Lottery is a popular way for states to raise money. People in America spend about $80 billion a year on lottery tickets. It’s the most popular form of gambling in the country. The biggest message that state lottery commissions promote is that if you buy a ticket, you’re helping the children or the environment or some other noble cause. They don’t really talk about how much of the total state revenue comes from these sales, or what percentage of the overall population actually benefits from the money spent on tickets.
Lotteries offer a false hope that money will solve all your problems. In reality, God wants us to work hard to earn our wealth. “Lazy hands make for poverty, but diligent hands bring riches” (Proverbs 12:25). Those who play the lottery also tend to covet money and possessions of others. That is a violation of the commandment against covetousness (Exodus 20:17; 1 Timothy 6:10).
In addition, playing the lottery focuses people on the material things of this world rather than on the spiritual things that will last forever. It can even lead to debt and bankruptcy.