Book Review
The Review

The Review

William P. Hoar
Article audio sponsored by The John Birch Society

States Peddle Impossible Fantasy

For a Dollar and a Dream: State Lotteries in Modern America, by Jonathan D. Cohen, New York: Oxford University Press, 2022, 288 pages, hardcover.

Gambling is usually a means of getting nothing for your money. Or, worse, it is a way for people to go broke by trying to get rich. A whopping 45 of the 50 U.S. states are deep into the pockets of their residents via this oh-so-legal enterprise, otherwise known as state lotteries. The products that they push as supposedly crucial money-makers for the state (though that is a lie) offer odds that are minuscule for players, otherwise known as bettors. 

Some dare call this a sucker bet. Others (such as the New York Lottery) insist: “You gotta be in it to win it.”

This fantastic article is for subscribers only.
Login
Lost Password?

JBS Member or ShopJBS.org Customer?

Sign in with your ShopJBS.org account username and password or use that login to subscribe.

The New American Digital Subscription The New American Digital Subscription Subscribe Now
Use code SUB25 at check out
  • 24 Issues Per Year
  • Digital Edition Access
  • Exclusive Subscriber Content
  • Audio provided for all articles
  • Unlimited access to past issues
  • Cancel anytime.
  • Renews automatically
The New American Print+Digital Subscription The New American Print+Digital Subscription Subscribe Now
Use code SUB25 at check out
  • 24 Issues Per Year
  • Print edition delivery (USA)
    *Available Outside USA
  • Digital Edition Access
  • Exclusive Subscriber Content
  • Audio provided for all articles
  • Unlimited access to past issues
  • Cancel anytime.
  • Renews automatically

Editor-in-Chief and Publisher
Gary Benoit

Managing Editor
John T. Larabell

Executive Senior Editor
Steve Bonta

Senior Editors
Paul Dragu
William F. Jasper
Alex Newman
Rebecca Terrell

Copy Editor
Liana Stanley

Creative Director
Joseph W. Kelly

Director of Growth Marketing
Sean Casper

Senior Graphic Designer
Katie Bradley

Graphic Designers
Lindsey McConnell
Jacob Vang

Advertising/Circulation Manager
Julie DuFrane

Contributors
Bob Adelmann
Dennis Behreandt
Steve Byas
Raven Clabough
D. Michael DeRidder
Selwyn Duke
Brian Farmer
Christian Gomez
William P. Hoar
R. Cort Kirkwood
Patrick Krey, J.D.
Veronika Kyrylenko
James Murphy
Annalisa Pesek
Dr. Duke Pesta
Peter Rykowski
Michael Tennant
Fr. James Thornton
Laurence M. Vance
Joe Wolverton II, J.D.

The New American
P.O. Box 8040,
Appleton, WI 54912

920-749-3784

Email Staff

Annual Rates
$59 U.S.A.
$68 Canada
$86 Foreign

Printed in the U.S.A.
ISSN 0885-6540

Copyright ©2024 by American Opinion Publishing, Inc.

The New American is published twice monthly by American Opinion Publishing Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of The John Birch Society