The lottery is a form of gambling in which numbers are drawn at random for the chance to win a prize. Some governments outlaw it, while others endorse it and organize state or national lotteries. The lottery has become a major source of revenue for many states, accounting for billions in annual sales and contributing to the economic health of countless local communities. Despite the popularity of lottery games, they are not without controversy. Some critics cite problems with their operation, including their alleged regressive impact on poorer communities and their role in fueling compulsive gambling behavior. Others point to studies showing that lottery proceeds tend to go to people who already have a high income, and argue that the money should be better spent on education and other public services.

The modern era of the state lottery began in New Hampshire in 1964, and since then no state has abolished it. In the beginning, the main argument in favor of lotteries centered on their value as a painless way to raise state revenues — that is, voters would be voluntarily spending their money, while politicians looked at it as getting tax revenue for free.

But it is not clear that this message still works. Research suggests that the more important message is a simple one: people like to gamble. Lotteries have a strong psychological appeal, particularly because they are able to create the impression that winning is a reasonable expectation. This illusion of probability combines with the magic thinking that many people have about winning to make lotteries irresistible, even though they are more likely to lose than to win.