Lottery is an activity in which people purchase tickets for the chance to win a prize based on a random draw of numbers. States have a legal monopoly over these activities and may restrict them in certain ways. Most state lotteries are operated by government agencies and offer multiple games. The odds of winning are usually very low, and people who play the lottery tend to spend more on tickets than they win back in prizes. Some people become addicted to gambling and have problems with financial or emotional control. Lottery play can also contribute to unrealistic expectations, magical thinking, and other forms of delusional behaviour.

State lotteries have emerged in response to political and economic pressures. In many cases, state governments need new revenue sources to pay for public services and to reduce debt. In addition, a growing sense of social inequality and a new materialism led to the belief that anyone could get rich with enough effort or luck. The result has been the growth of a large number of lotteries, and their emergence has often been supported by populist movements against taxes.

Once established, lotteries face a range of criticisms, from the regressive impact on lower-income groups to the problem of compulsive gambling. However, in general, the public supports lotteries. In fact, in some countries, the majority of adults play them at least once a year. A small proportion of these players are disproportionately low-income, but the overwhelming majority of those who play regularly do so because they enjoy it.