Lottery is a competition based on chance in which numbered tickets are sold and prizes are given to the holders of numbers drawn at random. It is generally operated as a way to raise money for state governments or charitable organizations. It is also sometimes used as a form of gambling.

Lotteries are popular with the public, and there are many who claim that they play them regularly. They are also heavily promoted, often by claiming that they are good for the state (a message that is less than persuasive when you consider the enormous percentages of ticket sales that go to convenience store operators, lottery suppliers, and teachers—whose salaries are supported by lottery funds). Despite this broad public support, there are many who oppose them, arguing that they are addictive and exploitative of vulnerable people; that winning the jackpot would lead to bad habits, such as spending recklessly; that the money won will erode over time through taxes and inflation; and that winners tend to be poorer and less educated than non-lottery players.

Lottery critics also point to the fact that it is a system based on covetousness, with people believing that money will solve all of their problems—despite the biblical command not to covet (Exodus 20:17; 1 Timothy 6:10). People are lured into playing the lottery with promises that they will be able to buy everything they want with a few lucky numbers. In reality, the vast majority of those who win do not change their lifestyles very much.