a game in which numbers are drawn at random for the chance to win money or other prizes. Lottery has long been an important source of public funding, used to finance roads, canals, libraries, churches, schools, colleges, and public buildings. In colonial America, Benjamin Franklin held a lottery to raise money for cannons to defend Philadelphia against the British. In modern times, state lotteries are widely supported by the general public. They are also the target of many criticisms, including a claim that they contribute to compulsive gambling and a concern about their regressive impact on lower-income groups.
Since New Hampshire launched the first modern state lottery in 1964, nearly all states have adopted them. In fact, the whole evolution of lotteries across the United States has followed remarkably similar patterns: a state legislates a lottery for itself (as opposed to licensing private firms in return for a cut of the proceeds); establishes a government agency or corporation to run it; begins operations with a small number of relatively simple games; and, under pressure for additional revenue, progressively expands the scope of its offerings, especially through new games like keno and video poker. As a result, the public debate about and criticism of lotteries has become focused on specific features of their operations rather than the general desirability of the practice.