The NYS Lotto has recently started an ad campaign suggesting that the average New Yorker only needs a little 'bit of luck' in order to win in their rigged system. Utilizing what I am sure they think a clever 'mascot' if you will, they've decided on a wise cracking big head on a small body in some type of animation like effect. 
Citing a one in nine chance of winning, this is not only a truly bizzare campaign, but also quite misleading.
Too bad Eliot Spitzer isn't still AG, he might have looked into this if it wasn't a state sanctioned ruse. Aside from the prospect of terrifying my own kids, why is this so acceptable amongst 'good governement' types ? Those little guys in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate factory always scared me.
Dictionary.com has luck defined as;
1. the force that seems to operate for good or ill in a person's life, as in shaping circumstances, events, or opportunities:
I'm sticking with this definition in my case against this effort. Are we supposed to believe that this force implied in a cutesy (yet freaky) mascot will somehow overcome the striking reality that 9 out of ten people will lose in order for the state sanctioned monopoly to prevail ? How is this no worse than the most cretin filled, ill-begotten oil company who profits because people need to travel and keep warm ?
The reality is that state operated gambling in New York is a complete failure. It should come as no surprise that state sponsored lotteries hurt the poor more than they benefit the state. But we all know that a little bit of greed is OK when its done for the 'good' of the people.
The evil empire state advertising its own gambling progrom is just another symptom. Hey but did ya notice, they arrested a lot of gangsters for "racketeering" (who presumably do not widely advertise their "rackets") the other day... Go figure.
What's up with the random reference to the the oil companies? Did ya have to fill the minivan today or something?
It does hurt to fill the minivan. Ouch. But no, its in reference to those who would immediately condemn a legal enterprise for simply having profits, yet wouldn't consider the presumable evil of a state run operation operating fraudulently.
Actually, 8 out of 9 lose (88.89%). That is a little less lucky than 9 out of ten (90%).
The story below really tells the story about whom the lottery is targeting:
http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/1022757_cool_cash_card_confusion
This may be a bit off topic, and it is a bit of a rant, but:
http://inpursuitofhappiness.wordpress.com/2008/02/12/why-income-tax-is-not-necessary/
Why Income Tax Is Not Necessary
They're not exactly "lying" telling you it's easy to win.
What they don't tell you is that close to 95% of the "winners" merely get another lottery ticket. Link to the statistics from their own site:
http://www.nylottery.org/ny/nyStore/cgi-bin/ProdDetEv_Cat_333661_NavRoot_304_ProdID_1387583.htm
This advertisement is misleading and dishonest, and better yet put out by Government in order to scam gambling money out of its own citizens.
And it will, of course, be most effective with the least intelligent, poorer folks. Abhorrent. They should be embarrassed for letting this on the air.