Not sure about other states but MN even has online "virtual" scratch-offs that you can buy. They even have "subscriptions" to this crap. It's disgusting.

Yeah, it's really ugly in MN. The MN leg even plans for gambling proceeds for future funding. They planned for video gambling in bars to pay for their $500MM donation to billionaire Zygi Wilf's sports team, and fell all over themselves when it didn't[1].

http://www.twincities.com/politics/ci_26579002/vikings-stadi...

Do you really think banning lotteries would stop people from gambling? It certainly doesn't work for alcohol or drugs.

Certainly not. But why should the government have a monopoly on it with ridiculous odds and games?

Because it's better than the old system where people were blatantly ripped off and lent money that if they didn't pay back would result in their legs being broken?

...how is that different than today? Someone can find a loan shark and an illegal craps ring if they want. What you are describing is not happening in Las Vegas today, which has legalized gambling run by private entities.