A lottery is a form of gambling in which winnings are determined by a random drawing. Lotteries are also a common way to raise money for various public purposes, such as building colleges and roads.
This article explores the history and debate over lotteries, and includes information on the different types of lotteries that are available today. It provides a good starting point for students interested in learning more about the topic.
In the 15th century, several towns in the Low Countries began holding public lotteries to raise funds for a variety of town uses and for the poor. These became very popular and were widely hailed as a painless form of taxation. In America, the Continental Congress voted to hold a lottery to raise funds for the revolution; but the plan was ultimately abandoned. Public lotteries continued, however, and by the 18th century were helping finance Harvard, Yale, Dartmouth, King’s College (now Columbia), William and Mary, and other American universities.
Advocates of state lotteries argue that, by earmarking lottery proceeds for a particular purpose such as education, the legislature can reduce appropriations from the general fund. But critics charge that this argument is misleading, since the money “saved” from a program remains in the program’s account, and can be spent for any purpose the legislature wishes at any time. In addition, lottery critics point out that the reliance of state governments on these “painless” revenues creates political pressure to increase the size of the lotteries, and thus the amount of revenue they generate.
