Selling Hope: State Lotteries in America

by Charles T. Clotfelter, Philip J. Cook

With its huge jackpots and heartwarming rags-to-riches stories, the lottery has become the hope and dream of millions of Americans--and the fastest-growing source of state revenue. Despite its popularity, however, there remains much controversy over whether this is an appropriate business for state government and, if so, how the business should be conducted.

323 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1991

Reviews

[Femisapien]

Only theoretical book about lotteries that I know of. That only makes it an interesting read for those interested in the subject.

[Fr. Peter Mottola]

I picked this up the week that the Powerball jackpot reached $1.6 billion and everyone was talking about the lottery. While I only skimmed the book (its content was thoroughly well-researched, and much deeper than my interest), learning something of the history of the lottery in the United States was eye-opening. While the question of whether the lottery disproportionately affects the poor is an important one, I now see that the even more crucial question regarding the morality of lotteries is whether their aggressive promotion by the government is compatible with the government's purpose of promoting the well-being and virtue of its citizens.
If you've ever wondered about whether the lottery is a "poor tax", who plays the lottery, and why they do, this is the book for you.