“Last year Americans spent 70.15 billion dollars on lottery tickets”{chris Isidore}  . Americans spend more on lottery tickets than sporting tickets ,books,videogames and music. This shows that  a lot of money could be used for better and more resourceful things. I believe the lottery should be banned because the chances of winning are very slim ,you don't get all the money you was offered in the beginning and winning the money can change a person  .

     The  lottery should be banned because  winning is very slim. “the odds of a normal person winning the lottery are estimated to be 1 in 175 million on average”{ gregory wallace } That’s a very high percentage of not winning the lottery to waste your hard earned money, on something that will most likely never happen. A person has a better chance of getting stung by a bee then winning the lottery.You could be using your money for better and more intelligent things.

       Winning a lump sum of money can change a person. Some for the better but more for the worst. Some people ends up losing the money or worse by blowing the earning on irresponsible behaviors. Jack whittaker won 314 million on Christmas day and less than year later someone broke into his car and stole 200,000 .Then another time they stole 545,000 out his car.You really shouldn't play the lottery If your addicted to something either because It will only make the addiction worst. Mr. Willie Hurt for an example he won 3.1 million dollars and two years later he didn't have no money after spending it on drugs. Even If you're not addicted to nothing and you know a safe place to keep your money it's always a possibility .{ Annie Gabillet}

  Another reason why  the lottery should be banned because you don't get all the money you were offered In the beginning. When you win the lottery they offer you a annuity or a lump sum . A annuity is when you get a certain amount of money each year until all your money Is gone or until you die and even when you die and all your money not gone you can have It given to somebody else. A lump son Is when you get all the money handed to you upfront, which Is what most people chooses . “ a Virginia businessman was the largest single jackpot winner he won 170 million dollars and after taxes he ended up with 114 million”{ Yunji De Nies} you see how low that Is compared to what you thought you was gettin It really just not worth It .

      Those are acceptable reason  but  playing the lottery gives some  people hope. It gives people the hope of what If I did win the lottery, where would i go? who would I see? That hope can brighten up somebody day and make them feel better . This statement still doesn't justify  the chances of winning  the lottery are so slim that you have a better  chance of  getting stung by a bee then winning the lottery that shows that your hope must be really small . It like hope versus reality and reality most likely always win. This statement still doesn't justify that lottery tickets are only 1 or 2 dollars depending on where you live. This amount of money Is very little to be wanting to ban something that's not going to cost you your life saving.

However most people when they buy a lottery ticket they buy more than one, which cost more  than 1 or 2 dollars. This habit might not start affecting you in the beginning, but over time it can. Purchasing lottery tickets is another form of gambling, and just like you can get addicted to gambling you can get addicted to buying  lottery tickets, which  can start affecting your money.

    Reasons on banning lottery tickets it changes people  ,you don't get all the money you was offered and the chances are very slims . These are very reasonable and good explanations on why the lottery should be banned. Even though lottery tickets are very cheap and It might give hope to some people. It still money that could be used for other things.