Sheldon Jacobson: Lotteries are a regressive tax. Why do progressive governors support them?
As states look to generate more revenue in an inflationary economy, along with the risk of a recession, progressive governors like J.B. Pritzker who advocate for progressive income taxes also support one of the most regressive taxes: lotteries. This sort of “taxation” increases revenue without the stigma associated with conventional taxation, which feels to some like a penalty.