Lottery is a form of gambling in which prizes are allocated through a process that relies heavily on chance. Some governments outlaw it, while others endorse it and organize state or national lotteries. Lottery games can take many forms, from scratch-off tickets to daily number games. The prizes in a lottery are usually money or goods. Some states prohibit the sale of lottery tickets to minors, while others require vendors to be licensed to sell them. Lottery proceeds may be used for a variety of purposes, including education and other public services.

Despite the fact that there is no guarantee that any particular ticket will win, lotteries enjoy broad public support, in part because they are seen as a way to fund a public good. This is particularly true in times of economic stress, when lotteries can be promoted as a painless alternative to raising taxes or cutting other programs. However, studies show that the popularity of lotteries is independent of a state government’s fiscal health.

The earliest known public lotteries were held in the Low Countries in the 15th century to raise funds for town fortifications and to help the poor. The word “lottery” is thought to have been derived from the Middle Dutch noun lot (“fate”) or the Old French verb loterie, a calque on Middle English lote “to cast lots” (thus the Latin sortilegij). Making decisions and determining fates by casting lots has a long history, as evidenced by several instances in the Bible, but the use of lottery tickets for material gain has only been around for a few centuries.