As state budgets get tighter, legislatures and governors are often tempted to expand state-sponsored lotteries and other forms of gambling in order to raise revenues. Their rationale is that it is not a tax, that people who pay into state-sponsored gambling schemes are doing so voluntarily and with the knowledge that only about half the proceeds go to winners and the other half going into the state's bank account. Since it is voluntary, it is a politically favored way to raise government revenues
Yet, the lure of big payouts is more enticing for people who earn the least amount of money, making it problematic from a social justice point of view. (Think about it: why would someone who is already worth a few million dollars pay anything for the chance to be worth a few million more? Thus, the wealthy who can afford a few more dollars in tax payments each week do not "volunteer" as lottery players.) Many studies have shown that lower-income persons on average spend a higher percentage of their income on lottery tickets than middle-income or upper-income persons. The net result is that lotteries become a sort of regressive tax, taking a higher percentage from the poor than others.
Although there are many other reasons against state lotteries, the regressive nature of the "take" is most clearly against Catholic social teaching of option for the poor and vulnerable.
Copyright © 2010, Deacon Carl D. Smith. All rights reserved. Reprint permission granted to parishes for use in Sunday bulletins.
