A game in which numbered tickets are sold for the chance to win a prize, typically money. Lotteries are commonly regulated by law and are promoted as a means of raising funds for public causes. The earliest recorded lotteries were held in the Low Countries in the 15th century to raise funds for town fortifications and charity. The prizes were usually cash, but some were merchandise or land. In modern times, most lotteries offer a single large prize, but may also include many smaller ones. Often, the prizes are predetermined, but the number of winners and the size of their winnings is random.

Making decisions and determining fates by the casting of lots has a long history in human society, with several examples in the Bible. In the early 18th century, lotteries were introduced in England and America, where they gained wide acceptance. They became particularly popular in the immediate post-World War II period, when states were expanding their array of services without raising taxes significantly on middle and working class families.

Lotteries have also been used to allocate seats in political offices, fill vacancies on sports teams among equally competing players, place people in schools and universities and so on. While the process of choosing by lot is a form of selection, it is not always fair. Some people may not be allowed to participate in a lottery, for example, because of health and safety reasons or because they are disabled or mentally ill. Others may find it difficult to manage the time required to take part, especially if they work or study outside of their homes, and some may be prevented from participating by their religions.

Critics of lotteries argue that their advertising is deceptive and that they are addictive forms of gambling. They also point out that the money raised by a lottery cannot be guaranteed to go to a particular cause and that it can be diverted from other programs. They also say that lotteries encourage the exploitation of poor people.

Proponents of state lotteries argue that they are a good source of “painless revenue” — i.e., a way for states to get taxpayers to voluntarily give them their money for the “good of the state.” Studies, however, have shown that the popularity of lotteries is not related to a state’s objective fiscal condition, and that state governments can raise money through other methods. Moreover, lotteries are very attractive to politicians because they provide an easy and politically acceptable way for them to spend money that is not subject to the usual political process. This is why they continue to gain popularity despite the widespread public recognition that their results are often not very good for society. The most common criticism of lotteries centers on the alleged harm they do to compulsive gamblers and their regressive impact on lower-income groups. In addition to these criticisms, some opponents claim that the process is unfair because it relies on chance and does not reflect an individual’s merits.