What is a Lottery?
A competition based on chance in which numbered tickets are sold and prizes given to the holders of numbers chosen by chance. Lotteries are popular among many types of people, and they are commonly used to raise money for state governments, charities, etc.
The practice of making decisions and determining fates by drawing lots has an ancient record, as shown in the biblical story of the division of land among the Israelites. However, the use of lotteries for material gain is rather recent: the first recorded public lottery in the West was held during the reign of Augustus Caesar to raise funds for repairs on town walls and for the poor.
Almost all states now have a lottery, and they tend to be highly profitable enterprises. In the process, they have also created enormous specific constituencies: convenience store owners (whose advertising is a big part of the marketing effort); lottery suppliers (who often make heavy donations to state political campaigns); teachers (in states where lottery revenues are earmarked for education); and state legislators.
The general desirability of the lottery is a subject of intense debate, with critics citing concerns about compulsive gambling and its regressive effects on low-income groups. But, once a lottery is established, it is difficult to undo its momentum. The ongoing evolution of lottery policy is a classic example of how difficult it is for the government to establish a clear, comprehensive public policy in any area.
A competition based on chance in which numbered tickets are sold and prizes given to the holders of numbers chosen by chance. Lotteries are popular among many types of people, and they are commonly used to raise money for state governments, charities, etc. The practice of making decisions and determining fates by drawing lots has…