The need for "got" (Have you got any cigarettes?)

[Kitosdad]

Got is a word that I try really hard never to use.

" Have you got any cigarettes "? Sounds terrible to my ears.
" Have you, /or/ Do you, have any cigarettes " ? Sounds so much better.

Are there any justifiable reasons for its existence ?.
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Keep it simple ... Keep it interesting.

[Gray]

It seems 'have got' is informal -- www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/grammar/learnit/learnitv323.shtml.
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First lesson - English, not english. I, not i. ~A student of English

[Rafaelinrio]

In spoken language here in Canada as well as in the States it's pretty normal for people to say have got, or sometimes we even drop out Have and say onoy got, take a look.

I gotta go now. (I've got to go now)

I got many friends. (I've got/ I have maney friends)

I ain't got no money. (I haven't got any money)

You got anything for me? (have you got/ do you have anything for me)

These are common in informal spoken language. However, if you wanna sound slightly more formal stick to HAVE.

[SkiIucK]

Such a word exists in my mother tongue as well. We often use it to express various actions, or simply when we forget a word we replace it with the 'parasite' word. I guess 'got' is a 'parasite' word too.