A lottery is a system for distributing something (usually money or prizes) among a large group of people by chance. The term derives from the biblical command to Moses to divide land by lot and from the practice of giving away property or slaves by lottery during Saturnalian feasts in ancient Rome. The first state lotteries were introduced to the United States in the 18th century, and initial reaction was generally negative; ten states banned them between 1844 and 1859. Since then, a number of lotteries have been introduced and are operating in the United States.

The principal argument used to justify the introduction of state lotteries has been that they provide a source of “painless” revenue for state governments by encouraging players to voluntarily spend their own money rather than having it collected from them through taxes. But it’s not really that simple: Lotteries are a form of gambling, and their popularity depends in part on the creation of “big jackpots” that get lots of free publicity on news sites and TV. These super-sized jackpots also make it more likely that the top prize will carry over to the next drawing, increasing sales and public interest.

Whether they’re buying one ticket for a Powerball drawing or dozens, most players enter the lottery with clear-eyed knowledge of the odds, and they know that their chances are long. But they do it anyway, fueled by a sense that some improbable event may be their only shot at getting ahead.