The drawing of lots to make decisions and determine fates has a long record in human history, including several instances in the Bible. However, public lotteries distributing prizes in the form of money are relatively new. They first appeared in the Low Countries in the 15th century, where town records indicate that they were used for a variety of purposes, from building walls and town fortifications to helping the poor.

State lotteries are often promoted as a way to raise revenue without raising taxes. And that may be true, at least in the short run, but the state’s overall financial picture should always be considered when deciding whether to promote and operate a lottery.

The main message state lotteries push is that winning the lottery is a good thing, because you are voluntarily spending your money for a public purpose. However, this argument ignores the fact that lotteries are very unequal in their distribution of players—they tend to be played by lower-income people, less educated people, and non-whites. In addition, they are a source of gambling that is not only addictive and harmful to society but also unjust to the people who play it.