A lottery is a gambling game or method of raising money in which a large number of tickets are sold and a drawing is held for prizes. A number of states have a lottery division, which operates the games and promotes them. It also selects and trains retailers and their employees to sell and redeem tickets, pays high-tier prizes, and ensures that all participants are in compliance with state lottery laws and rules.

People may play the lottery for a variety of reasons, but the biggest reason is the dangling promise of instant riches. This explains why so many people buy tickets and why they continue to buy them even though they know the odds are against them. The reason that this is the case is that the expected utility of a monetary gain is greater than the disutility of a monetary loss.

Lotteries originated in the early modern period as a way for states to expand their services without raising taxes on lower-income citizens. They became particularly popular in the immediate post-World War II period as a source of revenue that allowed states to lower taxes and expand their social safety nets.

During the lottery, players pay a small amount of money for the chance to win a prize, such as a cash prize or a ticket into a sports draft. In some cases, the lottery is run by a state government while in others, it is operated by private companies or nonprofit organizations.