Lottery is a gambling game or method of raising money, usually for some public charitable purpose, in which tickets are sold and a drawing held to determine winners. It is also a general term for any scheme for the distribution of prizes by chance. Public lotteries have a long history in many countries, with the first recorded lottery held in the Low Countries in the 15th century to raise funds for town fortifications and help the poor. Private lotteries are also widespread. Some are purely recreational, while others, such as the Boston Mercantile Lottery of 1776, were used to finance a battery of cannons to defend Philadelphia against the British.

The popularity of state-sponsored lotteries has risen and fallen with state government fiscal conditions, but they continue to attract widespread popular support. State officials argue that lottery revenues are a useful alternative to tax increases or cuts in state expenditures, and they are often able to point to specific programs (such as education) that benefit from the proceeds.

Unlike traditional raffles, which involve a prize being drawn in the future, lottery games allow players to choose their own numbers, with the odds of winning varying according to the type of ticket purchased. In addition, the games are designed to be as convenient as possible, with instant games such as scratch-off tickets being particularly popular. These innovations have led to an explosion in lottery revenue, with states now raising billions of dollars annually.

Lottery advertising typically promotes the convenience and ease of playing the game, and emphasizes the potential for large sums of money to be won. This message may have some appeal, but it obscures the fact that lotteries are a form of gambling, and that the proceeds are distributed by chance rather than by merit. In addition, critics claim that lottery advertising frequently presents misleading information about the odds of winning and inflates the value of a jackpot prize (the actual amount won is paid over time in equal annual installments, with inflation dramatically eroding its current value).

While lottery advertising has evolved, its fundamental message remains the same: Play now to win. This message, combined with the regressive nature of lottery profits and the prevalence of problem gambling, has raised concerns about the role of state governments in promoting an activity that benefits some groups but harms others.

In the past, lotteries were generally run by government-owned corporations, but since the 1970s most have been privately owned and operated. Nonetheless, state regulators still have responsibility for the conduct of the lottery and must ensure its fairness. They must monitor and report on all aspects of the lottery, including the number of tickets sold, the number of jackpot prizes awarded, and the percentage of total prizes allocated to the highest numbered combinations. They must also ensure that advertisements are truthful and do not mislead the public. State laws also must ensure that a lottery is conducted fairly and does not discriminate against minorities, women, or handicapped people.