A method of raising money by drawing lots for prizes. Often, the prizes are cash or articles of unequal value. This method is widely used to raise money for governments, charities, etc. It is also a popular form of gambling.

The word lottery is derived from the Latin loterie, a type of gambling in which tickets are sold and the winners are determined by chance. Lotteries have a long history, with the earliest known lottery being a draw for prizes during the Roman Empire to pay for repairs in the city of Rome.

In the United States, state lotteries emerged in the late 1840s. The first lotteries were little more than traditional raffles, wherein the public bought numbered tickets for the opportunity to win prizes, typically articles of unequal value. The lottery proved to be very popular and became a major source of revenue for government, churches, and colleges. The foundation of Princeton and Columbia Universities, among many others, was financed by lottery games, and some of the first church buildings in colonial America were built with lottery proceeds.

Despite their widespread popularity, lotteries remain controversial. Critics argue that they are inherently unfair to the poor and have a number of negative social consequences, including the encouragement of problem gambling. They are also concerned that they are at cross-purposes with the larger public interest, since they are a source of tax revenues that can be used to fund projects the general public would prefer not to see supported by direct taxes.