The official lottery is a government-run gambling game that raises funds for state programs. Lottery laws define how winners are determined and how the prizes are paid, including minimum payout amounts. In addition, state lottery laws regulate the marketing and sale of tickets.

The lottery’s modern incarnation began in the nineteen-sixties, when growing awareness of all the money to be made in gambling collided with a crisis in state finances. For politicians facing an aging population, rising inflation, and the cost of the Vietnam War, it became increasingly difficult to maintain services without raising taxes or cutting programs. Cohen writes that many legislators turned to the lottery as “a budgetary miracle,” a way to make revenue appear seemingly out of thin air.

Lottery winners are generally required to pay taxes on their winnings. In addition, some states require winners to sign their tickets. This helps to prove that they are the owners of the ticket in case it is lost or stolen. If you win a large prize, consider hiring a professional tax advisor to help you minimize your taxes.

Some thieves who cash in on official lottery scams use fake names that sound like or could even be a real agency, such as the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). These fraudsters then ask for personal information such as bank account details or credit card numbers, which they can use to steal your money and then sell it on the black market.