A competition based on chance in which numbered tickets are sold and prizes are given to those whose numbers are drawn at random; also: the action or process of drawing lots. Note: Some governments outlaw lotteries, while others endorse them to the extent of organizing a state or national lottery. A lottery is usually operated by a government as a means of raising funds for various purposes, including education.
A popular form of dinner entertainment in ancient Rome, the apophoreta (Greek: “that which is carried home”), was similar to a modern lottery. Hosts distributed pieces of wood with symbols on them and toward the end of the evening conducted a drawing for gifts that guests could take home. Roman emperors also used lotteries to give away property and slaves during Saturnalian feasts and other celebrations.
In the 17th century, lotteries became more common in Europe and America. In the American Revolution, Benjamin Franklin sponsored a lottery to raise money for cannons to defend Philadelphia against the British. Thomas Jefferson held a private lottery to relieve his crushing debts. By the 18th century, the Dutch state-owned Staatsloterij was the oldest continuously operating lottery in the world.
Today, lotteries are a part of everyday life. In addition to the familiar scratch-off tickets, there are games of chance such as Powerball and Mega Millions, which have grown into huge enterprises. Most states now have lotteries and over 100 countries operate them. Lottery revenues are a major source of income for many state governments. They are often earmarked for particular purposes such as public education and state highways, and have broad public support.
The popularity of lotteries may be related to the fact that they provide a painless alternative to raising taxes or cutting public programs. The success of a lottery depends on the degree to which it can convince people that the proceeds are going to improve their lives, as opposed to simply benefiting a small group of special interests.
Some critics of the lottery argue that it is a form of gambling, and that the prizes are often overinflated. They also charge that the lottery promotes poor habits such as irresponsible spending and addiction to gambling. In addition, critics point out that the promotion of a lottery involves considerable expenditures on advertising, which necessarily increases the amount of money spent by people who are not already addicted to gambling.
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