The drawing of lots for a prize, whether money, goods, services, or other property. Traditionally, lotteries were conducted by government agencies or private corporations for the purpose of raising funds to support specific public projects. State governments adopted lotteries to raise revenue without increasing taxes and without cutting existing public programs. Lotteries have also been used for commercial promotions and to select jury members.
The lottery industry has evolved from the initial establishment of a state monopoly to its current multifaceted state-sponsored enterprise. In many cases, the original policies set forth in establishing the lottery have been obscured by the continuing evolution of the industry itself. Lottery officials are constantly under pressure to increase revenues. To meet this challenge, the industry has introduced new games and increased promotional efforts. This has shifted attention from the general desirability of the lottery to concerns about its effects on compulsive gamblers and other issues of policy.
While it is true that lotteries have broad public support, there are important societal costs associated with the lottery. Among these are the effect on lower-income, less educated, nonwhite, and male populations, which are disproportionately represented among lottery players. In addition, the lottery is not a good long-term source of revenue for states, and it tends to have significant negative impacts on local communities. It is important to recognize these problems and consider how best to address them.
