A lottery is a form of gambling in which a number or set of numbers are drawn to determine winners. State governments organize and promote lotteries to raise revenue, often using the revenue to fund schools or other public services. Lottery games are a popular form of gambling and have raised more than $100 billion in US history. But just how meaningful that revenue is in broader state budgets, and whether it is worth the trade-off of people losing money, are questions that merit debate.
Lotteries have a long history, with some early examples recorded in the Old Testament and by Roman emperors who used them to give away property and slaves. They became a common method of raising public funds in the early colonial era, and helped finance roads, libraries, churches, canals, colleges, and universities. Privately organized lotteries also played a significant role in commercial promotions, and in military conscription and the selection of jurors.
In the modern era, state lotteries have won broad support because they are seen as providing benefits to specific groups, such as education. This argument is especially compelling in times of economic stress, when state government revenues are low and budget cuts are looming. However, research shows that the popularity of lotteries is not based on state government’s actual fiscal condition. Lotteries win wide approval even when state governments are in good financial shape.
State lotteries are a classic example of an activity that grows from piecemeal and incremental decisions, and which is then subjected to continual pressures for further expansion. For example, lottery officials may increase the number of games by adding new types or increasing ticket prices. The result is that the lottery’s broader public interest is rarely taken into account in making these decisions. Rather, lottery officials become increasingly dependent on a revenue source and develop their own narrow interests.