A game of chance in which numbered tickets are sold and prizes (usually cash or goods) are awarded to ticket holders whose numbers are drawn at random. Lottery is often used by state governments to raise funds for public usages. The English word derives from the Dutch noun lot meaning “fate” or “destiny”.

States enact laws governing their lottery games and delegate to special lottery divisions the responsibility of selecting and licensing retailers, training their employees to operate lottery terminals, distributing winning tickets and merchandise to winners, paying high-tier prizes to players, promoting the games to the public, and ensuring that retailers and players comply with state law. The prize money can be a fixed amount of cash or goods, or it can be a percentage of the total receipts. The latter format increases the risk to the organizer and may result in a lower overall payout to bettors.

In some cases, the entertainment value or other non-monetary benefits of playing a lottery may outweigh the disutility of a monetary loss. This may make the purchase a rational decision for an individual.

It is important to remember that while the odds of winning a lottery are slim, those who do win can still find themselves worse off than before they played. People can become addicted to this form of gambling, and it is important that they consider their options carefully before deciding to participate. Moreover, state policies on the lottery should be carefully weighed to determine if the revenue it raises is worth the social costs incurred by some people.