A game of chance operated by a state government in which tickets are sold for the chance to win a prize, often cash, by drawing lots. The term is a calque of the Middle Dutch word loterie, itself a calque of the Middle French word loterie, meaning “fate.” Lottery games are a type of gambling and usually cost one dollar per ticket; the number of dollars paid out far exceeds the amount of money invested by the sponsoring state, so the game generates a profit.

During the early American colonies, lotteries raised money for a wide variety of public projects, including roads, libraries, colleges, churches, canals, bridges and military ventures. In the 1740s, the founders of Princeton and Columbia Universities used lotteries to raise funds for their institutions. The colonists also organized a series of state-run lotteries that provided money for the militia and local charitable uses.

Today, lotteries are a major source of income for many states and the federal government. The money is used for a variety of purposes, from public works to education and addiction treatment.

Although there is a slight chance of winning a substantial sum of money, most people play the lottery for other reasons. The most common reason is that the experience of buying a ticket is enjoyable and can be addictive, even for those who don’t typically gamble. In addition, the lottery is a form of regressive taxation, since the poor tend to spend more on tickets than the wealthy.