A lottery is a type of game in which players pay for a ticket and win a prize if their numbers match those that are randomly drawn. In the United States, state governments organize and administer lotteries to raise money for public projects and charities. Other types of lotteries include scratch-off tickets, which reveal symbols and numbers that correspond to prizes. A large percentage of lottery revenue comes from ticket sales, which are often taxed. Some people also play the lottery to get financial aid for college or a new car.

The drawing of lots to decide fates and other matters has a long history in human societies, with several examples in the Bible. Using lotteries to win material rewards is somewhat more recent, though. The first recorded lotteries were probably used in the 15th century to raise funds for town fortifications and to help poor citizens. A number of early American colonies financed their private and public ventures through lotteries, including the foundation of Princeton and Yale universities in 1744 and 1755.

A common misconception is that the odds of winning a lottery increase with the frequency of playing or the amount spent on each ticket. This belief is based on an illusion of control, in which people overestimate their ability to influence outcomes that are left to chance. Similarly, those who regularly gamble do so heavily relative to their incomes because they feel they have a good chance of improving their lives through luck.