The Lottery. It exists legally now in many forms from weekly drawing to scratch offs.
The Illinois Lottery began operations on July 1, 1974, when lotteries in the United States were confined to areas of the Northeast and Midwest. This was also a maneuver to take over the illegal numbers racket from the underworld.
The main selling point originally was the Lottery income would help the schools in Illinois. But as more money rolled in, original funding dollars rolled out for different “pork”.
But, in reality it is viewed by many as another form of taxation on the lower income. The wealthy know and understand the odds, and risk, thus choosing a different path to greater wealth investments.
I own, stocks, bonds, mutual funds and other investments, and spend maybe, just maybe $30 a year on the Lottery, if I remember to buy tickets when they have the huge payouts.
The risk is not worth the reward in my mind.