The lottery is a game where people pay to enter a drawing for the chance to win money or goods. The winning numbers are selected randomly by machines or by a human draw. The prize can be cash or goods, from a single item to a whole apartment block. In the United States, most states and the District of Columbia have a lottery.

Since New Hampshire initiated the modern era of state lotteries in 1964, no such lottery has been abolished, even though public opinion remains divided about the merits and morality of the venture. Despite the differing opinions, lotteries are highly effective at mobilizing large and diverse constituencies. These include convenience store operators (the most common vendors of lottery tickets); lottery suppliers (heavy contributions by these businesses to state political campaigns are commonly reported); teachers (in those states in which proceeds are earmarked for education) and, not least, the general public, who often feel a sense of personal connection to a particular winning combination.

Some of this popularity is the result of an inextricable human instinct to gamble, but the real reason for a lottery’s success lies elsewhere. It enables the government to fund a wide range of projects without imposing onerous taxes on its constituents. This is particularly important in an age of growing inequality and limited social mobility, where lottery prizes are often used to finance the purchase of a unit in a subsidized housing development or to secure kindergarten placements at a reputable public school.