Lottery is a form of gambling in which winners are selected by random drawing. Prizes are often cash or merchandise. Lotteries are popular and can be a good source of revenue for states, but critics charge that they are harmful to society, especially for those who play. They may increase compulsive gambling and foster a false sense of hope. Some people use strategies to improve their odds, including buying more tickets or playing less popular games.

One of the reasons why lotteries are so popular is that they give people the chance to win something valuable without having to work for it. They also feed the human tendency to covet money and other possessions (cf. Exodus 20:17; 1 Timothy 6:10), which the Bible forbids. People may also believe that winning the lottery will solve their problems or alleviate life’s hardships. Such hopes are empty, however, as the Bible says (cf. Ecclesiastes 4:9-11).

Many state lotteries have a broad base of general public support because they are seen as benefiting a particular public purpose, such as education. They can be a way for states to expand their public services without raising taxes on working families. This argument is especially strong during times of economic stress or when the state government needs to cut back on expenditures.

State lotteries also tend to generate significant revenue for convenience stores, which are the most common vendors; lottery suppliers, who typically contribute heavily to political campaigns; teachers (in states where the proceeds from the lottery are earmarked for schools); and state legislators. Once a lottery is established, however, it can be difficult to abolish.