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The Public Benefits of Lottery Profits

The United States has a lotteries industry spanning more than 100 years. In the United States, lotteries are run by state governments. These monopolies, which are free from commercial competition, use the lottery profits to fund government programs. As of August 2004, forty states operated lotteries. The lottery market was firmly established in the Northeast by the end of the decade. In addition to its high payouts, lotteries also provided a way to fund public projects without raising taxes, as well as attracting residents of Catholic and non-Catholic faiths.

Lotteries have many uses, from housing units to kindergarten placement. In addition to fundraising, lottery proceeds are often donated to public sector projects. In the Old Testament, Moses divided land among the Israelites, and the Roman emperors reportedly used lotteries to distribute slaves and property. Today, lotteries are used for many other purposes. In the United States, the lottery has helped fund public-works projects, college scholarships, and other needs.

After deducting the costs of running a lottery, most U.S. lotteries withhold twenty-four percent of prize winnings for federal taxes. If you won millions of dollars, that means you would pay a whopping 37 percent in federal taxes. Not to mention state and local taxes, which further reduce the amount of money you could claim as your prize. Because lotteries are so easy to run and play, they are incredibly popular with the general public.