Thank you both for your replies. I do think that playing the lottery goes against everything the scripture teaches us about being good stewards and the warnings about looking for gain without working and honestly labouring for it - the "get rich quick" mentality. What I find more complex, however, is the issue of using the proceeds from the lottery for ourselves. I was taught that it was wrong to accept this govt. money for HOPE scholarships, but I don't see where scripture cooberates that view. I think if someone is foolish enough to throw away their money on something wrong and with such astronomical odds, there's no reason I can't receive the profits offered from it. Like you said, Pilgrim, their foolish choices are not our concern. These misguided, greedy people funding my child's college education is no different from the govt. funding anything else I need, like good roads, law enforcement, fire protection, etc.