Lottery is a form of gambling wherein the prize is money and tickets are sold for a chance to win. The first recorded lotteries were held in the Low Countries in the 15th century to raise money for town fortifications and for the poor.

Lotteries are a major source of state revenue in the United States, and they enjoy broad public support. They are often promoted as a way to finance public goods without raising taxes, and this argument is particularly persuasive when the economy is weak. The fact that lottery proceeds are earmarked for specific public goods—such as education—is also important to many voters.

Despite the popularity of lotteries, there are a number of concerns about them. One is that they are addictive. Another is that they tend to skew toward the poor and minorities. Finally, the promotion of lotteries as a means to stimulate economic growth may run counter to other economic policies, such as tax reductions and spending cuts.

A final concern is that, because lotteries are run as businesses with the goal of increasing revenues, they must appeal to psychological triggers in order to keep players coming back. Consequently, everything from the look of the tickets to the math behind the games is designed to keep people hooked. In this regard, lotteries are no different than tobacco or video games, and the question is whether such strategies are appropriate in a government-sponsored setting.