A lottery is a game in which the participants have a chance to win a prize determined by random drawing of numbers. Prizes are normally paid out in a lump sum, though some lotteries award regular periodic payments, such as weekly or monthly installments. Lotteries may be organized by state governments, by quasi-government agencies, or by private entities licensed to operate gambling games.

The word “lottery” derives from the Middle Dutch noun lot, meaning fate, from Old English löt, meaning a thing thrown (often a ball). Early public lotteries began in the Low Countries in the 15th century, raising money for town fortifications and to help the poor.

In addition to the prize money, a percentage of each ticket purchase goes to the organizing body and to promoters. Other expenses are often deducted from the total pool, and the remaining amount is usually awarded as a single prize or as a jackpot. The latter strategy can be lucrative for the lottery, because it allows large winnings to roll over from one draw to another, making each subsequent drawing more newsworthy and encouraging ticket purchases.

In the United States, 44 states and the District of Columbia run lotteries. The six that don’t, including Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Mississippi, Utah and Nevada (home to Las Vegas), cite religious concerns or fiscal reasons; Mississippi and Nevada already get their cut of gambling revenue, and don’t want a competing lottery to drain the pot.