An official lottery is an organized system for distributing something (usually money or prizes) through the purchase of chances. Lotteries are commonly used for military conscription, commercial promotions, and jury selection.
In modern times, state lotteries have become a significant source of revenue for states. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, they bring in on average about one per cent of state revenue each year.
They’re also a major source of government revenues for schools, public health services, and other programs that serve low-income and minority populations. But they have a dark side, too: They are regressive and take a disproportionate toll on those who can least afford it.
The lottery’s origins trace back to medieval France, where towns attempted to raise money for defenses or social service projects. The first public lottery to award money prizes appeared in Burgundy and Flanders in the fifteenth century.
By the 17th century, lotteries were common in England and the United States. They helped finance universities including Harvard, Yale, and Princeton. They also served as an avenue for obtaining “voluntary taxes,” which the Continental Congress tried to use to help fund the Revolutionary War.
However, despite their popularity, many people objected to the ethics of funding public services through gambling. Devout Protestants, in particular, regarded them as morally unsound.
In response to the opposition, many states banned the lottery in the nineteenth century. But they were revived in the twentieth century, prompted by a growing tax revolt.