Forget about that billion dollar Powerball. Far more money is wagered every year on instant scratch-off games, which attract more low income gamblers.
Multiple studies in states such as Texas, Connecticut, South Carolina and Minnesota have shown that the majority of people who play instant lotto games have a below-average income.
The reason? "Winning $5,000 on an instant game is a huge amount of money if you're struggling financially -- it can be life changing for someone just trying to get by," said Victor Matheson, an economics professor at the College of the Holy Cross.