Lottery is a gambling game in which numbered tickets are sold and prizes, usually money, are awarded by chance to the holders of the tickets. It is the second most popular form of gambling, and it is legal in most states. Lottery is also the name of a state-run gaming operation or a company that organizes a lottery.
The first lotteries to sell numbered tickets with prizes in the form of money were held in the Low Countries in the 15th century. Those lotteries were intended to raise funds for poor people and town fortifications, and they were hailed as a painless form of taxation. Today’s state-run lotteries are primarily designed to raise revenue for education, health care, and public works projects. They are often referred to as “gambling machines” by those opposed to them.
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The word lottery is also used to describe any happening or process whose outcome appears to be determined by chance: Life is a lottery, for example. This usage is related to the ancient practice of drawing lots, or throwing a dice, to determine ownership and other rights. This practice is recorded in many ancient documents, including the Bible and Roman law. In modern times, it has been employed to award scholarships among equally qualified applicants, fill vacancies on sports teams or in a workplace, and place students into boarding schools and universities.