A competition based on chance in which numbered tickets are sold for the opportunity to win a prize. Lotteries may be run by government agencies, private businesses, or charities. They may also be used to raise funds for public purposes, such as building bridges and canals.
The casting of lots for making decisions and determining fates has a long record in human history, but lotteries as gambling games with material prizes are relatively recent. They are often considered morally permissible because they require a small investment for the possibility of a large return and can help reduce dependence on taxes or other forms of coercive public revenue.
State governments have used lotteries to generate substantial revenues for a variety of programs and services, including education, roads, hospitals, prisons, canals, bridges, and public works in general. They have also been used to support churches, libraries, and private charities. In colonial America, a number of colleges were founded by lottery proceeds, including Columbia and Princeton.
As in other types of gambling, lottery play varies by demographic factors. Men are more likely than women to play; blacks and Hispanics are less likely to play; the young and old are disproportionately less likely to play; and income is a major factor. Critics have argued that the reliance of state governments on lottery revenues creates a situation in which officials are often blind to the broader public policy issues that arise. Many states do not have a coherent “lottery policy.”
