Lottery is a gambling game in which prizes, typically cash, are awarded by chance to a person or persons. Lottery is distinct from games of skill, such as poker and bridge, where a player’s abilities can affect the outcome of the game. It is also different from chance-based events, such as a coin toss or horse race, where a player’s actions can affect the result.

State lotteries are popular sources of public revenues in the United States. They are widely promoted by government officials as a way of raising money for public purposes without increasing taxes or cutting public programs. Lotteries have won wide public support, even during times of economic stress. They are often seen as a “painless” source of revenue, since the proceeds come from players who are voluntarily spending their own money on a service they believe benefits society.

Historically, lottery games were run by private companies. In the modern era, starting with New Hampshire’s adoption of a state lottery in 1964, most states have followed suit. Most state lotteries are now operated by a public corporation or agency, which has its own legal structure and operates independently of the state’s other departments. They usually begin with a small number of relatively simple games, but they quickly expand in scope and complexity as revenue demands require. Lottery advertising focuses heavily on persuading target groups to spend their hard-earned dollars. The resulting emphasis on the promotion of gambling has raised concerns about compulsive gamblers, regressive impacts on lower-income groups, and other issues that have been a part of public policy debates since ancient times.