Lottery is a game of chance in which numbers are drawn at random to determine winners. The prize is often a cash sum, but can also be goods or services. The term is also used to describe any process or system for decision making that relies on random selection, such as sports team drafts or allocation of scarce medical treatment. Many governments have legalized the lottery as a way to raise funds for public projects, and many organizations hold private lotteries to provide entertainment or raise money.

The first recorded lotteries to offer tickets with prizes of money were held in the Low Countries in the 15th century, with town records showing that they raised funds for walls and town fortifications. Lotteries may be older than this, however; for example, a lottery was held in Rome in 389 BC to distribute articles of unequal value during Saturnalian revelries.

There is a one-in-a-million chance to win a lottery prize. Despite this, some people find it hard to stop buying tickets. The lottery has been criticized for being addictive, and those who have won the big jackpots can find themselves in financial ruin after a short period of time.

In the United States, you must be at least 21 years old to purchase a lottery ticket. The winner’s name must be printed on the ticket, and no one can buy a ticket for someone else. In addition, most state and federal taxes apply to winnings.