Young People's Experiences of the Lottery

Abstract

ABSTRACT The UK National Lottery has been said to have ‘gripped the nation's psyche’. In this interview based study, examination of the data on young people's experiences of the Lottery revealed something of their understanding in relation to the following questions. What is the basis on which the National Lottery can be seen to be justified as an activity. Do young people see the National Lottery as an alternative to taxation? Is the National Lottery perceived as a regressive tax? Is the National Lottery seen to be more socially acceptable than other forms of gambling? The Lottery was not seen to involve any act of altruism involving charitable giving but seen as a source of fun, the pursuit of a dream and a lifeline for some. The existence of free choice seemed by some to be a key criterion in justifying this resource use in the economy but this simplistic justification was challenged by the views of others. In a world where taxes are seen as a bogey, the Lottery could be justified in terms of the positive effect of supplementing government spending. The method of its promotion made the Lottery an acceptable form of gambling—despite the possibility of addiction-for all but those whose personal belief systems proscribe any form of gambling. The variation present in these responses provides a basis for exploring young people's understanding of the economic cycle of causality.