Lottery is a form of gambling in which numbers are drawn and the winners receive cash or goods. It is a popular source of revenue in the United States and many other countries.

While critics cite negative social impacts, supporters argue that lottery revenues can provide needed services without tax increases. They also point to the popularity of the games and a public desire for them to be available. State governments tend to be dependent on the proceeds of these games, and they face pressures to raise them in an anti-tax era.

In addition to paying prize money, the lottery’s promoters spend some of the proceeds on administrative costs and vendors, and the rest goes toward whatever projects each state designates. Some use the money for education, while others have designated funds for roads, bridges, and other infrastructure projects.

The first recorded lotteries were held in the Low Countries in the 15th century to raise money for town fortifications and help the poor. In America, New Hampshire launched the modern era of state lotteries in 1964, hoping to cut into the illegal casino business and increase education funding.

As the games continue to evolve, lottery officials have moved away from promoting them as a way to get rich. The two main messages that are coded into the promotional material are that playing is fun and scratching tickets is a cool experience. This obscures the fact that the vast majority of people who play the lottery are poor, and that they spend a significant portion of their incomes on it.