We all know the lottery is a ripoff, but what kind of scam are

I think the governing  agencies (State Lotto, Provincial Lotto) release annual reports. They are available to anyone aren't they?

all the money goes to pensions/schools/admin/upkeep. pensions are out of sync, we all know that

I've said this many, many, many times on this site when it comes to lotteries: save your bottles and cans and redeem them instead of tossing them into the trash and use this money to play the Lottery. This one smart decision will allow you to get 'free' lottery tickets for life. If you have a couple of parties throughout the year people will bring their own beers/soda so it becomes free money.
If you are one of those types that think that getting 5 cents on a coke helps the environment you are a complete retard. The 5 cents added to each bottle is a tax and the state is rolling the dice that you can't be bothered to redeem them so they keep that money. If you add it up the State is making a score every year.

my understanding is that the state lottery has to show figures of earnings...

But the odds and how the whole thing is set up is made the house rake a larger advantage then casinos... but thats why is it not really gambling as much as it is "voluntary tax paying"

chill, I have heard others talk about using recycling money for lottery, but personally I would use the money to buy more beverages  which then gives you more bottles and cans to buy more also and cycle continues

 

Just to tack-on another stiplulation: In Texas:

 It was reported last night on the news (shortly after the drawing) that the "funds" that are directed towards "education" only go to those schools which "ARE PROPERLY ACCREDITED AND HAVE CONSISTENTLY RECEIVED AN  'A' OR HIGHER RATING"....

and then the focus was back to the hoopla of spending sprees and long lines, blah blah blah!  I'm not sure what percentage that instantly discounts, but I know that the issue of low test scores across this state is always an issue.  Take it for what you will...

 

yeah if somebody ever audited the lottery system, they would find so many people making multi million dollar paydays, its not even funny

Cd...I dont understand. It's no secret that the government makes 1 million then puts 1 million in the prize pool for every 2 million in tickets they sell. Why do they have to tell CD what they do with the money? They don't. Which is why they don't get audited. 

CD, why don't you start a lottery and hire 1000's of employees to run it. Pay millions to make commercials to advertise the lottery, make a website, and have your lottery in every convenience store from Texas to the Saskatchewan River.....then I want you to payout 640 million on 640 million in tickets sold.   

education budgets are so high that the lottery proceeds are just a trickle in the river.  in cali, the lottery is solely for education, yet only pays for 5% of the state education budget.

 Not very surprising. It costs 1-2 billion dollars a year to take care of 50,000 inmates. This guy CD thinks with the 1 billion the U.S. made off of mega millions the world should be done with poverty and starvation. 1 billion is nothing on a world scale.