Lottery is a form of gambling in which participants choose numbers or symbols that match those on a preprinted ticket. In exchange for a fee, the participant is entitled to a prize. The prize may be money or goods. The odds of winning a lottery are slim, and it is possible to spend more than you can afford to lose. This type of gambling is often criticized for its addictive nature and regressive impact on lower-income groups, who tend to spend a larger proportion of their incomes on tickets.

The practice of drawing lots for various purposes dates back centuries. The Old Testament cites instructions for Moses to conduct a census and divide land by lot, and Roman emperors used the lottery to distribute property and slaves at Saturnalian feasts. In colonial America, the lottery helped finance roads, canals, bridges, churches and colleges. Benjamin Franklin sponsored a lottery in 1776 to raise funds for cannons to defend Philadelphia against the British, and Thomas Jefferson held a private lottery to alleviate his crushing debts.

Today, state lotteries operate largely on the same principle as other government-sponsored businesses. The state legislates a monopoly for itself; establishes a public agency or corporation to run the lottery; and begins operations with a modest number of relatively simple games. Pressure for additional revenues quickly leads to a steady expansion of the lottery in size and complexity. The evolution of the lottery is a classic example of public policy made piecemeal and incrementally, with the general welfare taken into account only intermittently.