“The lottery is in the business of selling people hope,” John Oliver explained on Sunday’s episode of Last Week Tonight, “and they do a great job of that.” It’s just too bad your chances of winning a Mega Millions jackpot are one in 176 million, roughly equal to that of “getting struck by lightning at the same time you’re being eaten by a shark.”
But the lottery business isn’t just raking in billions by posing as a fun, life-changing investment opportunity for low-income families—it also does little to support state education systems while ruthlessly exploiting addiction. And even the actual winners get more than they bargained for: mo’ money, mo’ problems, right?
So really, save your money under the mattress (or, you know, invest it). And if you simply have to gamble, do so responsibly. Like at a mafia poker game or something.
Photo via Last Week Tonight with John Oliver/YouTube