Throughout the centuries, lotteries have been a popular way to raise money for public projects. In some cases, lotteries were tolerated, while in other cases they were outlawed or banned. The first known European lottery is believed to have been held during the Roman Empire. Lotteries were also popular in the Netherlands in the 17th century.
During the French and Indian Wars, several colonies used lotteries to raise funds for their troops. For example, in 1758, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts raised money for the “Expedition against Canada” with a lottery. Several colonial governments used lotteries to finance colleges and universities, for road and bridge construction, and for libraries. However, social classes often opposed the projects.
As the twentieth century progressed, most forms of gambling became illegal. Various states in the United States endorsed the lottery as a means of raising money for public projects. Although the government insisted that the ticket be purchased by adults only, the lottery was still widely popular.
Several studies have explored the relationship between lottery gambling and various sociodemographic characteristics. Most of the researches have demonstrated that structural characteristics play a major role in the purchase of lottery tickets.
For example, Kaizeler and Faustino reported an inverted U pattern of lottery participation. This pattern was characterized by an increase in lottery gambling among the young and a decrease in gambling by the older.
Several previous studies also examined the relationship between gender and lottery participation. While the study did not find a statistically significant relationship between lottery participation and gender, it did show a positive correlation between the level of education and lottery expenditures.
Another study showed that lottery players are most likely to be high school or college students. Moreover, the youngest players were the least engaged. It is also noted that the oldest players were the most engaged.
The present study used a sample of 4,000 participants from several lottery product categories to assess differences in gambling between the groups. It was found that the average amount spent on lottery tickets was lower among the higher educated players. Furthermore, it was revealed that the oldest players were more likely to be males than the younger players.
Among the various sociodemographic characteristics, the age group of the players was the most important variable in the development of player groups. Ages between 25 and 34 were the most represented. A few other variables were also considered for the development of these groups. Using playing records, the study identified the age, gender, and region of these groups. These variables were then used to construct a representativeness assessment.
One of the most interesting findings of this study was the presence of a trend of increased gambling during the thirties. According to this trend, the frequency of lottery gambling continued to increase into the thirties. Some of the reasons for this may include the fact that people who are more mature have a higher disposable income, are more knowledgeable about lottery games, and are more willing to take risk.