The lottery is a great moneymaker for states whose coffers swell thanks to both ticket sales and winners. But it’s also an incredibly addictive form of gambling, and there’s a lot more to it than just the inextricable human impulse to play. Studies suggest that it’s a particularly dangerous form of gambling for low-income people and minorities, and it lures them in with the promise of instant riches in a country with inequality and limited social mobility.

Lottery prize pools are created by a number of things: the percentage of total ticket sales that go to prizes, the cost of running and promoting the lottery, and a percentage that goes to the state or sponsor. Generally, the pool is split between one large prize and several smaller prizes. In some cultures, players demand a high proportion of the pool for themselves, while in others they prefer to keep a larger share for the state or sponsor.

Lottery profits are allocated in different ways by each state, but as of 2006, a total of $17.1 billion had been given to education, veterans’ assistance, environment, and other causes. But many people still have questions about how a lottery is run. We can’t help you increase your (extremely long) odds of winning, but we can explain how the lottery works and how you can play responsibly.