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Lottery proceeds are often used to finance a wide range of government projects, from schools and libraries to bridges and hospitals. They also support public services such as law enforcement and fire protection. In the United States, for example, lottery money pays for firehouses and police squad cars. In some cities, it also helps to pay for street lights and water supply systems.

But lotteries have always attracted critics who question whether it is ethical to fund public services through gambling, and how much state governments really stand to gain. These critics come from all walks of life, but the most vociferous are devout Protestants, who regard government-sanctioned gambling as morally unconscionable.

Those who favor lotteries argue that they are an easy way to increase revenue without alienating an anti-tax public. And they point out that, since the lottery began in 1967, it has raised more than 34 billion dollars in support of education.

But the argument is flawed. First, lottery revenues are regressive; they take a larger share of low-income residents’ income than other types of gambling. And, second, the money isn’t enough to pay for the programs that lotteries promote. In fact, according to one study, it only covers about one percent of the total cost of public education.