Lottery is a form of gambling in which tickets are sold for the chance to win a prize, typically cash. It is one of the most popular forms of gambling in the United States, and some critics allege that it preys on the poor and those who cannot afford to stick to a budget or trim unnecessary spending.

State lotteries are a relatively recent development in the history of gambling. New Hampshire initiated the modern era of state lotteries in 1964, and the practice spread quickly. By the early 1990s, most states had adopted them.

The main argument that supports state lotteries is the claim that they raise substantial sums of money for the state without raising taxes. The broader public has generally supported this argument, despite the fact that the proceeds are used for government projects rather than private expenditures.

The popularity of the lottery has been driven by a combination of factors. First, it has been fueled by the widespread perception that anyone can get rich, a belief that is reinforced by popular materialism and by a growing anti-tax movement. Second, the purchase of lottery tickets can be rational under expected utility maximization if people factor in entertainment value and other non-monetary benefits such as the fantasy that they will become wealthy. However, the lottery’s rapid growth and its steady decline have led to a variety of issues including concerns about compulsive gambling and the alleged regressive impact on low-income populations.