The lottery, with its glitzy ads and sky-high jackpots, offers a seductive glimpse of what it might be like to win the big prize. But what does it really mean to win? The answer, it turns out, isn’t as simple as one might think. Lotteries do more than just dangle the improbable hope of instant riches—they tap into an inexplicable, fundamental human desire to gamble.
The casting of lots for decisions and determining fates has a long history (it’s even mentioned in the Bible), but public lotteries with prizes in cash are much more recent, dating back to the 15th century in the Low Countries. These were often used to raise funds for town repairs, as well as to help the poor.
Today’s state-sponsored lotteries typically involve a commission or board of directors that oversees the retailing of tickets, the distribution of prizes, and other aspects of lottery operations. Each state establishes laws governing how it operates its own lottery, but the majority of these laws share certain common features:
The word “lottery” probably derives from Middle Dutch loterie, meaning the action of drawing lots, which is the basis of most modern lottery rules. The first state-sponsored lottery began in New Hampshire in 1964, and subsequent introductions have followed a similar pattern across the country. But state lotteries also have developed their own specific constituencies, including convenience store owners (lottery sales are often a large part of their profits); lottery suppliers (heavy contributions from these companies to state political campaigns are frequently reported); and teachers (in states where some lottery revenues are earmarked for education). These groups develop an inextricable connection with the lottery that isn’t always reflected in the overall numbers.