A competition based on chance, in which numbered tickets are sold and prizes are awarded to the holders of numbers drawn at random; especially a public or state lottery. Also used figuratively to refer to any system of allocation in which the decisions made are based on chance.
Lottery is a popular way to raise money for state services without raising taxes, particularly on the working class and middle classes. Its popularity during the post-World War II era may have been driven by widening economic inequality and a newfound materialism that asserted anyone could get rich with enough effort or luck. In addition, antitax movements at the time drove lawmakers to seek alternative sources of revenue that would not be as onerous as taxes.
The chances of winning a lottery are extremely low and do not increase by playing frequently or increasing the amount you bet with each drawing. However, the lottery is an attractive proposition because it offers a large prize for a relatively small investment. The size of the advertised jackpot is a powerful marketing tool, as is the fact that most lottery winners choose to receive the prize in annual installments over decades rather than as a lump sum.
The first recorded lotteries were probably held in the Low Countries in the 15th century to raise funds for town fortifications and other civic projects. These were followed by private lotteries for the distribution of articles of unequal value, such as dinnerware, often in connection with social events such as a ball.
