With the success of state lottery programs on tribal lands, there is a need to better understand the risk-taking behavior among those who engaged in these gambling activities. Opponents of gambling argue that the poor and uneducated are the primary players in state lotteries. But recent literature does not support this claim. One study defined three distinct segments in state lottery programs: non-purchasers, light purchasers and heavy purchasers. Heavy purchasers tended to be middle-aged two-income middle-class households. Light purchasers tended to be younger and college- educated. This research aims to examine who plays what types of lottery games why they play, how often they play and how much they spend on lottery tickets.
