That's all good in theory, but then what do we do when we have people suffering because they spent all their resources on this ridiculous "game"? I'll tell you right now the answer won't end up being "let them wallow in the steets". It ends up just being wildly inefficient. If we care enough to help these people after they are down on their luck, metaphorically and literally, then we should just cut out the middle man and stop having it as an option to waste money on. Alternatively we could stop changing the lottery so it's less efficient at extracting money from people and is closer to a random chance wealth redistribution.

I agree, but the government is already in our wallets via taxes used for social programs to help the poor. I happen to disagree with these programs, but here we are. We abdicate to the State with the idea that they're going to help the poor, not take advantage of them. Lottery tickets exploit the poor, so I'm left with the notion that the State is more concerned with its bottom line than helping the poor.

I'm pointing out the hypocrisy in government, how they crack down on illegal gambling because of its vice, yet exploit the poor with State endorsed gambling.

What are the alternatives? I'm sure they enjoy it, but that's part of addiction -- not being able to delay pleasure in the present for future rewards. They could save their money, buy new clothes, get some dental work done, etc. I'm not saying we force them or that we should deny people ostensibly-wasteful pleasures--a drink is fine every now and then, but when someone goes over the edge into full-blown alcoholism, I think society should extend a helping hand.