[omni-scientist]

I've heard many of these stories and the main thread is that winning generally leads to unhappiness among the associations of the winner, including the winners themselves. In other words it has the power to destroy lives.

Think about it, the lottery, albeit voluntary, is a regressive tax. It takes from the poor and gives to the rich.

[NorthMountain]

It takes from the poor and gives to the rich.

What fraction of lottery players are rich?

I don't know, but I assume (yeah) that it is small. Given the very low probability of winning, playing the lottery is generally a bad decision. People who habitually make bad decisions are generally not wealthy.