The official lottery is a form of gambling in which the state, a private organization or another party distributes money or other prizes by lot. The term is generally used for public lotteries, but it may also apply to games such as scratch-off tickets. The prizes are normally distributed through a pool composed of all tickets sold (sweepstakes) or offered for sale, or of all or a subset of the possible permutations of the numbers or symbols on the tickets.

Historically, states created and operated lotteries to raise funds. Those circumstances, however, have since changed, and today, most lotteries do more than raise funds; they create gamblers, encourage them to spend more than they can afford, and lure new generations of gamblers into the game. The lottery industry is a complex and lucrative enterprise that operates in many countries, with different legal and regulatory regimes, and a diverse range of games.

While there is a certain inextricable human impulse to gamble, it is important to remember that it can become an overwhelming addiction. If you have a problem with gambling, please seek help from GamblerND or 2-1-1 in North Dakota or Gamblers Anonymous. For information about how to voluntarily exclude yourself from lottery activities, refer to SS 58.1-4015.1. The following chart lists some of the major provisions in SS 58.1-4015.1.