Lottery is a game in which prizes, such as money or goods, are awarded by drawing lots. The word lottery may also refer to:
A system of allocation based on the drawing of lots, as used in decision making or divination. An activity or event regarded as having an outcome dependent on chance: She entered the lottery for a chance to win a new car.
From the earliest times, people have used the lottery to raise money for public projects and private needs. In the modern world, state-sponsored lotteries have become popular ways for Americans to fund everything from paving streets to building colleges.
Since 1964, when New Hampshire became the first state to establish a lottery, many others have followed suit. In general, states adopt a lottery when there is concern about raising taxes or cutting important public services; the lottery becomes especially attractive when the state’s fiscal condition is strong and the economy is growing rapidly.
The lottery draws large and diverse audiences, involving not only the players but a wider group of people who benefit from the revenue stream: convenience store operators; lottery suppliers (who frequently make heavy contributions to state political campaigns); teachers (especially in those states in which lottery revenues are earmarked for education); and politicians who quickly grow accustomed to the steady flow of additional revenue.
Despite the fact that the odds of winning are low, people continue to play lottery games in huge numbers and contribute billions of dollars annually. They do so because of a combination of factors: the entertainment value of playing and the belief that the lottery is their only, or at least best, chance for a better life.
