Lottery is a form of gambling that gives players the opportunity to win big cash prizes in exchange for paying a small amount of money. Prizes range from a single number to a grand jackpot that is often split among the winners. Some lotteries are operated by a government while others are privately run. In the United States, lottery draws are often broadcast on television and radio and offer prizes such as automobiles, home furnishings, and other items. A number of people find the chance to win a large sum of money in a lottery exciting and attractive.

In the past, public lotteries were often used to raise funds for private and municipal projects. In 1776 Benjamin Franklin used a lottery to raise money for cannons that could defend Philadelphia during the American Revolution. Privately organized lotteries have also been popular for decades. They have financed such things as roads, libraries, churches, colleges, canals, and bridges. In the 1700s, public lotteries financed the founding of Harvard, Yale, Dartmouth, and Columbia universities.

The principal argument that state governments use to promote their lotteries is that the proceeds will allow them to increase spending without imposing heavy taxes on the general population. It is a plausible argument, but it has two problems:

First, the promotion of the lottery relies heavily on persuading large groups of potential customers to spend their money on the ticket. This includes convenience store owners (who are the main vendors for the tickets); lottery suppliers (heavy contributions to state political campaigns are regularly reported); and teachers, in those states where lotteries raise a large portion of school funding.