A lottery is an arrangement in which prizes, such as money, goods or services, are allocated by chance. It involves the buying of a ticket for a chance to win. It can also be used to fill a position in a sports team among equally competing players or in a job, and even for placement in school or university. It is similar to the casting of lots, but it involves a lower amount of money. The casting of lots for the allocation of wealth has a long history in humankind and has been cited in the Bible (e.g., Ecclesiastes 5:10).

The lottery is a popular form of gambling, and the profits are typically spent on public services such as education. The proceeds are also sometimes used for private charities and other purposes. The popularity of the lottery has grown as states have struggled to balance their budgets and maintain high levels of public services in an era where many citizens oppose higher taxes.

In the United States, state lotteries are governed by laws establishing a government-run monopoly and a state agency to administer them. State officials are under constant pressure to increase lottery revenues, and they tend to do so by introducing new games and increasing the number of prizes offered.

Lottery players come from a wide range of socioeconomic backgrounds. However, there are some trends: Men play more often than women; blacks and Hispanics play less than whites; the old play more than the young; and income plays a role in how much people play.