A lottery is a game of chance operated by a state government, wherein people purchase tickets in exchange for the opportunity to win cash or other prizes. States create and operate lotteries by statutes, which specify details such as the length of time participants have to claim a prize and what documentation they must present to do so.

Although the casting of lots has a long record in human history, as a way to make decisions or determine fates, the state-run lottery is a much more recent innovation. Despite this, it has proved enormously popular. Lotteries have gained broad public support even during times of economic stress, such as the fiscal crisis in Greece or the prospect of tax increases or cuts in social programs.

One of the primary arguments in favor of a state lottery is that it reduces illegal gambling. Critics, however, point out that lottery revenues are a drop in the bucket when compared to the overall size of a state’s budget. In addition, a large portion of the proceeds is “earmarked” for a specific program, such as education, but that money is then available to the legislature for any use it chooses.

Some critics also argue that the lottery preys on poor people. They argue that while some poor people are able to make big gains in the lottery, many others simply pay into a system that is mathematically stacked against them. Furthermore, they note that the message coded into lottery advertisements is that the experience of buying a ticket and scratching it is fun.