Official lottery is a form of gambling in which prizes are awarded on the basis of randomly drawn numbers. Lottery games are typically state-controlled, and their proceeds support public services such as education and infrastructure. They are regulated to ensure fair play and protect against fraud, forgery and theft.

The first recorded lotteries – selling tickets for the chance of winning money – took place in the Low Countries in the fifteenth century, with towns using the funds to build town fortifications and help the poor. The practice was popular enough to be used to raise money for the war against England.

Throughout the country’s early history, lotteries were a source of public finance for everything from universities to civil defense to road construction. They were especially important in the United States, where a political culture defined by an aversion to taxes meant that government funding for public projects was scarce. Lotteries provided a way to raise funds without raising taxes, and they became popular even with those who decried them as “a hidden tax.”

Lottery winners often feel pressure from financial advisors or other professionals seeking to profit from their sudden wealth. They may also face threats from family members, particularly estranged members of the extended family or business associates with whom they have a strained relationship. In addition, some of the larger jackpots in multi-state lotteries can be a draw for scammers and other criminals. These concerns led New York State Sen. Joe Addabbo to reintroduce legislation that would allow lottery winners to remain anonymous if they wish.