Two people charged with submitting fake lottery tickets, accepting winnings

High inflation in recent years through 2023 hasn’t stopped two decades of fairly steady growth in spending on lottery and casino gambling, except for a sharp dip for casinos at the height of the pandemic restrictions. But casino gambling spending growth is more robust. American spending on gambling at casinos has grown 61% since 2000—adjusted for inflation—compared to 42% growth in lottery spending.

The fact that Americans favor casino gaming over the lottery when it comes to their gambling habits may not be surprising considering that casinos typically offer a higher return to player, otherwise known as RTP. States that allow lotteries pay out an average of about 65% of gross revenue in prize money, while returns of 80% to 90% or more are not unusual for casino games.

The odds of winning casino games vary so much that it is difficult to make a comparison with the chances of winning the lottery—about 1 in 302.6 million for the Mega Millions‘ top prize, for instance. However, the chances of winning the jackpot on the popular Megabucks slot machines, which often make the news when they periodically create new millionaires, are oft-discussed in gaming circles, with estimates as high as 1 in 50 million.

Gambling gains come as Americans’ attitudes have shifted, with a record of nearly 70% deeming it a “morally acceptable” activity in a 2018 Gallup poll. However, underlying factors that are less obvious may contribute to higher spending on casino gambling.

Casinos are meticulously designed to keep people playing, with maximum comfort for guests and clear views of other games to make their way to next. Of course, the incentive of receiving free drinks helps keep some people betting. There’s also some indication among gambling researchers that game machine lights and celebratory sounds, along with newer technologies such as surround sound and small vibrations to the player’s chair, draw people into an immersive world that could distract them from risky behavior.

What’s more, compared with the lottery where a player may be more likely to buy a set number of Powerball or scratch-off tickets and be done until the next attempt at a big jackpot, online betting platforms are easily accessible, engross players, and make spending more money simple.

Whether on a Las Vegas gaming floor or through a smartphone, placing a casino bet can also give players a sense of control, requiring their input, rather than leaving the outcome up to the luck of the lottery draw.

Story editing by Rose Shilling and Ashleigh Graf. Copy editing by Tim Bruns.

This story originally appeared on ATS.io and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio.