The lottery is a popular game in which participants pay money for the chance to win prizes. Prizes can range from cash to goods and services. In the US, most states run lotteries and there are many different types of games. A few of these are instant-win scratch-off tickets and daily games that require the player to pick three or more numbers. Other games may involve choosing a group of numbered balls (or other symbols) and determining later whether they were among the winners.

Lotteries have enjoyed broad public support for decades, despite the fact that they are a form of gambling. One reason for this popularity is that state governments promote the idea that lottery proceeds benefit a specific public good, such as education. This argument is particularly effective in times of fiscal stress, when the state government needs to raise new revenue without raising taxes or cutting public programs.

The first modern state lotteries were launched in 1964. Since then, most states have adopted them, and the number of available games has increased dramatically. Early lotteries were similar to traditional raffles, with the public buying tickets for a drawing at some future date, typically weeks or even months. More recently, lotteries have introduced innovations such as instant games and other games that do not involve waiting for a drawing.

Lotteries can also be used to distribute something that is in high demand but limited, such as kindergarten admission at a certain school or units in a subsidized housing block. However, lottery advocates argue that this use of the lottery is justified because it allows people to compete fairly for something they want.