Most lottery players think of buying a ticket as a low risk investment that will give them the chance to become rich. But in reality, every dollar that goes into a lottery is actually an investment that contributes billions to government coffers that could be better used for education, roadwork, police force or other social services. Moreover, by investing in a lottery ticket, you’re foregoing the opportunity to invest in something that can pay you dividends that last for a lifetime.

In addition, the money that isn’t paid out as prizes goes toward commissions for retailers and overhead costs for running the lottery system. Retailers earn a small percentage of ticket sales and bonuses for selling jackpot-winning tickets. But this money is a small part of overall lottery revenue and does not make retailers very profitable.

The rest of the money is distributed to state governments. This is the largest source of government revenue from gambling in the United States. Most of these states use this money to support infrastructure projects, gambling addiction programs and other social services.

But some experts criticize this practice as an inefficient way to fund public works. They argue that lottery money diverts tax dollars from other programs and shifts a greater burden onto people who are already at a financial disadvantage. And they point out that research has shown that lottery proceeds tend to be spent by men, blacks, native Americans and those living in disadvantaged neighborhoods.