Lottery is a form of gambling that involves the drawing of numbers at random for a prize. Some governments outlaw it, while others endorse it to some degree. Some even organize state and national lotteries, the proceeds of which are used for a wide range of public purposes. Most lotteries involve purchasing tickets in exchange for a chance to win a prize, with the prizes usually being money or goods. The odds of winning depend on the number and type of tickets purchased, as well as the total number of tickets sold.

Unlike many other forms of gambling, lottery proceeds are generally taxed at relatively low rates. Nevertheless, critics point to the fact that lottery profits tend to increase disproportionately with the size of the population, and that the revenue from lotteries has become a major regressive source of taxation on poorer people. Additionally, it is often alleged that lottery games promote addictive gambling behavior, lead to other forms of illegal gambling, and do not provide adequate information about the risks involved.

Lottery has a long history in the West, with the first recorded lottery being the one organized by Augustus Caesar for municipal repairs in Rome. In Europe, the lottery became popular in the 17th century and was hailed as a painless form of taxation. Traditionally, state lotteries began as simple raffles and gradually expanded into new types of games as revenues increased. Today, most states have a variety of different lotteries and are continually trying to boost revenues by adding new games.