A lottery is a form of gambling in which people bet on numbers that are randomly drawn to win cash prizes. Lottery games are run by government agencies or privately run organizations and usually offer large cash prizes. Typically, a portion of the profits from lottery tickets are donated to public service initiatives.

The history of lotteries dates back to ancient times. The Bible has dozens of references to lotteries and the Romans used them for giving away slaves and property during Saturnalian feasts. The first European lotteries in the modern sense of the word appeared in 15th-century Burgundy and Flanders with towns attempting to raise funds for town fortifications and to aid the poor. Francis I of France permitted the establishment of lotteries for both private and public profit in several cities in the 1500s.

Today, lotteries are an important source of income for many states and governments. They can be played in many forms, from instant-win scratch-off games to daily numbers games and the infamous Powerball. Although lotteries have been criticized for being addictive and for creating false hopes, they remain popular among some people. They also play a role in financing public works, including roads, libraries, churches and canals, as well as universities and colleges. Lottery games have even helped to finance military campaigns and wars, such as the American Revolutionary War and the French and Indian Wars.