Two schools of thought on that Buck:

1) In an effort to 'regulate' gambling. Your government is trying to look out for you and make sure that all gambling is above board *cough* and legal *snort*... yeah, okay

2) Your government wants a piece of the action. (the more likely scenerio)

Your government does not like it when people are doing something and they are not getting their 'due'. That's what drove them to require licenses in the begining and then they figured 'Hey, there's BIG money in people looking for that one huge score...let's start a state sponsored lottery!" Take a look sometime into the actual amount of money from lottery proceeds that actually makes it to their intended charity or organization. It's amazing.

Just a thought. :)