A competition based on chance in which numbered tickets are sold and prizes are awarded to the holders of numbers drawn at random, especially as a means of raising money for state or charitable purposes. Also used as a verb: to play the lottery; to run a lottery; to bet on the outcome of a lottery.
The lottery contributes billions of dollars annually to the economy. While the odds of winning are low, many people buy tickets and hope to change their lives with the big jackpot.
Lottery winners can choose to receive their prize as a lump sum or in annuities. An annuity spreads out the prize over time, reducing the risk of blowing through your winnings in one shot from irresponsible spending (also known as “the lottery curse”). The annuity option is best for those with long-term investing and savings plans.
Purchasing lottery tickets cannot be accounted for by decision models based on expected value maximization, because the ticket cost is greater than the prize money. However, if entertainment and other non-monetary values are factored into the utility function, lottery purchases can be considered rational.
Lottery advertising promotes luck and instant gratification as alternatives to hard work, prudent saving, and investment in real estate or other assets. These messages can be particularly damaging to lower-income individuals. Moreover, the profits from lottery sales go to states, which are then required to levy taxes that can make those individuals worse off.
