Lottery is a form of gambling in which numbers are drawn at random for prizes. Some governments outlaw lotteries, while others endorse them and organize state or national lotteries. In the United States, all but one state now has a lottery. The lottery is also a popular source of revenue for education, public safety, and other public purposes. Many states have a state-sponsored or regulated lottery, while others rely on private promoters to run lotteries and distribute tickets.

Lottery has a broad appeal, and surveys show that half of American adults buy a ticket at least once a year. But the players aren’t all alike: They’re disproportionately low-income, less educated, nonwhite and male, and they play more frequently than other Americans. These groups also spend more money. And when the prizes are large, as in Powerball, their spending skyrockets.

When a state adopts a lotteries, it usually establishes an independent lottery commission to oversee its operations. The commission often recruits retailers, train them to use the lottery terminals and redeem winning tickets, and conducts a variety of other administrative duties. It is also responsible for establishing rules and regulations that govern the lottery. And it may have an advertising department to encourage and discourage lottery participation.

The word “lottery” is thought to be derived from the Dutch verb lot, meaning fate, or by Old French loterie, literally “fate drawing.” In the early 1500s, the French king used a lotteries to raise money for the rebuilding of Paris and other projects. Lotteries remained popular in Europe until the 17th century, when Louis XIV used them to fund his extravagant pleasure palaces and parties.

In modern times, lotteries are run as business enterprises with a single goal of maximizing revenues. As such, their advertising focuses on persuading people to spend their money. This puts lotteries at cross-purposes with the general public, as evidenced by criticisms about compulsive gamblers and regressive effects on lower-income people.

Despite these problems, the lottery is one of the few government-sponsored businesses that has been successful at generating substantial revenues. In part, this is because of its widespread acceptance and popularity. It is also the result of a combination of factors, including government-sponsored marketing, the existence of multiple prize levels, and its focus on attracting low-income customers.

Nevertheless, state lotteries are a classic example of a piecemeal approach to public policy. Once a lottery is established, the debate and criticism tend to be focused on its specific features rather than on its overall desirability. The evolution of state lotteries is a textbook example of how the public interest can get lost in the weeds of detailed administration.