Lottery is a game in which people pay to have numbers randomly selected for prizes. The prize money can range from a few dollars to huge sums of cash. The games have become popular in many countries. While the lottery is not a form of gambling, it is often confused with it. Lotteries have different purposes and operate differently in each country. Some are designed to raise public funds for particular purposes, while others are meant to be fun and exciting.

Lotteries have broad public support and a long history in Europe. They began in the 15th century in Burgundy and Flanders, when towns used them to raise money for town fortifications or to aid the poor. Francis I of France introduced the French version, the “loterie royale,” in the 16th century.

Today, there are state-sponsored lotteries in almost every state. The first modern state lotteries were initiated in 1964 by New Hampshire, and since then they have grown rapidly. Their popularity is fueled by an inexhaustible public appetite for the promise of wealth, and they benefit from broad political support. Unlike many other government revenue sources, the proceeds from lotteries are painless to the taxpayers.

Like other forms of gambling, lottery participation varies by income level and other social factors. The highest levels of play occur among middle-income neighborhoods, and the lowest among low-income neighborhoods. Men tend to play more than women, and blacks and Hispanics more than whites. The young and old play less, and the poor play a smaller percentage of all lotteries than their proportion of the population.