The lottery is a method of raising money in which tickets are sold and prizes are allocated by chance. Lottery games have wide popular appeal. They have been used to fund a variety of public projects and services, from paving streets and building schools to helping the poor and distributing property. They have also played a role in the American Revolution and helped finance the early colonies. Benjamin Franklin sponsored a lottery to raise funds for cannons in defense of Philadelphia, and George Washington attempted a private lottery to relieve his crushing debts.

In general, state governments are very eager to promote and operate lotteries because of the large revenues they generate. This popularity, however, has its critics. Those who oppose the lottery argue that it promotes addictive gambling behavior, serves as a major regressive tax on lower-income groups and other citizens, and exposes participants to the danger of addiction. They contend that it is a poor substitute for the collection of sin taxes on tobacco and alcohol, which would provide much more revenue to governments.

Lotteries have been around for a long time, with some of the first recorded ones appearing in the Low Countries in the 15th century to raise funds for town fortifications and help the poor. The modern state-run lotteries in the United States are relatively new, having emerged in the mid-1960s with New Hampshire as the pioneer. Since that time, they have gained broad popular support and been adopted by all but one state, with the state of Texas leading the way.