Lottery is a form of gambling in which a prize is awarded to one or more winners by random selection. It is commonly organized so that a portion of the profits are donated to charitable causes. It has a long history, dating at least to the casting of lots for administrative purposes during the reign of Augustus Caesar and, in the modern sense of the word, to the first public lottery held in 1466 in Bruges for municipal repairs.
In the present day, a number of states and the District of Columbia operate state-sponsored lotteries. The lottery has gained wide acceptance as an alternative to conventional taxation and has become popular among many social groups, including those with low incomes. It is a source of controversy, however. Critics complain that the advertising of lotteries contains misleading information about the odds of winning (as well as about the size and value of the prizes), inflates the value of prize money to attract customers, and distorts the actual distribution of proceeds.
The plot of Jackson’s story takes place on an unnamed town square on the day of a yearly lottery. Children recently on summer break are the first to assemble, but soon adult men and women begin to gather as well. The organizer and master of ceremonies, a man named Mr. Summers, brings a black box, which he places on a stool in the center of the gathering.
People who play the lottery do so in the belief that they have a “last, best or only chance” to win. But the odds of winning are extremely long, and if they do not recognize this fact, they may end up losing more than they gain.