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Lottery is a type of game in which tokens are distributed or sold, the winner or winners being chosen by chance. It is often compared to gambling, but differs from it in that the outcome of a lottery is determined by chance or fate rather than careful planning or skill.

The casting of lots to determine fortunes has a long record in human history, as do other forms of random choice. Throughout the ages, there have been many attempts to use lottery-like games for financial gain, though public lotteries became widespread only after World War II when governments found they could raise significant funds for needed projects without increasing taxes.

State government-sponsored lotteries in the United States are monopolies that do not allow competitors, and their profits are used solely to fund government programs. These lotteries have gained wide popularity, and as of 2004, about 90% of U.S. adults lived in a state that offered a lottery.

Prizes may be fixed sums of cash or goods. Alternatively, the prize may be a percentage of total revenues. This latter format can provide a guarantee of a minimum prize level, but it also increases the risk to the organizer if insufficient tickets are sold. Some lotteries offer a combination of both, with the prize being a fixed amount of money and the possibility of winning more by selecting the right numbers.

In general, the more tickets that are sold in a lottery drawing, the higher the chances of a winner. However, even if only a few tickets are sold, the chances of winning are still quite low. In addition, the jackpot is generally limited to a maximum value. In some cases, a jackpot will roll over to the next drawing if no one wins, and this can quickly grow into an enormous sum.

Most states that conduct a lottery require that players be at least 18 years old. Some lotteries, particularly those whose prizes are large amounts of cash, require players to be residents of the state. Lottery players can obtain tickets from licensed vendors, including retail outlets, private businesses, and state-sponsored kiosks. Some states permit out-of-state residents to purchase tickets, and these sales are very profitable.

Lottery games are marketed in a variety of ways, and most states advertise extensively. During the early 2000s, for example, many lotteries promoted their scratch games by teaming up with sports franchises to offer products such as Harley-Davidson motorcycles. These promotions can be expensive, but the lotteries usually reap substantial revenue from a core group of regular players. This base of users is essential to the success of state-sponsored lotteries, because the rest of the population does not tend to play more than once or twice a month (and hence do not contribute significantly to total revenues). The average age of these regular players is middle aged, and they are typically high school educated. The majority are males. This demographic makes them a desirable market for many lottery marketers.