A lottery is a process in which people purchase tickets for a chance to win something. Typically, the prizes are money or goods. It is common for people to use the lottery to raise funds for things they want or need, such as kindergarten admission at a reputable school, a spot in a subsidized housing unit, or even a vaccine for an infectious disease. Lotteries are also used to distribute a variety of state government services and programs, including education, parks, transportation, and social safety nets.

The term “lottery” comes from the Dutch word for drawing lots, and it was first used to describe a specific type of lottery in the Low Countries in the 15th century. The Dutch town records show that the lottery was a way to raise funds for a range of municipal projects, from building walls and town fortifications to helping the poor. In the American colonies, it played a key role in financing public and private ventures, from roads to colleges to canals.

Because lottery is a state-sponsored enterprise with the explicit goal of maximizing revenues, its promotion must be designed to attract as many people as possible. This necessarily entails a messaging that downplays the seriousness of gambling and obscures its regressive impacts on lower-income groups. Moreover, the fact that most of the money outside of winnings goes back to the states means that state officials must balance promoting the lottery with a responsibility to the general welfare.