A competition in which numbered tickets are sold for the chance to win prizes, often money. The word lottery is derived from the Dutch noun lot, meaning fate or luck; it was first used in English in the 16th century (though earlier references have been found in town records from Ghent and Utrecht). In the United States, state governments hold monopolies on operating lotteries; they use profits to fund government programs. In 2004, 44 states and the District of Columbia ran lotteries. Tickets can be purchased from a variety of retail outlets, including gas stations, convenience stores, nonprofit organizations, fraternal and service clubs, restaurants and bars, and bowling alleys. Online lottery services also offer tickets.
In addition to monetary prizes, lotteries may offer entertainment value or other non-monetary rewards. For many people, the disutility of losing a small amount can be outweighed by the combined utility of monetary and non-monetary gains. However, if playing the lottery becomes a habit, the overall cost can be much higher than the expected benefits.
Generally, only a small percentage of ticket purchasers wins a prize. Thus, the optimum size of a prize pool depends on the balance between large and small prizes, the costs of organizing and promoting the lottery, and the desired percentage of prize money paid out as winnings.