Over here in the UK the National Lottery is state-franchised and was established in 1994. I actually remember it being a pretty big deal at the time when it was established, nothing like it really existed beforehand.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Lottery_(United_Kingdom)
I'm quite interested in marxist analysis of the implementation of this kind of thing by a state, and the effect it has on the population. Does that kind of thing exist? What are the thoughts here?
Hmm that's interesting. I don't see that argument ever made and don't think the "good deeds" that the lottery money funds here have that kind of penetration into people's minds, but I do think the existence of those "good deeds" functions to remove buyer-anxiety about the fact it is gambling and all the associated negative social outcomes of gambling. The function here is much the same as coffee being marketed alongside many "fair trade" and "good" things to remove buyer anxiety.
Maybe that would come up more if anyone ever attacked or criticised it here though, nobody tries to so I don't know.