The lottery is a form of gambling in which participants choose numbers that correspond to prizes in a random drawing. The prize amounts range from small cash awards to valuable goods. Lotteries are widely used in the United States and many other countries. They are popular with the general public and have developed extensive specific constituencies, including convenience store operators (the usual vendors); lottery suppliers (heavy contributions to state political campaigns are regularly reported); teachers (in those states where lottery revenues are earmarked for education); and state legislators (who quickly become accustomed to the extra revenue).

Making decisions and determining fates by casting lots has a long record in human history—there are several instances in the Bible and in the works of Shakespeare. The practice of running a lottery to distribute property and other rewards is more recent but has proved extremely popular. Its wide appeal as a painless form of taxation makes it an attractive alternative to other forms of raising funds, including direct appropriations from the government or commercial promotions in which money or property is given away.

The lottery is not without its problems, however. It tends to be a game that rewards the most affluent and educated members of society and disadvantages lower-income individuals and families. Moreover, because it is a business that depends on maximizing revenues, its advertising focuses on persuading people to spend their hard-earned incomes. This perverse incentive has the potential to promote gambling addictions and other social ills.