Lottery (from Italian lotteria, “action of drawing lots”) is a game or method of raising money in which numbered tickets are sold and prizes are given to those whose numbers are drawn by chance. It is also used to refer to an event or activity whose outcome appears to be determined by chance: “They considered combat duty a lottery.”

In the U.S., lottery play is very popular; 50 percent of Americans buy a ticket at least once a year. However, the players who generate most of the revenue are disproportionately poorer, less educated, nonwhite, and male. They spend the majority of their discretionary income on lottery tickets and are more likely to have multiple wins, skewing the overall odds of winning a prize.

Despite the fact that most state lotteries have been established in recent years, they have a long history. In fact, the first modern state lotteries in Europe were established in 15th-century Burgundy and Flanders by towns trying to raise funds for fortifying their defenses or aiding the poor.

The evolution of state lotteries is a classic example of public policy making that happens piecemeal and incrementally, with little regard to the general welfare of society. Once a lottery is established, it often develops broad constituencies that include convenience store operators and suppliers (heavy contributions to state political campaigns are often reported); teachers (in states where proceeds are earmarked for them) and even state legislators who become accustomed to the additional revenues they bring in.