The lottery is a form of gambling where a prize is offered for the drawing of numbers at random. Some governments outlaw it, while others endorse it to the extent of organizing state or national lotteries. Lottery proceeds often help fund public works projects, but they can also help fund educational programs. In general, the lottery is popular with a broad segment of the population.
The first modern state-sponsored lotteries arose in the Low Countries in the 15th century, but records of earlier public lotteries date back to the ancient world. The word “lottery” likely derives from the Dutch noun lot, meaning fate (see Lot, a game of chance). A variety of public lotteries were held throughout colonial-era America to raise money for civic improvements such as paving streets and building wharves, and to fund private enterprises such as colleges like Harvard and Yale. Benjamin Franklin even sponsored a lottery to raise funds for cannons to defend Philadelphia against the British during the American Revolution.
In the modern era, most states sponsor one or more lotteries. Some offer a single large prize, while others feature several smaller prizes, with the total value of all prizes being determined by the amount remaining after expenses such as profits for the promoter and costs of promotion have been deducted from the pool. Some state lotteries offer a “cash-back” option that allows players to take some of the ticket sales revenue back as cash.