A competition based on chance, in which numbered tickets are sold and prizes (usually money) are given to the holders of numbers drawn at random. Lotteries are usually promoted as a means of raising money for a state or charity, although they can also be private.
The casting of lots for determining fates and property ownership has a long history in human culture, and the first recorded public lottery was held in the Low Countries in the 15th century to raise funds for town fortifications and help the poor. Colonists used lotteries to finance public projects in the United States as well, including building roads, canals, churches, and colleges. In 1776, Benjamin Franklin sponsored a lottery to raise funds for cannons to defend Philadelphia against the British during the American Revolution.
Most state-sponsored lotteries are based on traditional raffles, with participants buying tickets for drawing at some future date, weeks or months away. But innovations in the 1970s transformed the industry, allowing state governments to offer games with lower prize amounts and much shorter odds of winning, such as scratch-off tickets.
While the popularity of lotteries is rising worldwide, questions remain about their legitimacy and the impact on society. As a source of tax revenue, lotteries are criticized for their negative effect on compulsive gamblers and for regressively targeting lower-income groups. Moreover, lottery officials are often placed at cross-purposes with other state and local officials who must compete for the same funding sources as the lotteries themselves.