Lottery is a common way for state governments to raise money. But critics say that it promotes gambling and encourages poor people to spend large amounts of their incomes buying tickets. Lotteries have also been linked to addiction and other problems, including eroding family relationships and increasing debt.

Regardless of the specifics of any lottery, the general evolution of state lotteries follows a predictable pattern: the government legislates a monopoly for itself; selects a public agency or corporation to run it; starts with a modest number of relatively simple games; and, due to constant pressure to raise revenues, progressively expands its offering by adding new games.

At a basic level, state lotteries rely on the fact that people just like to gamble. But there’s more to it than that: Lotteries dangle the promise of instant riches in an age of inequality and limited social mobility. And they know it. That’s why billboards blare the Mega Millions jackpot and the Powerball prize.

Moreover, the fact is that the vast majority of people who play the lottery don’t even win. But that doesn’t stop states from promoting the games as an essential part of a well-rounded economic and civic life. And that’s not just deceptive to the non-player: it’s damaging to the broader economy, too.