Lottery is a form of gambling in which people buy tickets for the chance to win cash or prizes. It is a common way for states to raise money, and many governments have legalized it. It can also be used to distribute goods and services, such as education, housing, and infrastructure. Some people use it to make charitable donations. It is often criticized for creating compulsive keluaran macau gamblers and having a regressive impact on lower-income groups.

State-sponsored lotteries are the most widespread form, and they are a major source of revenue for the federal government. However, the public’s view of the lottery has changed over time. During the immediate post-World War II period, it was widely believed that state lotteries would allow governments to expand their array of social safety net programs without the kind of onerous taxes that might hurt middle- and working-class voters. This arrangement began to break down as inflation and the cost of the Vietnam War accelerated, making it harder for lottery revenues to keep up.

The word “lottery” is probably derived from the Dutch noun lot, meaning fate or fortune, and may be related to the earliest recorded use of the practice in the Low Countries in the 15th century for raising funds for town fortifications and aiding the poor. The term is also a calque on French loterie, which itself is a calque on Middle Dutch lotinge or lot, both of which mean “drawing of lots.” While there are private lotteries for profit, public lotteries are the most prevalent form in many states.