Lotteries should be illegal. The state only pays out about half of the revenue in prizes, then takes a big chunk back in taxes. This is about 30-40% less payout than a slot machine.
State government run lotteries do more harm to poor Americans than just about any other cause.
It's a voluntary tax, so anyone playing is giving them their money. If the state makes the lottery illegal are you willing to pay more in taxes or would you rather let people pay the tax that want to? I know what option I'd chose.
Also this is a program where the poor fund the middle class. The poor play the lottery but the middle class kids get the benefit from the college "scholarship".