A lottery is a form of gambling in which people purchase tickets for a chance to win a prize. The prizes range from cash to goods or services. In the United States, most states have lotteries. Most state lotteries sell scratch-off games, but some also have a variety of other games. The prizes of a lottery are awarded by random chance, which means that there is no way to predict or improve the odds of winning. Lottery players are often misled by the marketing tactics of some lotteries, which include presenting misleading information about how frequently winning numbers are drawn and inflated values for the amount of money won (lottery prizes are typically paid out in equal annual installments over 20 years, with inflation dramatically eroding the value).

The history of lottery-like arrangements to allocate items or money has a long record, dating back to the casting of lots to determine fate or destiny at several important times and places in human history. In the modern era, lotteries have become popular in many countries, and are often a source of state revenue. In some cases, state lotteries have been criticized for the amount of money they raise and for their impact on lower-income individuals and communities.

Like other business enterprises, lotteries market their products to society as a whole in a competitive marketplace. As a result, their players come from all backgrounds and income levels. Lotteries also promote their products aggressively through advertising, which critics say may encourage problem gamblers and has a regressive effect on low-income populations.