Lottery System Compared to a Form of ‘Systemic Racism’
The lottery system is receiving criticism from experts for allegedly targeting poor communities. Les Bernal, national director for Stop Predatory Gambling, spoke to CNN about why he believes the individuals in these…
The Lottery system is receiving criticism from experts for allegedly targeting poor communities.
Les Bernal, national director for Stop Predatory Gambling, spoke to CNN about why he believes the individuals in these communities are being scammed.
Bernal called the Lottery a form of “systemic racism” and “consumer financial fraud.”
He explained, “They’re hoping to pay their rent at the end of the month or pay an outstanding medical bill or put their kids through college or they just lost their job and they’re just trying to find a way to make ends meet.”
Bernal continued, “And here you have what is a government program encouraging citizens to lose their money on rigged games.”
According to Bernal, “Commercialized gambling like state lotteries, like the Powerball drawing, they represent a financial exchange that is mathematically stacked against you.”
The outlet mentioned a study by the Howard Center for Investigative Journalism that discovered stores that sell Lottery tickets are “disproportionately located in poor communities of every state.”
Former Massachusetts inspector general Gregory W. Sullivan said, “Poor people are collateral damage to a cause of raising money for what the legislators feel is good purposes … public safety, local schools.”