I've often joked that the lottery is a tax on those who are bad with math. However, with all the slick advertising that our states do to induce people to gamble using the lottery, it has become an unfair tax on the poor as well.

Amen! It's criminal!

No, what is criminal is that they haven't educated these individuals well enough in the first place to understand the folly of large volume multiple ticket purchases. Even someone at pretty much the lowest rung of the economic ladder can squeak out an entertainment dollar here or there over the course of a year, but scores of them a week are a fool's fancy.

Well, what is there to learn in this? The scheme generates greed (hence misery), humans are not immune to greed yet.

Arifsali, If that is what you learn, then I feel sorry for you. Greed is not to blame for anything here and what you call greed is actually responsible people engaging in activity for fun. (I, by the way, have never bought a lottery ticket)
What is to blame here is the irresponsibility and stupidity of people that cannot manage their own lives combined with an insatiable need for government to CONTROL as much of our lives as possible.
For Bartender to say it is "criminal" to not educate people about gambling is the HEIGHT of supreme stupidity ! I cannot imagine a more ignorant comment in regard to lotteries. As if you need to be educated by the government about anything.

By the way, I do believe lotteries are a tax on the poor. However, it is a tax they pay willingly.

Nice mangling of my statement willie. It is too bad someone, ANYONE, didn't teach you to comprehend what you read.

what is criminal is that they haven't educated these individuals well
enough in the first place to understand the folly of large volume
multiple ticket purchases.

Sorry for the misunderstanding.

I dont buy lottery tickets