Lottery is a form of gambling wherein participants purchase tickets for a chance to win a prize, usually money. It is typically run by a state or national government. While making decisions and determining fates by the casting of lots has a long record in human history, the use of lotteries for material gain is of relatively recent origin, although of considerable antiquity.

The first recorded lotteries in the Western world were organized in the 15th century to raise funds for town fortifications and to help the poor, and the earliest lottery to distribute prizes in the form of money was held in Bruges, Belgium, in 1466. Since then, state-sponsored lotteries have become popular throughout the world.

Most state lotteries have a central organization that handles administrative functions. This includes licensing retailers to sell lottery tickets, selecting and training employees of retail outlets, distributing winning tickets, communicating with players and promoting the lottery. In some states, this division also oversees the distribution of high-tier prizes and enforcing lottery laws.

It is clear that the primary message of the Lottery is to entice people to play by making the prizes look big and the odds of winning seem favorable. This is a highly effective marketing strategy and is why state lotteries continue to grow in popularity. It is important to remember, however, that people with low incomes make up a disproportionate share of lottery players, and playing for large jackpots can be an expensive hobby that drains their discretionary budgets.