, if not forever. It’s a fantasy, of course, but it’s one that gives many people some measure of hope that they might someday stand on stage with a check for millions of dollars. For most, however, that’s as far as it ever goes. The rest of the time they’re just buying a ticket to avoid the real world for a brief moment. And that’s what makes the lottery so dangerous.
