Lottery
A system of public administration for the distribution of prizes, in which money or goods are awarded according to the outcome of a random process. Lotteries are a form of gambling that is widely practiced throughout the world, although some governments outlaw them and others endorse them to the extent of organizing state or national lotteries. Lottery prizes are usually in the form of cash, though some lottery games award non-cash prizes. In some cases, the prizes are predetermined. In most lotteries, the prize pool is derived from ticket sales. Federal laws prohibit the mailing or transportation in interstate and foreign commerce of promotions for lotteries or of tickets for a lottery.
Historically, lotteries have had broad popular appeal, with the majority of Americans saying they play at least one time per year. Lotteries are particularly popular when the proceeds are perceived to benefit a specific public good, such as education. But studies show that this is only partly true, and the popularity of lotteries does not seem to be connected with the actual fiscal health of states, as Clotfelter and Cook point out.
Lotteries rely on messages aimed at fostering an innate love of money and the things that it can buy. This is especially effective in times of economic stress, when people are reminded that a win in the lottery would alleviate their financial problems and give them a new lease on life. Such hopes are based on the assumption that money is a panacea, and thus are inherently flawed (see Ecclesiastes 1:9-11). Lotteries also exploit the tendency of people to covet what they see other people have.
