A lottery is a game of chance in which numbers are drawn at random to win prizes. Lottery games can be played by individuals or groups. Prizes may be cash or goods. Some states use lotteries to generate revenue for specific projects. Others, such as New York, use them to fund education. Lottery profits are usually distributed to state governments and local communities.

In the United States all lotteries are operated by state governments. They have exclusive rights to operate the lotteries and cannot be competed with by private lotteries. As of August 2004, there were forty-two states and the District of Columbia that ran lotteries.

The earliest lotteries in America were used to finance roads, canals, churches, colleges, and other public works. George Washington used one to raise funds to build the mountain road, and Benjamin Franklin ran a lottery for the purchase of cannons for the revolutionary war. The Founders viewed lotteries as an alternative to taxes, but critics charge that they are just a disguised tax.

Many people play lotteries for fun, fantasizing about winning a fortune at the cost of a few bucks. But for those who live on low incomes, the expense can quickly drain their bank accounts. Studies have shown that these individuals make up a disproportionate share of lottery players. Many critics believe that the lotteries impose a hidden tax on those who can least afford it. For the rest of us, playing the lottery can be an entertaining pastime with the potential to change our lives forever.