You've probably seen those tempting lottery tickets at the gas station, promising life-changing wealth for a few bucks. But there's a lot more going on behind the scenes than just picking numbers, including how they fund public services and the surprising odds you face.
Lotteries are trending because states like Michigan and South Carolina are seeing huge sales, especially for massive jackpots.
Recent Powerball and Mega Millions jackpots have soared past $1 billion, driving record ticket sales.