An event in which tickets are sold and prizes are awarded by chance, often for public charitable purposes. The term is also used to refer to a system of distributing scholarships or other awards.
Lotteries are controversial in many countries, largely because of their reliance on the power of chance and the fact that they erode social norms. In addition, they are considered to be a form of gambling and are therefore illegal in some places. However, many people continue to play them in the hope that they will win a prize. In some cases, the proceeds from the lottery are used to fund public services such as education, social programs, and health care.
The modern lottery was first introduced in the United States by Benjamin Franklin, who organized a private lottery to raise money for cannons during the American Revolution. Franklin was inspired by his experience with the Italian lottery and by King Francis I’s attempt to establish a national lottery in France.
Most states offer a lottery to raise revenue for a variety of purposes. In 2002, thirty-nine states and the District of Columbia reaped over $42 billion from their lotteries, more than double the revenues reported seven years earlier. While supporters claim that the lottery is a painless alternative to higher taxes, critics call it dishonest and unseemly. They argue that the social costs and administrative burdens far exceed the benefits, while the regressive impact on lower-income groups obscures these costs.
Lottery advocates counter that a lottery is a harmless and efficient alternative to raising taxes, saying that it is the only way to generate massive sums of money quickly and without the long-term investment of tax increases. They point out that, on average, only 24 percent of the winnings are paid in federal taxes; adding state and local taxes reduces the amount that a winner receives to an even lower percentage.
In an era of limited economic mobility and increasing inequality, some people have come to see life as a lottery. They believe that, if they can only get lucky, they can rise to the top of their field or profession and become rich. But is luck really the only thing that determines success?
These examples are selected automatically from various online news sources to illustrate current usage of the word ‘lottery.’ See the full definition for lottery in the English dictionary.