The lottery is a state-run form of gambling in which people buy tickets and hope to win a prize by matching numbers. Prizes can range from modest cash to a house or automobile. Most states have lotteries and they are a major source of revenue for the state governments. The idea behind the lottery was that it would allow the states to expand a variety of services without raising especially onerous taxes on the middle class and working classes. This arrangement was particularly attractive in the immediate post-World War II period, when state governments were expanding their array of services and could make do with a relatively small amount of extra income.
The casting of lots to determine fates and distribute property has a long record in human history. The earliest recorded public lottery to distribute prizes of money was organized by Augustus Caesar for municipal repairs in Rome. The lottery became widespread in the Low Countries during the 15th century, when towns used it to raise funds for town fortifications and the poor.
In the modern era, lottery is an extremely popular activity, with about half of all adults playing at least once a year. It is the most widely played gambling game in the world. The vast majority of those who play the lottery do so for a chance to win big money, but many people also enjoy the simple act of buying a ticket. In the United States, the state-run games offer a wide variety of options, from instant-win scratch-offs to daily pick games.