The lottery is a type of gambling in which numbers are drawn at random to determine winners. The prizes may range from cash to goods, or even real estate. It is popular in many countries, and draws large audiences. Although critics have questioned the ethics and morality of the lottery, it is still a viable source of funding for state and local governments. The popularity of the lottery has prompted some states to introduce new games such as keno and video poker, and to increase promotional efforts.

The first recorded use of the lottery to determine ownership of property or other rights was in the Chinese Han dynasty around 205 BC, when the drawing of lots was used to award construction contracts. This practice spread throughout the world in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, when it was used to fund towns, wars, colleges, public-works projects, and more. Today, the term “lottery” is most commonly applied to a form of gambling in which numbered slips are purchased and winning combinations are selected by chance. However, any competition in which a prize is awarded to the winner through random selection may be described as a lottery, even if it has multiple stages and requires a certain degree of skill to participate.

While there is an inextricable human impulse to gamble, most people do not play the lottery on a regular basis. According to NORC polls, only 13% of adult Americans report playing the lottery regularly; a further 17% say they play one to three times per month (“occasional players”). Lottery advertising typically targets these groups and emphasizes high jackpot amounts and the ability to buy a home or other luxury item. A further 8% have said they bought tickets in the past year but did not win.

The fact that the lottery is a form of gambling has long led to criticism of its role in society. Some concern that it lures compulsive gamblers, while others are concerned about its regressive impact on low-income individuals. The popularity of the lottery has also provoked questions about whether a government should promote gambling and, if so, to what extent it should do so.