The lottery is a form of gambling in which numbers are drawn to win a prize. It is run by state governments and generates billions of dollars annually. People play for a variety of reasons. Some play for the fun, while others believe that they will win and improve their lives. In either case, it is a risky and sometimes addictive activity.

The basic strategy of the lottery is that a state establishes a monopoly for itself; creates a state agency or public corporation to run it; begins with a modest number of relatively simple games; and, through constant pressure to increase revenues, progressively expands its offerings. This approach has proven highly successful in attracting and retaining broad-based public support. In the course of this expansion, however, a state’s lottery often takes on characteristics that run counter to its original, broader, public purposes.

For example, state-sponsored lotteries are notorious for attracting “super users.” These people play the lottery more than once per week and often spend over $100 a week on tickets. These players skew the average ticket sales and drive up lottery prices for everyone else. In addition, they contribute to the lottery’s reliance on large, high-volume sales and on credit card and online sales. And finally, they contribute to a growing problem with problem gambling and other forms of compulsive behavior. Many states are now grappling with how to address these issues.