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?
Honestly this is probably the biggest point. The only people I see play the lottery are those who have been convinced that the current state of economy is 'necessary', and thus it comforts them to think they might one day get to be rich.