The New York economy is languishing, but lottery sales are rising.
One game is up 28 percent in the last year. And, starting in February, New York will be selling Powerball lottery tickets.
Philip Cook, author of Selling Hope, said sales of scratch tickets are also increasing.
"They've done it by selling bundles of tickets," he said, "or selling very high-priced tickets, whereas before they were only selling $1 singles."
Cook said the state is preying on the poor.
"They certainly are contributing to some of the social problems with the people that do get too deeply involved and start playing beyond their means," he said.
He specifically mentioned child neglect and bankruptcies as repercussions of gambling.
— Staff Report
1-20-10
Lottery Preys on People's Hopelessness
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