Lottery is gambling that involves a prize (usually money) that you have a chance to win by paying an entry fee. Some governments outlaw it, while others endorse it to the extent of organizing a state or national lottery. The word “lottery” may be derived from the Dutch noun lot, meaning fate or destiny. The casting of lots to determine fates or property has a long history, with several references in the Bible and ancient Roman records. Modern lotteries are usually conducted by public corporations with some form of government oversight.
In the nineteen-seventies and eighties, as Cohen explains, Americans’ obsession with winning the lottery paralleled a broader decline in economic security for most working people. Income inequality grew, pensions eroded, health-care costs rose, and the longstanding promise that education and hard work would lead to financial security ceased to hold true for most families.
In the face of these trends, state lottery officials were not above playing on people’s psychology. They used every tool at their disposal to keep people coming back for more, from the look of tickets and ad campaigns to the math behind their games. It is not unreasonable to argue that they succeeded.