How come it seems like Lottery winners are always the ones that buy tickets in low income areas.?

Question

Pure luck or Government's way of trying to balance the rich and the poor.

Answer 1

I would put it down to psychology.



People who feel they are well-off feel no need to participate in the lottery programs. While those who feel they are less than well off think "Why not bet a buck or two on the chance to make a few million?".



It would seem to make sense to me.



addition: Yes Matt - agreed. I just didn't state it as eloquently. Feeling 'no need to participate' is as you say related to education, and those well off tend to have a better education.

Answer 2

Statistically, poor people buy lottery tickets out of proportion to their share of the population. While hope for advancement is part of it, lack of education plays a decisive role. Of course, nobody has an appreciable chance of winning a lottery with significant money at stake. It's a matter of probability. Unfortunately, people with minimal education--who are concentrated in the lower end of the socioeconomic strata--tend not to see this. So, they make a bad investment.