A lottery is a game in which participants pay money for the chance to win a prize. It is usually a form of gambling and may be held to raise funds for public projects or private enterprises.

A basic component of any lottery is a system for identifying the identities of all bettor-entrants, and recording their stakes, on a ticket or other document. These documents are typically deposited with the organization that administers the lottery, for subsequent shuffle and possible selection in the drawing process.

The earliest records of lotteries, in which money prizes were offered for sale to the public, date back to the 15th century. They were generally used to raise money for town fortifications or charitable purposes.

Another element common to most lottery systems is the mechanism by which all money placed as stakes is pooled and deducted for expenses and profits. Typically, the resulting revenues are then distributed to the state or sponsor of the lottery.

Some states also require that all incoming ticket sales be made through a single agent, and that the agents be paid a certain percentage of the total revenue for their services. This is a way of controlling the cost of sales, which can be high in some countries.

A final element common to all lottery systems is the determination of the frequency and size of the prizes to be awarded. Most of these are large, but some are more palatable to potential bettors by offering smaller prizes that can be won again in the following rounds.