The lottery is a game of chance in which players try to win a prize by selecting numbers. In the United States, state governments own and operate lotteries, granting them exclusive rights to sell tickets. Lottery profits are usually used to fund government programs. Some states also offer a public benefit component to encourage participation and reduce the social costs associated with gambling.

In colonial America, lotteries were an important source of funds for private and public projects. Benjamin Franklin sponsored a lottery in 1774 to raise money for cannons to defend Philadelphia against the British. Other lotteries raised funds for colleges, canals, roads, and bridges.

Today, 44 states and the District of Columbia run lotteries. The six states that don’t are Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Mississippi, Utah, and Nevada (home to Las Vegas). The reasons for their absence vary: Alabama and Utah avoid lotteries because of religious beliefs; the others have no need to raise money and want to keep the status quo; and Mississippi and Nevada already allow gambling, so they don’t need another entity competing for their profits.

State-owned lotteries are the most common type of lottery. They are the oldest and most widespread, and they account for the majority of all tickets sold. Their popularity is largely due to the fact that they provide a painless way for governments to raise revenue without raising taxes. They have broad popular support; in states with lotteries, 60% of adults report playing at least once a year.