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Lottery

Lottery is a system for distributing prizes, usually money, to those who have purchased tickets. The tickets have numbers and the winning number is drawn at random. Historically, lotteries have been used to raise funds for state or charitable purposes. They can also be used for military conscription, commercial promotions in which property is given away, and the selection of jury members. The term “lottery” may also be applied to any game in which payment of a consideration is required for a chance to win a prize.

In ancient Rome, the emperors often gave land and slaves away in this way during Saturnalian feasts. Later, Europeans held lottery-like games at dinner parties in which guests would be given a ticket for a drawing of objects of unequal value. The winners were those whose names or marks appeared in the first drawing, which is why the word lottery derives from the Latin lotto, meaning “a share or portion.”

American lotteries are now commonplace; they range from a drawing for housing units to kindergarten placements at a public school. The lottery also plays an important role in sports, with the National Basketball Association holding a lottery to decide which team gets the first pick of college draftees. The lottery has also played a significant role in financing public projects, such as canals, roads, and colleges. At the outset of the Revolutionary War, the Continental Congress held a lottery to raise money for the Colonial Army.