Lottery is a game in which participants purchase tickets for a chance to win a prize based on randomly selected numbers. Prizes can range from cash to goods and services. A ticket may be purchased for as little as a dollar, or more for higher-value prizes. The odds of winning vary according to the type of lottery and the rules in place for determining winners. Many, but not all, lotteries offer a number of different types of games, including scratch cards and video game machines.

The term lottery was first recorded in the 15th century, in reference to the practice of drawing lots for municipal and other purposes. The earliest public lotteries were held in the Low Countries to raise funds for wall and town fortifications, as well as poor relief. At that time, people were willing to hazard trifling sums for the chance of substantial gain and would prefer a small chance of winning a lot to a large chance of losing very little.

Lotteries became popular as a way for state governments to expand social safety nets and other services without raising taxes on those who could not afford them. However, the middle class and working classes felt that they were being taxed without receiving any benefit from this increase in government spending. They also believed that there was a way to beat the lottery and win big, and they did so by pooling their money through investors.