A gambling game in which tickets are sold for the right to receive certain prizes. In its simplest form, a lottery consists of a pool of money (including profits for the promoter and taxes or other revenues) from which prizes are drawn. Often the prizes are cash, but some lotteries offer goods or services instead. Historically, governments and licensed promoters have used lotteries for many purposes, including raising funds for public works projects. Benjamin Franklin sponsored a lottery to raise funds for cannons to defend Philadelphia during the American Revolution, and Thomas Jefferson held a private one to pay off his debts. Lotteries have also become popular for raising money to fund specific public goods, such as education or medical research.

Lotteries have long enjoyed broad public approval, and their popularity often peaks when states are under fiscal stress or facing potential tax increases or cutbacks in government programs. However, studies have shown that the benefits of lotteries are often exaggerated and their public-good claims can be misleading.

Most state lotteries operate as traditional raffles, with players purchasing tickets that are entered into a drawing at some future date, typically weeks or months away. Nevertheless, innovations have transformed the lottery industry in recent decades. These include instant games such as scratch-offs, which offer lower prize amounts but higher odds of winning.