Lottery is a competition based on chance in which numbered tickets are sold and prizes, such as cash or goods, are awarded to the holders of winning numbers. The prize money is usually a percentage of the total amount raised by ticket sales. Lottery draws are generally held regularly, such as twice a week in the evening. Modern lotteries have a variety of forms, but most share certain features: the casting of lots for material gain (initiated by Moses in the Bible, and later used by Roman emperors to give away land); a central agency or public corporation governs the lottery; games begin with a small number of relatively simple options; and expansion is driven by the need for additional revenues.
Lotteries are subject to a great deal of criticism, but the majority of complaints relate to specific features of their operations. For example, critics assert that the lottery disproportionately targets low-income individuals, who spend a larger proportion of their income on tickets than do individuals from other socioeconomic groups; this can contribute to existing social inequalities and lead to mismanagement of winnings, as well as other negative consequences.
In the United States, the first modern state lottery was established in New Hampshire in 1964. Lotteries have since become commonplace, allowing governments to raise significant sums of money for education and other public services without raising taxes. They are also a popular alternative to gambling.