In America, lotteries have been around for more than two centuries. They were used in the colonies to help fund a variety of projects, from building roads and wharves to founding Harvard and Yale. They’re still popular in many states today.

But despite their popularity, there are a few things about them that should worry anyone who’s concerned about gambling and social inequality. One is that they’re a regressive tax. The bulk of lottery playing, and the vast majority of the proceeds, come from the middle and upper-income tiers of the population. The poor don’t participate at all, or they do so in disproportionately smaller amounts than their percentage of the population.

Another thing is that they don’t really work to promote financial literacy. Lottery advertisements tend to convey the message that winning the lottery is a fun way to pass the time, and that it’s okay to spend a small amount of money in order to increase your chances of becoming a millionaire. But this is not exactly the best message to be spreading, especially when so many people end up losing.

Finally, lotteries often rely on a message about how they’re beneficial because they raise money for the state. But again, research shows that the popularity of a lottery does not correlate with a state government’s actual fiscal situation. In fact, it’s not uncommon for a lottery to win broad public approval even when the state’s budget is in great shape.