In a lottery, people pay money to enter an arrangement in which prizes are allocated by a process that relies entirely on chance. The word lottery is derived from Dutch lot and may refer to a game of chance or fate, although the first known use in English is probably a 1612 advertisement for a prize draw to raise money for church repair and town fortifications. Lotteries were popular in colonial America, playing a key role in financing both private and public ventures. The establishment of Harvard and Yale Universities was financed by lottery proceeds, as were canals, roads, and bridges. Lottery revenue also helped fund the expedition against Canada led by George Washington in 1768.

Today, state-sponsored lotteries are found in 37 states and the District of Columbia. The introduction of a state lottery often follows a similar pattern: the legislature establishes a monopoly; hires a public corporation or agency to run it; begins operations with a modest number of relatively simple games; and, under continuing pressure for increased revenues, progressively expands the scope of the operation, adding new games and increasing their complexity.

Despite their popularity, lotteries attract substantial criticism, particularly from the advocates of a “fairer” tax system. These critics argue that the taxes generated by lottery sales are not as transparent as a direct tax, and that they have a disproportionately negative effect on lower-income households. But these criticisms misrepresent the nature of lottery gambling, which is a speculative activity that does not necessarily affect the wealth distribution in society.