The lottery is a form of gambling in which prizes are awarded by drawing lots. The word is derived from the Dutch noun lot, meaning “fate” or “portion.” State-sponsored lotteries are now common worldwide and are considered to be among the most popular forms of gambling, with players spending an estimated $100 billion annually on tickets. They raise money for a wide variety of public uses, including education, roads, hospitals, and social welfare programs.

The popularity of the lottery has prompted many questions about government’s role in promoting the vice. But lawmakers in the overwhelming majority of states say that it’s no different than other forms of gambling, and that lottery revenues should be weighed against the benefits they provide to society.

Lotteries have a long and complex history in the United States, both as public games and private ventures. Benjamin Franklin ran a lottery in Philadelphia to fund the militia he hoped would repel French marauders during the American Revolution, and John Hancock ran one to help build Boston’s Faneuil Hall. Lottery revenue also helped build several colleges in the colonies, including Harvard, Dartmouth, and Yale.

In the 17th century, lotteries were a very popular source of public funds in many European countries. They were often financed by a tax on grain, and the prize was either money or goods or property. Some people criticized the practice as exploiting the poor, and philosophers like Voltaire condemned it. It was banned in France during the French Revolution, but reappeared as “lotto” in 1936 when socialists needed to increase state revenue.