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giving the miniscule odds of winning the least pubhcity possible. The lottery succeeds only if the ticket-buyers lobe. In effect, the state is coldly calculating to make a profit off the losses of its residents. Is this really an admirable way for a government to behave?
There are a host of practical reasons for voting “NO” in November to the referendum question. Most important is the fact that the creation of a lottery is in fact the creation of a hidden, additional tax. If our legislators are convinced that the state needs more tax revenue, they should raise those monies through “up-front” taxes and not rely on this backdoor, regressive approach. Let them state their case to the people, and let the voters decide.
The experience of other states has also proven that lottery revenues can be expected to decline from the optimistic figures touted by its supporters - assuming that those figures pan out to begin with. D. C. is projecting decreases in revenue for the first time in its lottery’s fouryear history, and West Virginia reported a 50 percent decline in ticket sales during the lottery’s second year.
So, let’s look at the revenue projections. Supporters projected that first-year gross would be $530 million. Of that figure, the Senate Finance Committee report stated that $201 million would be returned to the state. That’s only 38 percent - leaving the lion’s share of the take being spent on administration and prizes.
Prizes, too, are no bargain. Most state lotteries are run on 1000 to 1 odds, with a payoff of 500 to 1. It doesn’t take a Las Vegas bookie to tell you that, coupled with the infinitesimal chances of hitting a major jackpot, means the majority of players will never recoup their investment.
But that dream of instant, easy wealth is the principal force driving any lottery - or any gambling for that matter. It’s no coincidence that the majority of lottery players are poor. The pipe-dream of instant wealth is a powerful opiate. The state’s own figures say that the most tickets for the Maryland lottery are sold in Prince George’s County and Baltimore City, the largest pockets of disadvantaged residents in the state.
On the other hand, several states are undertaking major advertising campaigns to promote the lottery among the more affluent segments of their populations - people who could more easily afford to plav the lottery, but who have
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