The casting of lots to decide ownership or other rights has a long record in human history, including several instances recorded in the Bible. However, the lotteries that distribute prize money are relatively recent. The first public lotteries were probably held for municipal repairs in Rome during the late fifteenth century, and the modern game was established in the United States in 1964. Since then, most states have adopted state-run lotteries. These operate as monopolies, and profits are used solely to fund government programs. The lottery has become a major source of revenue for the states, and more than 90% of adult Americans live in a state with an operating lottery.
Lotteries are characterized by a large pool of tickets and counterfoils, from which winning numbers are selected by chance. Normally, the pool is thoroughly mixed, and this can be accomplished by shaking or tossing. Alternatively, computers can be used to randomly select winners. Ticket sales are largely driven by the size of the prize, and the popularity of a lottery is often correlated with how difficult it is to win the top prize. Super-sized jackpots not only increase ticket sales, but also attract free publicity on newscasts and websites.
Most of the profit from a lottery goes to the costs of organizing and promoting it, with a smaller percentage being devoted to prizes. The remaining balance is divided into a few large prizes and a number of smaller ones. The choice of a few large prizes or many smaller ones is an important one, and the balance must be struck carefully to attract bettors.