A lottery is a gambling game or method of raising money for some public or charitable purpose in which tickets are sold and a drawing is held for certain prizes. Its popularity as a way of distributing large sums of money is based largely on the fact that most people would rather hazard a small amount for a substantial chance of winning a great deal. The word lottery has its origin in the 1560s, from Italian lotteria, from a Germanic root, and related to Old English hlot and Middle Dutch loterie (see also chance). It was originally used for state-sponsored lotteries that were usually designed to raise money for some state or public purpose.

Most modern lotteries offer a choice of games with different odds of winning, and prize amounts can be fixed or vary in proportion to the number of tickets sold. In either case, the winner(s) are chosen by a random process, such as a computer program. Often, purchasers of a ticket may mark a box on their playslip to indicate that they will accept whatever numbers are drawn, essentially placing the entire fate of the game in the hands of the computer.

Criticisms of lotteries typically focus on specific features of their operation and alleged regressive impact on lower-income communities. They also address broader issues of personal responsibility and the relative desirability of taking risks for financial gain. Nonetheless, lotteries are extremely popular and have never been abolished in the states that have them. Their broad appeal is due, in part, to the degree to which proceeds are seen as earmarked for a particular public good, such as education.