Lottery is a form of gambling in which a person pays a small sum and attempts to win a big prize by matching a set of numbers drawn randomly from a large pool. It is popular in many countries, with governments running their own versions of the game and private companies selling tickets. It has a long history in the world and it is commonly used to distribute money or goods for specific purposes, such as town repairs or aiding the poor.
Lotteries can take a variety of forms, from drawing numbers by hand to machines that spit out tickets with the same random selection. The odds of winning vary wildly, as do the prices for tickets and prizes. In some cases, people make a living by playing lottery games. A couple in Michigan, for example, made $27 million over nine years by buying thousands of tickets at a time.
While the casting of lots for decisions or fates has a long record in human history, the modern state-run lottery is a relatively recent development. It was first introduced in the Low Countries around 1466 to raise money for municipal repairs and help the poor. The first public lotteries to offer prizes in the form of cash prizes were held in the 15th century.
Since then, lottery revenue has become a major source of funding for state governments. It is especially appealing to politicians in an anti-tax era, because it involves voters voluntarily spending their money in order to benefit the public. This dynamic creates a special relationship between lottery officials and their constituencies, including convenience store owners (who often sell tickets); lottery suppliers who give generous contributions to political campaigns; teachers in states where the proceeds are earmarked for education; and so on.