Most Americans like state lotteries and think state governments should run them rather than the private sector.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 56% of adults say states should run lotteries to generate revenue. Just 27% disagree and think states should not operate lotteries. Sixteen percent (16%) are not sure.

Fifty-four percent (54%) of all adults say it’s better for states to run lotteries than to let private companies run them to generate income taxes instead. Twenty-four percent (24%) say privatizing the lotteries is the way to go, but 22% are undecided.

Those who’ve bought a lottery ticket favor state-operated lotteries to privately-run ones by a 59% to 25% margin.

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Forty-two states now have lotteries, but only 27% of Americans say there are too many competing state lotteries. Ten percent (10%) say there are not enough lotteries. Forty-nine percent (49%) say the existing number of lotteries is just about enough.

Among lottery ticket purchasers, 56% say the current number of lotteries is just about right.
A number of states are reporting first-time-ever downturns in lottery revenue and are proposing expanded gambling opportunities to generate more money.

Sixty-two percent (62%) of men favor state lotteries as a way to raise revenue, compared to 51% of women. Neatly two-thirds of voters ages 40 to 64 support lotteries as a source of revenue.

Democrats and adults not affiliated with either major political party like state lotteries more than Republicans.

Sixty-nine percent (69%) of Democrats and 55% of unaffiliateds say it’s better to let states run lotteries rather than to privatize them. Republicans are almost evenly divided on the question.

Interestingly, those who work in the private sector believe more strongly in government-run lotteries than do those who work for the government.

Adults 40 and older are more inclined to think there are already too many competing state lotteries.
Sixty-two percent (62%) of Americans oppose federal government bailouts for states like California that are experiencing major budget problems.

Forty-four percent (44%) of Americans say gambling on the Internet should not be illegal, but government moves to legalize it and tax it appear to undercut that support.

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