A lottery is a game in which numbers are drawn for a prize. It’s been around for thousands of years, dating back to the Roman Empire (Nero was a fan) and as far back as biblical times, where it was used for everything from divining God’s will to determining who would receive Jesus’ garments after his Crucifixion.

In modern times, lotteries are a popular source of public funding for a wide variety of projects and programs. Some critics see it as a hidden tax, but in reality, governments don’t force people to participate—it’s an entirely voluntary activity. And although it’s true that some people become addicted to gambling, it’s also the case that it has a much lower cost in the aggregate than other government-sponsored vices such as tobacco and alcohol.

Lotteries’ main argument for adoption has been their value as a source of “painless” revenue, whereby players voluntarily choose to spend their money on a ticket for the benefit of the state. This is a persuasive message, especially in times of economic stress when voters fear taxes will be increased or public services cut.

However, research shows that the popularity of lotteries is not related to state government’s fiscal health and has remained high even in states with strong fiscal positions. In addition, the evidence suggests that lottery sales are more attractive to middle-class communities than low-income ones. As a result, lotteries are not only not helping the poor but may actually be contributing to their problems.