Lottery is a form of gambling where people pay a small sum for the chance to win a large prize. Prizes range from cash to items of value. Some governments outlaw it, while others endorse it and regulate state or national lotteries. People may play the lottery for a variety of reasons, including as a way to try and become rich or to relieve poverty. The game is often promoted as a harmless and convenient way to increase one’s wealth, but it can also lead to addiction and other problems.

Government-administered lotteries usually involve a combination of different types of games. For example, some lotteries are instant-win scratch-off games that require players to select a winning combination of numbers or symbols. Other lotteries are traditional – a drawing of lots to determine winners. Some lotteries are run by businesses to promote their products, while others are run by states as a way to raise money. In the immediate post-World War II period, some states saw lotteries as a way to fund more social safety net services without raising especially burdensome taxes on the middle and working classes.

Lotteries have been around for centuries. They first became popular in the Low Countries during the 15th century, where towns held public lotteries to raise funds for a wide variety of purposes, such as town fortifications and helping the poor. Many state lotteries have been running for more than 300 years, including the Dutch state-owned Staatsloterij dating to 1726.