A lottery is a game of chance in which tokens are distributed or sold, and prizes (typically money) are awarded to those whose numbers are selected by lot. The game has its origins in the distribution of coveted articles at banquets in the Roman Empire, and it became common throughout Europe, including in colonies ruled by Protestants. Lotteries were instrumental in the settlement of America, raising funds for paving streets, building wharves and even establishing Harvard and Yale. They were also tangled up in the slave trade: George Washington managed a lottery whose prizes included human beings, and Denmark Vesey won a prize that gave him his freedom and helped foment a slave rebellion.
The basic elements of a lottery are relatively simple: a public is invited to buy tickets for a future drawing, and bettors must pay an amount equal to the odds of winning. The organizers then shuffle the tickets, record the results of the drawing and pay out the winnings. Many modern lotteries offer a wide variety of games, with prizes ranging from free tickets to houses to huge jackpots. A number of different strategies are used to increase revenues, such as adding or subtracting balls in a pool and increasing or decreasing the chances of winning.
The ubiquity of lottery games in America is testament to the fact that people plain old like to gamble, and a state-sponsored lottery offers a legalized way to do so while escaping the ethical pitfalls of gambling. But the development of lottery policy in states has been a classic case of public policies made piecemeal, and often without any general overview or context. Consequently, public officials must continually face the challenge of adapting to new trends and demands that they cannot control or anticipate.
