Hooked on a Dream: America's Lotteries - Production & Contact Info (original) (raw)

Only a few short years ago, legal gambling was rare and regarded with suspicion if not moral indignation. Today, three quarters of our state governments run legal wagering in the form of lotteries, which Americans spend more on than movies...See moreOnly a few short years ago, legal gambling was rare and regarded with suspicion if not moral indignation. Today, three quarters of our state governments run legal wagering in the form of lotteries, which Americans spend more on than movies, theatre and recorded music combined! Are lotteries really a painless panacea for increasingly tight state budgets, as many politicians say, or are they a dangerous threat to our society promoted by the very institutions that should be protecting us? Go to the heart of the issue with hard-hitting interviews with everyone from politicians including Senator Paul Simon to recovering gambling addicts who have lost thousands of dollars to the hollow allure of lotteries. And Robert Goodman, author of The Luck Business, reveals the secrets of this growing industry, from the real odds of winning to the surprising fate of many lottery winners. Are they a harmless escape from the pressures of daily life, or a ticket to misery? This is the show you must see before you take another chance on "A Dollar and a Dream."See less