WAMU 88.5 : The Diane Rehm Show

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Betting on the Lottery

April 5, 2012
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Americans spent $1.5 billion in the frenzy over last week’s Mega Millions lottery. When the dust cleared there were three winning tickets. Forty-three states, the District of Columbia and the US Virgin Islands participate in the lottery as well as other forms of legalized gambling. With ever tightening budgets, this revenue stream seems to be recession proof. The director of Maryland’s lottery and a past lottery winner talk about their experiences good and bad. Guest host Tom Gelten and the panel discuss what the long-shot games of chance mean for ticket buyers and state budgets.

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