Lottery is a form of gambling in which a prize or set of prizes are awarded by chance, with the winnings determined by a random process. Lotteries are a common fundraising tool, with their proceeds usually going to charitable or public projects. They can also be a means of taxation, and a number of modern states have state-run lotteries. In a lottery, each unique combination of numbers increases the chances of winning by an infinitesimal amount.

The origins of lottery are ancient; the Old Testament instructs Moses to divide land among the people by lot, and Roman emperors used lots to distribute property and slaves. In the United States, lottery first became popular in the 17th century, and by 1832 there were 420 state lotteries. Privately organized lotteries were also common, with prizes ranging from goods to land. Benjamin Franklin sponsored a lottery to raise money for cannons during the American Revolution, and Thomas Jefferson held one of his own to relieve crushing debts.

Despite the low probability of winning, people still buy lottery tickets. They may be motivated by the inextricable human desire to gamble, or they may be attracted to the idea that lottery proceeds will benefit public goods, such as education. But studies show that the overall fiscal health of a state government does not seem to have much influence on whether or when a lottery is introduced. In fact, lottery adoption appears to follow remarkably similar patterns in every state.