Lotto Gambling and Compulsive Consumption
The lottery is a form of gambling in which people purchase chances to win money or goods by drawing numbers. The odds of winning vary, depending on the number of tickets purchased, the type of ticket, and other factors. Lottery gamblers differ from non-gamblers in several ways, including their motivation to play and the intensity of their gambling behavior. Lottery gambling is also a form of compulsive consumption and may be related to other types of compulsion.
Lottery gambling is popular in many countries, and there is an increasing interest in online lotteries. Several states in the United States have legalized online lottery gambling. However, critics argue that online lottery gambling is an unhealthy alternative to traditional forms of gambling and could lead to gambling addiction and other problems. Despite the growing popularity of lotteries, little research has been conducted to examine them.
Previous economic analyses using Family Expenditure Survey data have shown that there is a strong relationship between state-sponsored lottery gambling and lower income households. This is especially true among minority households. In addition, studies of state-sponsored lottery retailers show that they are disproportionately located in low income and minority neighborhoods. These findings have been criticized by those who oppose the existence of a national lottery, saying that it promotes addictive gambling behaviors and acts as a regressive tax on poorer households.
A recent study analyzing two comparable U.S. national surveys of adults and youth found that the amount of lottery gambling increases with age, and this increase is influenced by both socioeconomic status and ecological factors (e.g., neighborhood disadvantage based on census data). When these variables were controlled for in multivariate regression analyses, only socioeconomic status and the squared term of neighborhood disadvantage remained significant predictors of lottery gambling.
Moreover, the results show that there is a large group of very heavy lottery players who share characteristics with addicted gamblers. These very heavy lottery players are older, have higher incomes, fantasize more, and engage in other forms of gambling more than other lottery gamblers. They also score high on other dimensions of compulsive consumption such as browsing and buying, sensation-seeking, energy, and risk-taking.
Although the exact reasons why these individuals gamble so heavily on the lottery remain unclear, a variety of theories have been proposed. The most common one is that they are seeking excitement or the opportunity to make money. This contrasts with the more rational motive of a race track or casino gambler who feels that their skill is a determinant of their success and is therefore situationally enticed to gamble. Another theory is that lottery gambling reflects the general trend toward hedonic consumption, as well as other compulsive consumption traits, which are also exhibited by addictive gamblers. The authors suggest that this phenomenon should be further explored. In addition, they discuss the possible link between lottery gambling and other forms of compulsive consumption such as alcohol and illicit drug use. big77 login