The lottery is a form of gambling in which numbers are drawn for prizes, often large sums of money. It is popular in many countries, and has long been a source of controversy. Some people argue that it promotes compulsive gambling and has a regressive impact on lower-income groups. Others believe that it raises necessary funds for state programs without burdening lower-income citizens with higher taxes.

Lottery began in the immediate post-World War II period, as states sought to expand their array of services without increasing their taxes on working families. Lotteries provided a way to increase tax-free revenue while avoiding the political fights that would accompany an across-the-board tax hike.

Historically, the operation of a state lottery has followed a similar pattern: The state legislates a monopoly for itself; establishes an agency or public corporation to run it (as opposed to licensing a private company in return for a cut of the proceeds); and begins operations with a small number of relatively simple games. Over time, as revenues grow and demand increases, the lottery expands its operations and the variety of available games.

Generally, between 50-60% of lottery revenues go to the winners, with the remainder allocated to operating expenses and advertising. Some states put a portion of the funds into a general fund for use by the government, such as to address gambling addiction or to help pay for a variety of public works projects.