NO
selling hope still wouldn't make it a scam. lying about the odds would. it's pure and simple gambling. nothing stealth about it and it's open to everyone to play. rich people win the lottery too, they just might not play as often.
life is full of hustles and hustlers, plays for your money. some are scams but a lot of them are not. they count on your bad decision making, bad habits, poor coping skills and all around you being unfit to manage your life accordingly. they eat off your consumption habits. have priorities, better habits, make better financial decisions. that's the fix.
Whilst I get what you're saying about gambling and do agree with the main point I see the subtleties a different way. Walk with me:
The main players are the poor. One could argue its targeted directly at them. They have little disposable income in the first place and can't afford to be flippant with it but are enticed by the quick hit fix of turning around their life even though the odds are astronomical.
All week long they build an image in their head of what they'll do when they win, how their life will change, where they'll go, what they'll do. That sort of thing. Anticipation builds, the numbers come in and don't match. Rinse and repeat.
Now
can you see what damage this emotional yo-yo does to their inner terrain? How suddenly what they have is seen as even worse compared to what they thought they were going to gain? Thats the scam of which I speak, the silent spirit as opposed to the letter of the law you reference and that is an exceedingly pernicious and evil minded way to exploit the fiscal weakness of the already beleaguered whilst simultaneously killing their spirit that could've been used to think creatively in ways to enrich their lives.
I stand by it being a stealth tax though. Just look at where the moneys goes and who profits as well as its positioned prominence and perception pitched purposefully at the poor.
Almost won 5 million. Crazy to think about. They only paid him out a couple grand if i remember right.
