The lottery is a game in which numbers are drawn to win a prize. The casting of lots to make decisions and determine fates has a long history, including several examples in the Bible, but the modern lottery is relatively new. The first state lotteries were established in the 15th century in the Low Countries for purposes such as raising funds for town fortifications and helping the poor.
The primary argument for the introduction of lottery games is that they allow states to raise money without raising taxes. While this is true, it is not the whole story. Lotteries are popular primarily because they give people the chance to dream of wealth and the sense that anyone can get rich with enough luck. This appeal is fueled by growing income inequality and new materialism that asserts any effort is capable of yielding wealth. Studies have also found that those with lower incomes play the lottery more heavily relative to their disposable income.
Once a lottery is in place, states often find themselves in a situation where they have to manage a complex system with multiple constituencies and revenue streams. They start out with a specific set of games and a limited number of prizes, but they soon expand to meet revenue pressures and demand for new games. The result is a system in which public policy is made piecemeal and incrementally, with few states having a coherent lottery policy.