Religious think-tank Theos released a research, which found that poor people spend the most on the National Lottery but are likely to receive any funding from the government.

Manual labourers and the unemployed are more likely to play scratch cards than workers in managerial, professional and clerical market. According to the report, skilled manual labourers are most likely to play draw-based games such as the lotto. More than 67 % of the manual workers buys at least one ticket per month in comparison with 47 % of managers and profesionals. The report which is based of a poll of 1.019 adults, shows that too little funding is being invested back in deprived communities from the lottery’s money for good causes, despite the fact that these area’s have high rates of play. Researchers concluded that the poorest area of the UK, was ranked only 133rd in terms of lottery investment. The report also warned that the use of lottery money in order to fund the London Olympic Games of 2012 will worsten things by reducing funds for projects in deprived areas. Authority’s say deviding the money between areas is a gamble on its own.