Lottery is a form of gambling where winning is determined by the drawing of numbers. Typically, the more numbers you match the larger the prize. The term derives from the Latin word Lottera, which means “to draw lots.” Lotteries have been around for centuries. The Old Testament cites the practice of dividing property or giving away slaves by lot, and Roman emperors used lotteries to give away land and other prizes as part of Saturnalian feasts. In modern times, New Hampshire introduced the first state lottery in 1964, seeking ways to raise money for education without increasing taxes. Lottery revenues soon became a major source of revenue for states.

Today’s state lotteries have a broad base of public support and remain popular in most states. But the specifics of how these games operate differ widely, and debate and criticism shift from a generalized desire for lotteries to more focused features of their operations. These include concerns about compulsive gambling and alleged regressive impacts on low-income communities.

To attract and retain public support, lottery marketers promote the idea that ticket sales are a good thing. In many cases, they stress that the proceeds are earmarked for a particular state public good, such as education. These messages are effective, but they obscure the regressivity of lottery revenue and overstate the amount that most lottery winners receive after paying income tax. They also reinforce the myth that the lottery is a harmless way to have fun.