Lottery is a form of gambling whereby a prize, often money, is allocated to participants in an arrangement that relies wholly on chance. It may be used to raise funds for public or private projects. It is usually a legal arrangement and is supervised by state or local government. Prizes are typically taxable. Those who win the lottery are expected to pay taxes on their winnings, and people here on Quora detail their experiences with having their cars, houses, or furniture held up by the state until they’ve paid the appropriate taxes.
The word comes from Middle Dutch loterij, which may be a calque on Old French loterie, meaning “action of casting lots” or “drawing numbers.” State governments have long used lotteries as a way to raise funds for a variety of projects, including roads, canals, bridges, schools, libraries, churches, colleges, and other institutions.
States enact laws to govern their own lotteries, and most have a separate lottery division that selects and trains retailers to use lottery terminals, sell tickets, and redeem winning tickets; oversees the sale of high-tier prizes; pays winners; and makes sure that all retail employees and players comply with state law. In addition, the state’s lottery divisions are responsible for marketing and promotions. There are a few messages that state lotteries rely on, namely that playing the lottery is fun and the experience of scratching off a ticket is enjoyable. Another message is that lottery play is good because it raises revenue for the state, and it’s a kind of civic duty to buy tickets and play the lottery.
