A lottery is a scheme for raising money by selling chances to share in a distribution of prizes. The corresponding numbered slips or lots are drawn from a wheel on a day announced in connection with the scheme.
Lotteries have been used to raise money for public and private projects, including roads, libraries, churches, colleges, canals, bridges, fortifications, and military equipment. Lotteries were a popular means of raising funds in colonial America, and in some cases were an essential part of financing major projects such as the construction of Faneuil Hall in Boston and the foundation of Harvard and Columbia Universities.
The word “lottery” comes from the Middle Dutch (Dutch: llotte) meaning “action of drawing lots.” It was first used in 1539 by King Francis I of France. Throughout most of the 16th century, lotteries were forbidden in France and other European nations.
In the United States, lottery games are regulated by state governments. Each state enacts its own laws regulating the sale and use of lottery tickets, as well as the distribution of high-tier prize amounts to winners.
Many states also regulate the operation of their state lotteries by establishing a specialized board or commission that administers them. These commissions select and license retailers, train employees of the retailer to sell lottery tickets, and redeem winning tickets. They assist the retailer in promoting the game, pay high-tier prizes to players, and ensure that the retailer complies with the state’s lottery law and rules.