A lottery is a form of gambling in which numbers are drawn at random for prizes. Some governments outlaw lotteries while others endorse them to some extent by organizing a state or national lottery or licensing private promoters to conduct a lottery. Some states even have a minimum age at which people can purchase a ticket.

The lottery has long been a popular way to raise money for a variety of projects. For example, it helped fund the building of the British Museum and paved streets in colonial America. It was also used to supply a battery of guns for Philadelphia and rebuild Faneuil Hall in Boston.

Its popularity has fueled public debate over its morality. In the 18th century, philosophers such as Voltaire and some bishops complained that lotteries exploited the poor. The practice was also opposed by idealists during the French Revolution, who viewed it as an unjust method of distribution of wealth.

Various governments have responded to the controversy over lotteries by adopting laws regulating their operations. These laws often prohibit the sale of tickets to minors and require the lottery to make the results public. In addition, the law may specify that lottery proceeds must be used for a specific purpose such as education. Many critics of the lottery argue that its revenue and prize money encourage addictive gambling behavior and have a major regressive impact on lower-income groups. They also contend that the state is caught between its desire to increase revenue and its duty to protect the public welfare.