Lottery, a gambling game or method of raising money in which a large number of tickets are sold and the prize amounts, usually in cash, are awarded by chance in a drawing. A lottery may be run for various public and private purposes, including raising money for charitable causes. Financial lotteries are the most common, where players pay small sums to be entered into a drawing for large prizes such as cars and houses.

The history of lotteries dates back centuries. The Old Testament instructed Moses to distribute land by lottery, and Roman emperors used it to give away slaves. The first American lotteries raised funds for public projects, including roads and canals, before the Revolutionary War. They were especially popular during the French and Indian Wars, when many colonists were unable to raise taxes and needed to finance military ventures.

Supporters of state-run lotteries argue that they are an easy, painless alternative to higher taxes. But critics charge that the games prey on the poor, and that by luring them with illusory hopes of wealth, they actually skirt taxation in a way that hurts those who can least afford it.

People also play the lotteries for the thrill of winning, a dream that can inspire them to pursue their goals and ambitions with renewed vigor. For some, winning a lottery prize can be a springboard to a new life, such as buying an expensive home or taking a world tour. For others, the reward is less dramatic but still life-changing: a good education, better health, or a healthy retirement.