The lottery is a game of chance in which numbered tickets are sold and prizes are awarded to those whose numbers are drawn at random. It is a popular form of gambling, and it is sometimes sponsored by states as a means of raising money for public projects.

Lottery is a word derived from the Italian word lotteria, which in turn is thought to come from the Latin verb lottare, meaning “to draw lots” or “to be allotted.” Lotteries were commonplace in Europe during the Middle Ages and are documented in town records from as early as the 15th century, when they raised funds for town fortifications and poor relief.

Historically, the lottery has been a way to pay for public works projects, including highways, airports and schools. The first American state lotteries were established in the 17th century and helped fund the founding of the Virginia Company and the construction of Harvard and Yale. In the 18th and 19th centuries, lottery proceeds also funded military campaigns. Benjamin Franklin sponsored a lottery to raise money for cannons to defend Philadelphia during the American Revolution, and George Washington sponsored one to fund the construction of roads across the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Lotteries enjoy broad public approval, and they are especially popular in times of economic stress when state government budgets are tight. Despite their association with chance, they are a relatively efficient method for raising money and generating tax revenue. In the United States, state lotteries typically operate on a yearly basis, although some run year-round.