A competition based on chance, in which numbered tickets are sold and prizes are awarded to the holders of those numbers drawn at random; also, a method for awarding property or goods. The word lottery is derived from the Middle Dutch noun lot, and the Old English noun lotterie, both of which are probably from a base meaning to draw lots or cast lots.
The idea of determining distributions by lottery dates back centuries, with Moses being instructed to divide Israel by lot, and Roman emperors using it for giving away property and slaves during Saturnalian festivities. But modern state-run lotteries have been around for only a few decades, and they’re already the subject of fervent debate.
During the immediate post-World War II period, states saw lotteries as a way to provide services without excessively burdening middle-class and working-class taxpayers. But in recent years, those debates have become more nuanced, with critics arguing that lotteries can actually undermine social mobility and contribute to a sense of hopelessness among the poor.
Despite these concerns, most people still play the lottery. But their play varies by socioeconomic status, and research suggests that lottery revenues expand dramatically in the first year of operation, then level off and sometimes decline. This is due in part to the fact that many people who play are bored and want new games to keep them interested, which has led lottery commissions to introduce new types of games to sustain or even increase revenue.