The lottery is a form of gambling that involves drawing numbers for a prize. Generally, a participant pays money for a ticket or an entry and then has a chance to win the prize, which is typically cash. In addition to attracting players, the lottery is also an attractive source of revenue for governments and other organizations. Lotteries can be used to fund projects such as roads, bridges, and buildings, or to pay for a wide variety of public services, such as schools, libraries, and museums. Private individuals can also participate in lotteries to buy items such as real estate or cars.

The casting of lots to decide fates and apportion property has a long history, including several instances in the Bible, but the modern use of lotteries for material gain is considerably more recent. The first recorded public lotteries to distribute prizes in the form of cash were held in the Low Countries in the 15th century, to raise money for town fortifications and to help the poor.

Modern lotteries have grown rapidly in the United States, as state legislatures legislate a state monopoly; create a government agency to run the lottery and hire staff; start with a modest number of relatively simple games; and, under pressure from the constant search for additional revenues, progressively expand in size and complexity. However, public opinion appears to have a limited tolerance for such expansion. Criticisms of the lottery have shifted from a general desirability to specific features of operations, such as the problem of compulsive gamblers and the alleged regressive impact on lower-income groups.