A lottery is a form of gambling in which numbers are drawn at random to determine winners. It has a long history in many cultures and was introduced to the United States by British colonists. It was a popular way to fund public works projects, including building roads and wharves. Benjamin Franklin sponsored a lottery in 1776 to raise funds for cannons to defend Philadelphia against the British. George Washington sponsored a lottery in 1768 to build a road across the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Today, most state lotteries are run by government agencies or publicly owned corporations and have a variety of games. They begin operations with a small number of relatively simple games and, in response to pressure for additional revenue, progressively expand their offerings. The word “lottery” is derived from the Middle Dutch lotinge, probably a calque on Middle Dutch lootje, meaning “action of drawing lots.”
Lottery is generally considered a recreational activity that can provide excitement and the chance for financial gain. While the desire for wealth has a biblical basis (Proverbs 23:5; 1 Timothy 6:10), pursuing riches through lottery play is not wise. It focuses one on the temporary riches of this world and distracts from working hard to earn honest income, which is God’s will (Proverbs 10:4).
The vast majority of people who buy lottery tickets do not consider themselves compulsive gamblers. Instead, they purchase tickets as a form of entertainment and a chance to fantasize about what they would do with millions of dollars.
