In the United States, where state-run lotteries are common, people pay for tickets in exchange for a chance to win prizes. They can choose a group of numbers or let machines pick them for them, and win if enough of their choices match those randomly spit out by a machine. Lottery games are a form of gambling, and they often attract players who might otherwise not participate in the games of chance.

The main argument in favor of lottery adoption, at least when compared with general tax increases, is that the proceeds benefit a public good, usually education. This logic plays well in times of economic crisis, when voters fear losing government services and politicians look at the revenues as a way to spend money for free. However, studies show that the objective fiscal condition of a state government seems to have very little bearing on lottery popularity.

It is also a fact that lottery winners (in the United States at least) do not receive their full advertised jackpots, because most states earmark some of their revenue for administrative and vendor costs as well as specific projects, such as school construction. Winnings are generally paid out either in one lump sum or over an annuity period, and the one-time payment is typically smaller than the advertised amount, because of income taxes that are withheld.

It is important to remember, too, that while the vast majority of lottery participants are middle-class and above, a much larger percentage play from lower-income neighborhoods. These communities tend to have fewer educational and financial resources, so they are more likely to lose.