Life Is a Lottery

A gambling game or method of raising money in which a large number of tickets are sold and a drawing is held for prizes. Often, the winnings are cash or goods. It may also refer to any scheme for the distribution of prizes by chance, or to something whose outcome appears to be determined by chance: “Life is a lottery.” Also found in: Dictionary, Thesaurus, Medical, Legal, Idioms.

The lottery is a form of gambling in which winners are selected through a random drawing. Most states and the District of Columbia have a state-run lottery. Some also have private lotteries, which are similar but not regulated by the government. Most states have many different games, from instant-win scratch-offs to daily games and a variety of numbers games.

Most state lotteries have broad public support and develop extensive specific constituencies, including convenience store operators (the main vendors); lottery suppliers (heavy contributions by these companies to state political campaigns are widely reported); teachers (in those states in which the proceeds are earmarked for education); and state legislators (who quickly become accustomed to the extra revenue). Moreover, the success of a lottery does not seem to be related to a state’s objective fiscal circumstances; Lottery revenues generally win broad approval even in times of financial stress.

A lottery is a popular source of entertainment, with millions of people buying tickets to have a shot at a huge sum of money. This is a great article to use for kids & teens to learn about gambling and the concept of a lottery, or as a money & personal finance resource for parents & teachers.