The word lottery is derived from Middle Dutch loterie, itself a compound of the words “lot” and “fate.” People have long used chance to distribute property and other valuables. The Old Testament instructed Moses to divide land; Roman emperors gave away slaves. In modern times, states and private companies have organized lotteries to raise funds for a variety of purposes.
The basic requirements of a lottery are a pool of money, a process for selecting winners, and rules determining the size of prizes. Normally, a portion of ticket sales is deducted for the costs of organizing and promoting the lottery and another percentage goes to the state or sponsor as revenues and profits. The remainder becomes the prize pool, which should be balanced between few large prizes and many smaller ones. Lottery advertising often focuses on the large prizes, but the small prizes also stimulate ticket sales.
Generally, the winners are awarded in two forms: lump sum and annuity payments. The choice depends on the financial goals of the winner and applicable laws. A lump sum grants immediate cash, while an annuity provides a steady stream of payments over time.
Lottery players can be characterized as risk-seeking investors. Their decisions can be accounted for by decision models based on expected value maximization or more general models that use utility functions defined on things other than lottery outcomes. In addition, purchasing a lottery ticket may provide an opportunity for some purchasers to experience a thrill and indulge in a fantasy of becoming wealthy.