Official lottery is a type of gambling game in which the state sells tickets for a chance to win a prize, such as cash or goods. Its supporters argue that states need extra revenue and that it is better to do so by selling chances to gamble than raising taxes or cutting programs.

Historically, critics of lotteries have cited moral religious grounds and a fear that the games would create new generations of gamblers. However, the public has been largely in favor of them since their introduction in the post-World War II period. Lotteries have become a major source of revenue for many states, and are regulated by law. They can vary in how they operate and the prizes they offer, but they are all aimed at increasing ticket sales.

While state governments have a say in the operations of the lottery, they also need to comply with national and international regulations. Some states, like New York, have a multi-state lottery that is available to players in other states. Others, like Texas, only have state lottery games. In these cases, the winnings must be claimed within the borders of the corresponding state.

The messages that lotteries are relying on right now are primarily that playing is fun and you should feel good about yourself for doing your civic duty. They don’t mention that it ends up being a drop in the bucket for actual state government revenue and, by some estimates, disproportionately affects lower-income households who spend a disproportionate share of their incomes on lottery tickets.